Will Rast — "Impressionable Youth"

"One of the most dynamic and funky pianists to play a nightclub in Savannah in years, this Washington, D.C.-based artist plays in Grammy-winning R&B vocalist Mya's touring band and leads his own group of ace players." Will's three-night gig provided "one of the best weekends of live jazz downtown we will see this year ... ."
 - Jim Reed,
Savannah Connect

DC-based keyboard wizard Will Rast has been delighting audiences for more than 15 years with his extraordinary piano virtuosity and distinctive style. At 28, Rast is a groundbreaking force on the contemporary jazz scene.

Rast appears regularly in the Mid-Atlantic and nationwide and internationally with a variety of popular acts.

In Will's words, "I am a Jazz pianist turned hip hop, R&B, Drum and Bass, Boogaloo Funk, Avante Garde, country, blues and World Music gun for hire. I travel the world in search of the consumate musical experience and along the way meet tons of interesting people and hear great players in all genres. I am a proud contributer to three very cool Washington, D.C. bands, called FUNK ARK, BLACK AND TAN FANTASY BAND and INNERLOOP. You can also find me backing such artists as, FEDERICO AUBELE, Theivery Corporation's NATALIA CLAVIER, W. ELLINGTON FELTON, GRAMMY WINNING R&B singer and actress MYA HARRISON, RAMP (Roy Ayers Musical Productions), Raheem DeVaughn and ALFONSO VELEZ (among many others). Music feeds my passion for life. Also I am married to the most wonderful girl I've ever met, Elizabeth. Life is good."

Will is a prolific jazz composer and the creative catalyst behind his own jazz fusion ensemble. He is the music director and keyboardist for critically acclaimed urban/soul contemporary artist W. Ellington Felton & Art Hurts! and has arranged and played keyboards for Urban Ave 31, featuring Jive Records recording artist Raheem Devaughn. Rast has been nominated twice for Best Instrumentalist in the Washington Area Music Association awards (Wammies), in 2002 and 2004. He has appeared nationwide , including gigs at the legendary Funky Butt and Tipitina's in New Orleans, 55 Bar in New York's Greenwich Village and the Temple Bar in L.A.

Rast is an accomplished composer and arranger, and did the arrangements and keyboards for the Felton-Devaughn duo collaboration CrossRhodes (Will's Fender Rhodes Piano was the genesis for the CrossRhodes name).

Will's newly released jazz album, "Impressionable Youth," is drawing widespread praise.