My name is Will Roland and I am a professional jazz bassist and composer working in the Gulf South area. I am available for gigs, lessons, sit-ins, pit work, recording dates...whatever takes me out with my bass.

I prefer gigs in jazz or musical theatre, but will consider any serious offer. I have a wide variety of instruments (see Gear below) and equipment and I am an excellent reader.

In addition, I provide composition, arranging, transcription and copying services.

I make my living in acoustics, AV technology and professional audio through my company Gracenote Consulting, Inc. As a sideline to this, I offer on-location sound reinforcement, sound recording, audio editing and mastering services as well.

I try to update this site regularly with info, commentary, music samples, articles, etc. related to jazz music and specifically, jazz bass.

Below you will find an active gig calendar which is updated every week.  The calendar includes all of my gigs, including those I do on guitar which is my second instrument.

Please visit often and come out and listen to some live jazz or musical theatre soon!

Click on the event for location and other info.

DOUBLE BASSES

Fully carved 3/4 double bass, hand-built workshop class from teaching shop in southeast Asia. Made from hand-selected Italian woods. Strung with Pirastro Evah Pirazzi Upright Bass Strings.  Equipped with an adjustable Despiau bridge and Fishman Full Circle pickup.  Set up for amplified jazz and occasional orchestral work.

Fully carved 3/4 double bass, production class from shop in Bulgaria. Strung with Corelli 370 Forte strings, equipped with K&K Bass max system. Set up for amplified jazz.

NS Design CR4M electric double bass with end-pin stand.

ELECTRIC BASSES

Ibanez SR506 Six-String Fretted, Fender 2008 American Standard Jazz Bass, Fretless, Fender ‘68 Classic Jazz Bass, fretted (re-issue), Fender ‘63 Precision Bass, fretted (original), Fender Squire Jaco Bass, fretless.

AMPLIFICATION

Euphonic Audio iAmp Micro w/2 Wizzy 10 speakers

Acoustic Image Coda R

ElectroVoice ZxA1-90

Crown MA-1200

Peavey Pro210

Gallien Krueger Backline 600

Fishman ProEQ Bass Preamplifier

EXPERIENCE

Some of the great jazz musicians I’ve played with...

(in alphabetical order)

Alan Broadbent

Bill Evans (sax)

Bill Watrous

Blue Mitchell

Bobby Shew

Don Menza

Doug Davis

Ed Shaughnessy

J.B. Scott

Kathy Kosins

Lisa Kelly

Just a few of the hundreds of Broadway shows I’ve played in the orchestra pit...

42nd St.

Annie

Anything Goes

Bye Bye Birdie

Cabaret

Carousel

Cats

Chorus Line

Evita

Fame

Fiddler on the Roof

Grease

Guys & Dolls

Hello Dolly!

Jesus Christ Superstar

La Cage Aux Folles

Les Miserables

Little Shop of Horrors

Man of La Mancha

The Music Man

No, No, Nanette

Oliver!

Peter Pan

Paint Your Wagon

The Sound of Music

Joseph & the Amazing

Technicolor Dreamcoat

Oklahoma

South Pacific

The Producers

West Side Story

Wizard of Oz