Will Bonness

“Will Bonness is one of the finest jazz pianists of his generation, and one of the most important jazz musicians in Canada.”

Jon Gordon, winner of the Thelonious Monk Jazz Saxophone Competition

The music here shows Bonness is developing his arranging skills and finding increased confidence in his playing. There is energy and focus that is tangible. The opening track, Burning Bridges, is an uptempo romp with everyone digging in. The pianist has a McCoy Tynerish rhythmic style at times that moves the whole track forward. The arrangements are tight with good solo space… It is always fun to listen to local jazz and appreciate that it holds its own with jazz from anywhere. Bonness first caught my attention when, as a very young pianist, he was sneaking in Monk as background music at a house party I attended. He has come a long way. ★★★★ out of five
Keith Black – Winnipeg Free Press

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“Will Bonness is one of the finest jazz pianists of his generation, and one of the most important jazz musicians in Canada.”

Jon Gordon, winner of the Thelonious Monk Jazz Saxophone Competition

The music here shows Bonness is developing his arranging skills and finding increased confidence in his playing. There is energy and focus that is tangible. The opening track, Burning Bridges, is an uptempo romp with everyone digging in. The pianist has a McCoy Tynerish rhythmic style at times that moves the whole track forward. The arrangements are tight with good solo space… It is always fun to listen to local jazz and appreciate that it holds its own with jazz from anywhere. Bonness first caught my attention when, as a very young pianist, he was sneaking in Monk as background music at a house party I attended. He has come a long way. ★★★★ out of five
Keith Black – Winnipeg Free Press

The pianist executed the project with deliberation—its material was written with the musicians in mind—but it never sounds overly studious. Regardless of whether the arrangement is tailored for duo, trio, quartet, or quintet, Bonness’s piano ensures each performance exudes vitality… Change of Plans makes a strong case for both Bonness and the quintet, especially when the recording dramatically shifts gears from track to track. The pianist impresses as a player of intelligence, versatility and poise, but the others do too, with Gordon, Gould, Bradford, and Ragnelli all showing themselves to be musicians of distinction. The leader’s lucky to have such talent alongside him when they help his compositions and these performances resonate so powerfully.

Ron Schepper – Textura.org

It is refreshing to hear this kind of contemporary music being created in Canada. Particularly in Winnipeg, whose long thriving music scene unfairly receives less attention than those of many larger Canadian cities. Change of Plans’ originals, arrangements of standards and one Smashing Pumpkins cover, all call to mind the cutting edge often associated with New York City. While each of the quartet’s members has spent ample time in that scene, this album should receive extra attention for being a Winnipeg one at heart. While so many younger Canadian musicians move abroad, the commitment to community present on this recording makes it unique, and a globally relevant offering of Canadiana.
Sam Dickinson – The WholeNote

Burning Bridges opens the album with some blistering piano playing and standout contributions from the rest of the combo… One particularly intriguing track is a trio interpretation of the Smashing Pumpkins song, Bullet With Butterfly Wings. Bonness extracts melodic fragments, adds modal harmonies and improvises freely around the melody.

David Reed – Belleville Intelligencer

These are some of Canada’s A-team musicians. Sit back and enjoy.

Dee Dee McNeil – Musical Memoirs

The core trio gives some symbiotic swing to “Bullet With Butterfly Wings” and a glistening “Downpour”, and with Gordon joining in, the team is nimble and warm on the mature cadence of Bonness’ “Burning Bridges”. Gould brings solemnity to “In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning”, a poetic and elliptical read of Cole Porter’s “I Love You” and adds rich harmony holding hands with Gordon on “Echo Chamber” and the dreamy “Guiding Light”.

George W. Harris – Jazz Weekly

A bad ass jazz piano man that plays like he knows more notes than you do, this high octane set focuses on his originals but also manages to splice Cole Porter and Billy Corgan together in the same song stack. Leading a crew that showed up to play, this hard and heavy set blows the wax right out of your ears in mighty fashion. His well traveled piano work is a real wake up call. Pure hot stuff.

Chris Spector – The Midwest Record

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