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 10 years with his extraordinary piano virtuosity and distinctive style. At 25, Rast is a groundbreaking force on the contemporary jazz scene.

Rast appears regularly in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast region with a variety of popular acts, including Rob Coltun's Touch Acoustra and neo-soul/spoken word vocalist W. Ellington Felton & Art Hurts!. He also plays keyboards in the touring band of Grammy-award winning R&B star Mya Harrison, who is releasing a new album this fall. Will's recent appearances with Mya include the Waldorf Astoria in New York, shows in Los Angeles and Paso Robles, CA, several television productions and a gig at Kunduchi Wet & Wild Water Park concert in Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania late last year.

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.