EPK

In this electronic press kit for me, William Chernoff and my ensemble called Western Red Cedar:

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1. Bio
2. Latest release
3. Photos
4. Contact

Socials: Bandcamp | Facebook | Instagram | YouTube

"refreshingly accessible music”- Hrayr Attarian, All About Jazz

Bio

Western Red Cedar plays Celtic-based music, including Irish, Scottish, Franco-Canadian, and more traditions, in a creative instrumental ensemble led by William Chernoff. Will plays both electric bass and acoustic guitar in the project. He is joined by woodwind multi-instrumentalist John Nicholson, guitarist Madeleine Elkins, pianist Jancis Bautista, and drummer Jen Yakamovich. Together, they play original music as well as arrangements of traditional and modern pieces. Will's musical concept takes inspiration from artists like Bill Frisell, Martin Hayes, The Gloaming, Sam Amidon, Steve Gunn, and Matt Carmichael. Western Red Cedar represents the genre-bending west coast in a new wave of "avant-folk" that has emerged from Glasgow to Québec.

Born and raised in New Westminster, BC, Will has performed professionally since his teens. His latest release, an EP titled Queen's Park, was recorded in the fall of 2023 with a quintet that celebrated his formative years. Will previously released his first studio album of original instrumental music, Aim to Stay, in 2020 and his second, Maybe Eventually, in 2022. Critics have described his music as mainstream and accessible; jazz journalist Chris Wong writes that "swing and melodicism" are "at Chernoff's artistic core". His show history as a bandleader has included performances at the Vancouver International Jazz Festival, Khatsahlano, Frankie's Jazz Club, and Tyrant Studios, to name a few.