LivingColournet.com :: Will Calhoun

Will Calhoun - Drums

The widely acclaimed drummer from the Bronx, New York, graduated from the Berklee School of Music in Boston, where he received a Bachelors degree in Music Production and engineering. He was also the recipient of the prestigious Buddy Rich Jazz Masters Award for outstanding performance by a drummer.

Special Kudos for Will's drumming virtuosity include:

Best New Drummer of 1988 by Modern Drummer Magazine's Readers Poll
Number One Progressive Drummer by Modern Drummer Magazine's Readers Poll three times (1989, 1991 & 1992)
Best Drummer Of 1990 by Rolling Stone Magazine's Critics Poll

Will's unique blend of improvisational and hard rock drumming can be found on each of Living Colour's 5 releases: the ground breaking multi-platinum debut, Vivid, the critically acclaimed sophomore LP, Time's Up, the 1991 EP, Biscuits, Stain, and the latest Collidescope. A prolific song writer, Will has co-written many Living Colour compositions and wrote the critically acclaimed song, Pride, on the Time's Up album and Nothingness on the Stain album. As a member of Living Colour, Will received a Grammy Award in 1989 for Best Hard Rock Performance by a group and another Grammy in 1990 for Best Hard Rock Performance. Living Colour also won an International Rock Award In 1991 for Best Rock Band.

In addition to his work with Living Colour, Will has recorded and/or toured with Jaco Pastorious, Harry Belafonte, B.B. King, Jack Dejohnette, Horacee Arnold, David Fat-Head Newman and Dr. John on the Grammy nominated Windam Hill release titled "Bluesiana Triangle", Marcus Miller ("The Sun Don't Lie"), Wayne Shorter's (GRAMMY WINNING recording "High Life"), Pharaoh Sanders, Bobby Watson, David Torn, T.M. Stevens, Carly Simon, and ROLLING STONES guitarist Ronnie Wood.

During Will's down time he has managed to record two solo projects "Housework" and "Drum Wave". These discs provide an alternate canvas for his acoustic drumset artistry as well as his push for electronic tonal expressions. "Great music for films or just an open-minded listen".

Will formed a futuristic drum-n-bass, World Music, Pop trio JUNGLE FUNK, along with Bass Player extraordinaire Doug Wimbish, and vocalist/percussionist, VINX. Their music style has been labeled "DJ-influenced world music". JUNGLE FUNK's debut album is available on ZEBRA records.

Will is recently finishing a documentary film shot in Recife Brazil on the "Maracatu". This extraordinary rhythm (featured on the track "Magic Man" on the latest Herb Alpert CD) is a two thousand-year-old rhythm from Angola that made its way back to Recife, Brazil via the slave trade.

Before Jungle Funk there was Head>>fake, Will and Doug's incredible drum-n-bass duo. Head>>fake eventually led to the reuniting of Living Colour on stage where they started in the legendary NYC club CBGB's December 2000.

During Living Colour's off time Will and Doug continuie head>>fake today along with their usually busy schedule of sessions, clinics, and drum and bass boot camp at Doug's place. Will and Doug have also been apart of a all star line up in band Black Jack Johnson with progressive Rapper Mos Def, Bernie Worrel(P-funk), and Dr. Know(Bad Brains). Although the band hasn't been playing as much since Living Colour is back on the map and Mos Def's solo album droped and is busy with movies.

Will's 1999 Critically acclaimed Jazz release!