Welcome to the home page of THE WILLIE AUGUST PROJECT, an innovative trio that plays melodic modern jazz and is based in Minnesota in the United States. Scroll down and click on a link below to proceed...
"Music [that] comes from a deep and well thought-out place."
--Jazz Improv magazine, vol. 5, no. 1, Fall, 2005
"This Midwestern combo is gonna be a contender, you wait 'n' see."
--www.JazzReview.com
"The massively creative minds involved in this project digest a diversity of styles and the results are stunning."
--A&R Select Artist Representation, Hollywood, CA
"The Willie August Project plays durable music that expertly straddles the line between easy groove and challenging absorption."
Direct links to albums on iTunes.com: Surrender to the Wind, by the Willie August Project - click here!
Empire at Twilight, by Ben Siems, featuring Jeremy Hauer - click here!
Click here to visit The Willie August Project on MySpace!
NEW!!
You can now purchase individual Willie August Project and Ben Siems tracks as MP3s,
directly from this site! Go to the CDs/MP3s section below for more information.
NOTE: If you have an older browser and these links do not function properly, CLICK HERE to view a simplified version of our site.
The Willie August Project began as a collaboration between guitarist-composer Ben Siems and drummer Jeremy Hauer. The group is named for Siems' late grandfather, who was an avid supporter of live music before dying at a young age from a brain tumor. To round out the trio, upright bass duties are shared by some of the top bassists in Minnesota, including Jeff Brueske, Graydon Peterson, and Elizabeth Draper.
From A&R Select Artist Representation, Hollywood California:
"The Willie August Project jazz trio is demonstrating its forward-thinking musical theory with the audio goods on tap in its album, Surrender to the Wind. Genre-bending abounds with the progressive compositions presented by this act. Leader and principal composer Ben Siems has a history of bravely attacking jazz, fusion, avant-classical, ambient, experimental, singer-songwriter, and cinematic and theatrical styles. It sounds like a lot to bite off but the Project has no problem masticating this mouthful. The massively creative minds involved in this group digest a diversity of genre interests and the results are stunning.
Atmosphere swells out of the speakers on 'Andean Fire Circle,' the startling single from Surrender to the Wind. Captivating guitar playing stands as the spine of this music that mingles jazz, ambient and folk flavors in a slowly building and emotive work that carries the listener a great distance in its few minutes of running time. Drawing on a diversity of styles enables the band to embrace the whole scope of human emotion, from the most uplifting joy to the greatest depths of despair."
--Kristofer Upjohn, staff writer
Inspired
by the current progressive jazz movement, the small group jazz of the 1960s and 70s, and the jazz-folk-rock fusion sounds associated with the ECM record label, The Willie August
Project builds its sound around extraordinarily cohesive ensemble playing,
with an emphasis on collective improvisation. Each member of the group
is both a fine soloist and an excellent supporting musician and listener.
As a result, this trio is able to maintain a remarkable consistency
of mood throughout each tune, with each passage flowing seamlessly into
the next.
*HONORABLE MENTION, 2008 Indie Singer-Songwriter Association (issa) Songwriting Contest. With hundreds of thousands of entries, the issa competition is one of the toughest in the world!
NOTE: Last-minute changes to club gigs are rare, but not unheard of, occurrences. It is always a good idea to call the club the day of a show you wish to attend to verify details.
Photos copyright 2004 Tom Herbers
MON., JUNE 8, starting at 6:30 p.m.: VARSITY THEATER, 1308 4th Street SE, Dinkytown, Minneapolis, MN 55414, 612-604-0222. The trio joins a diverse group of performers for a very special night of live music at this one-of-a-kind performance space. A vintage theater reborn as a hip and quirky venue of today, located in the heart of the happening Dinkytown district, the Varsity is a great destination for a night out on the town!
And yes, it's back...
WAP in the Parks 2009!!
Our very popular series of outdoor summer concerts returns for another great year...
TUE., JUNE 16, 7 - 8:15 p.m.: MINNEHAHA FALLS PARK BANDSTAND, 4801 Minnehaha Avenue South, Minneapolis, 55417. WAP in the Parks 2009 kicks off with our annual appearance at this nationally acclaimed Minneapolis park. Widely regarded as one of the most beautiful urban parks in America, Minnehaha Falls offers great hikes and outstanding scenic beauty. Nestled down in the park's signature oak grove, and just a few steps away from the lovely falls and the fabulous Sea Salt Eatery, the bandstand makes a perfect destination on a summer evening!
WED., JULY 15, 7 - 8:15 p.m.: FATHER HENNEPIN BLUFFS PARK BANDSTAND at the STONE ARCH BRIDGE, 408 Main St. SE, Minneapolis, 55414. WAP in the Parks 2009 rolls on with our performance at this scenic and lively outdoor venue in the heart of the historic downtown riverfront district. With a variety of great outdoor activities, restaurants, and other attractions close at hand, Father Hennepin Park is an ideal destination on a mid-summer night!
TUE., JULY 21, 7 - 8:15 p.m.: MINNEHAHA FALLS PARK BANDSTAND, 4801 Minnehaha Avenue South, Minneapolis, 55417. WAP in the Parks 2009 rolls on with a special Ben Siems solo acoustic show at Minnehaha Falls. Authentic Delta blues, folk and folk-rock classics, and original songs — an eclectic mix ideal for accompaniment by a summer breeze.
SAT. JULY 25, 11:30 p.m. - 1:30 a.m.: DAKOTA JAZZ CLUB, 1010 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis, MN 55403, 612-332-1010.
The Willie August Project returns to the flagship venue of Minnesota jazz. The Dakota is more than a local landmark. It is nationally regarded as one of America's most beautiful settings for jazz. With dynamic, true acoustics, phenomenal sight lines from anywhere in the house, and fantastic food and drink to boot, this club will take hold of you from the moment you walk in the door. Come join us amidst the magic of a summer night, and surrender to its charms! ($5 cover)
SAT., AUG. 1, 7:30 - 10 p.m.: JOJO'S RISE AND WINE, 12501 Nicollet Avenue South, Ste. 100, Burnsville, MN 55337, 952-736-3001. A Ben Siems solo acoustic show. Authentic Delta blues, folk and folk-rock classics, and original songs to boot, all in a venue that ranks among the friendliest in Minnesota!
WED., AUG. 19, 7:30 - 8:45 p.m.: LAKE HARRIET BANDSHELL,, 4135 Lake Harriet Parkway, Minneapolis, MN 55409. The Willie August Project’s annual performance at this most storied of all the great Minneapolis Parks music venues. As always, the signature event of our annual WAP in the Parks concert series. Bring a friend, bring a blanket and a picnic dinner, bring a love for an iconic summer evening, and we’ll do our best to ’bring it’ in return! Come see why CITY PAGES listed Lake Harriet Bandshell as the BEST PLACE in MINNEAPOLIS to bring an out of town guest!!
MON., AUG. 31, 7 - 8:15 p.m.: FATHER HENNEPIN BLUFFS PARK BANDSTAND at the STONE ARCH BRIDGE, 408 Main St. SE, Minneapolis, 55414. WAP in the Parks 2009 wraps up with another Ben Siems solo performance at this great riverside park. Authentic Delta blues, folk and folk-rock classics, and original songs — an eclectic mix that will make a very special "farewell to summer."
FRI., SEPT. 18, time TBA: CORNER COFFEE, 514 N 3rd Street, Minneapolis, MN 55401, 612-228-2002. A Ben Siems solo acoustic show. Authentic Delta blues, folk and folk-rock classics, and original songs to boot. Corner Coffee is hip and comfortable, intimate without being cramped. A great spot for an early autumn evening!
The ASCAP Network, streaming audio and podcasts at www.ascap.com/network.
INTERNET:indieWarehouse Radio MASSACHUSETTS: WGBH, Boston NEW YORK: WKCR, WBGO, New York City;
WGMC, Rochester; WAER, Syracuse PENNSYLVANIA: WRTI, Philadelphia;
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WSIE, Southern Ill., St. Louis, MO LOUISIANA: WWOZ, New Orleans MINNESOTA: KBEM and KFAI, Twin Cities;
WTIP, North Shore COLORADO: KUVO, Denver WASHINGTON: KPLU, Seattle/Tacoma OREGON: KMHD, Portland CALIFORNIA: KSCM, San Mateo/SF Bay;
KKJZ, Long Beach; KSDS, Sand Diego
FEEL FREE TO CALL THE STATION IN YOUR AREA AND REQUEST THE WILLIE AUGUST PROJECT!!
The brand-new Ben Siems CD, EMPIRE AT TWILIGHT, is now available! Go to the CDs section of this site for more information.
(Posted 6/22/09)
Ben Siems' resume of composing commissions continues to grow and diversify. Since the spring of 2008, his projects have included:
•"Border Crossing" (sound scape with mariachi music), dance-theater soundtrack commissioned by Off-Leash Area contemporary performance works.
•"The Bottom Fell Out ... and Then" (avant garde soundscape), soundtrack for modern dance piece, commissioned by choreographer Jim Lieberthal.
•"Our Town" (sound scape with folk/Americana), soundtrack for movement theater adaptation of Thornton Wilder's classic play, commissioned by Macalester College.
•"Ivan the Drunk and His Terrible Tale of Woe" (sound scape with Russian-inspired music), soundtrack for movement theater work, commissioned by Off-Leash Area contemporary performance works.
And, he is currently working on the soundtrack for "The Seducer" a film based on Dostoevsky's "White Nights," written and directed by independent filmmaker John Koch.
For more information on Ben Siems' composing projects, or to receive work samples or contact Ben about a project opportunity,send Ben an email.
As Ben has been honing his skills as a composer, Jeremy Hauer has been honing his as a sound engineer, recording studio director, and audio and video editor. His GREEN OLIVE STUDIO in St. Paul, MN offers professional quality work at very affordable rates. For more informaion on Green Olive Studio, send Jeremy and email.
(Posted 6/18/08)
Ben Siems was named as a FINALIST in Folk category for the April round of the 2008 SONG OF THE YEAR International Songwriting Contest, for his folk-blues composition, "Early Morning Blue"!! Only the top five songs in each category achieve FINALIST status. To hear "Early Morning Blue," click on track 2 of the IPlayer, found below in the MP3s for STREAMING OR PURCHASE section. To see the official award announcement or learn more about the SONG OF THE YEAR contest, visit The SONG OF THE YEAR website.
PURCHASE WILLIE AUGUST PROJECT AND BEN SIEMS TRACKS IN MP3 FORMAT RIGHT HERE, USING THE NIMBIT MP3 PLAYER/SELLER!!
To hear additional MP3 tracks, use the A&R Select IPlayer:
NOTE: The "Buy Now" button on the IPlayer below is not active. To purchase MP3s, use the above NIMBIT player. Also, when you click on a song, there may be a 5-10 second delay before that song starts playing.
All songs copyright Ben Siems and Thunder Cliff Music, ASCAP. Unauthorized duplication or distribution is strictly prohibited by U.S. and international copyright laws.
1. Andean Fire Circle (from the CD, Surrender to the Wind)
2. Surrender to the Wind (from the CD, Surrender to the Wind)
3. Early Morning Blue (available as a single only!)
4. Shadow Chasers (from the CD, Empire at Twilight)
5. Nothing Matters but the Joy (from the CD, Surrender to the Wind)
6. Threshold: Entrancending; Incantascence (from the CD, Empire at Twilight)
7. Aspirations in Cobblestone (from the CD, Surrender to the Wind)
8. Waiting for Yesterday (from the CD, Empire at Twilight)
9. Lost and Found (Loon Call) (from the CD, Surrender to the Wind)
10 (six tracks) Empire at Twilight Suite (from the CD, Empire at Twilight)
11 (two tracks) Timescape suite (from the CD, Empire at Twilight)
12. Andean Fire Circle , live version recorded December 2008 at the world-famous Dakota Jazz Club in Minneapolis!
TRACK LIST FOR A&R SELECT IPLAYER
A. From Surrender to the Wind
1.Andean Fire Circle (CD trk. 2)
2.Nothing Matters but the Joy (CD trk. 10)
3.Chilly and the Mustangs (CD trk. 6)
4.Surrender to the Wind (CD trk. 1)
8.Ramsey Hill (CD trk. 3)
10. Aspirations in Cobblestone (CD trk. 4)
11. Suite for a Dancer, Movt. 6 (CD trk. 7)
B. From Empire at Twilight, by Ben Siems
5. Threshold (CD trk. 8)
9. Shadow Chasers (CD trk. 7)
12. The Isolation of the Ascendant (CD trk. 11)
13. Primeval Scape (CD trk. 10)
15. Time, too, Crumbles (CD trk. 3)
C. From Dream Truths
7. Pool Hall Chatter (CD trk. 3)
D. From Transparent Sunrise
6. The Terms of My Surrender (CD trk. 7)
E. From Sun's Gonna Shine, by Ben Siems
14. Sun's Gonna Shine (CD trk. 1)
SURRENDER
TO THE WIND
DiPhoCal Jazz Records #DiPh 03
Released 11/21/2003
Distributed by NorthCountry Distributors, Redwood, NY
Scroll up to the MP3 player above to hear a variety of sample tracks from this disc!
Copyright 2003 Ben Siems and Thunder Cliff Music, ASCAP. All rights reserved.
For more sound clips, a complete list of tracks and other information, please visit our pages at CDBABY.com, and at indieWarehouse.com.
**#1 New Addition, XM Radio Real Jazz 70, first week of 2006**
**AllAboutJazz.com All Time Top Fifty (#18) Daily Downloads music list, 2005
**Honorable Mention, CITY PAGES Best Albums of 2004 list**
FromCADENCE MAGAZINE
The Review of Jazz and Blues:
Creative Improvised Music; April, 2004
Copyright 2004 Cadence Magazine
WILLIE AUGUST PROJECT, SURRENDER TO THE WIND, DiPhoCal Jazz 3
Ben Siems, g; Jeremy Hauer, d, perc.; Scot Hornick, b; Jim Chenoweth, b; Laura Caviani, p.
Sept., 03, Minneapolis.
Light, but firm, swing characterizes parts of SURRENDER TO THE WIND, while other parts have a textured approach that connotes New Age music. Fear not the bland, however, because The Willie August Project, so named for leader Ben Siems' grandfather, plays durable music that expertly straddles the line between easy groove, and challenging absorption.
Occasionally reminiscent of Gary Burton's DUSTER and LOFTY FAKE ANAGRAM-era groups in their synthesis of jazz with folk and rock sounds, SURRENDER TO THE WIND is pleasurable to listen to; it easily seems half its generous length. Laura Caviani fits into the trio's quietly compelling spaces beautifully on her two (opening and closing) tracks, the former of which is the disc's first out-and-out swinger. The Ornette-ish "Taunting the Duck Squat Impostor," with its tricky melody and extended soloing, also shows off this group's power to hit the boards, but what impresses most here are the quieter, more spare tracks. "Aspirations in Cobblestone" and the excerpt from "Suite for a Dancer," for instance, have an earthy feel that quiets the mind, and resonates both physically and mentally.
Siems himself is a fountain of muted melody, with a masterful grasp of the guitaristic art of the octave. Although he plays electric throughout, his sonic approach gives even his highest, brightest notes the warmth of a candle flame. Jeremy Hauer is a sympathetic percussionist, laying back much of the time, and going for texture and color over forward propulsion, while the respective bassists fill the trio's mid-range with the necessary essentials. An off-the-beaten-path release that makes one want to hear more. --Larry Nai
"A very impressive CD. Siems' guitar work is sterling. Absolutely topnotch." -Mike Raymond, Jazz Director, WTIP-FM North Shore, MN
Detailed information on retail store purchase options for this Willie August Project disc can be found below in the PURCHASING INFO section. For mail order information, send an email to The Willie August Project.
"At last, a youthful jazz guitarist who doesn’t break his neck trying to capture/channel the styles of Jim Hall, Pat Metheny, Bill Frisell, or Wes Montgomery! Not that there’s anything amiss with those fellows, but if I want to hear them, I’ll listen to their discs – too many guitarists follow a bit too closely in their giant footsteps. Guitarist Ben Siems has obviously learned a more n’ a bit from those guys, yet he doesn’t sound like any of ‘em. The beautifully pensive, acoustic 'Andean Fire Circle' feels like he’s listened to not only acoustic jazz string-benders (like Ralph Towner) but also to folk-oriented guitarists Leo Kottke and John Fahey ... but there are faint echoes of Hendrix (more melodically than stylistically). Another fine thing re: this Siems doesn’t overplay, plays melodies (instead of just “notes”), and employs (but does not overindulge) a sense of quietude & “space,” as do his beautifully empathetic bass/drums band-mates. Special kudos to drummer Jeremy Hauer, whose brittle, tasty, slightly minimalist approach recalls Matt Wilson and Han Bennink. There is plenty of crisp swing to go along with the suspension of time ... This Midwestern combo is gonna be a contender, you wait ‘n’ see." -Mark Keresman, www.JazzReview.com
"Siems solos confidently on guitar, tastefully making use of space. His work is clearly about making music as opposed to succumbing to a preoccupation with technique -- the latter being the case with all too many musicians impressed with pyrotechnics. ...His sensitivity as an improviser is quite evident in the music. When he points out that 'Jazz, like life, is not about reaching a destination' and he discusses his ongoing journey, it is clear that his music comes from a deep and well thought-out place. Siems offers a depth and diversity of music here. Considering his exploration and understanding of his place in the universe, and how it informs his music, I recommend sharing the path with him for a moment, and listening to The Willie August Project." -Winthrop Bedford, Jazz Improv magazine
"The jazziest tune [on Surrender to the Wind] is the title cut. Siems' notes on the guitar are juicy and loquacious, with an attractive underbelly of swing ... this is a delightful ride. "Nothing Matters but the Joy" glows in shimmering beauty defined lyrically by Siems. ... It's a nice one indeed, which can be said of the album as a whole." -Jerry D'Souza, AllAboutJazz.com (Read the complete review at www.allaboutjazz.com.)
"The Willie August Project takes us to far off places on SURRENDER TO THE WIND. The compositions of Ben Siems reverberate with the beauty of nature." -Leigh Kamman, Minnesota Public Radio
EMPIRE
AT TWILIGHT
DiPhoCal Records #DiPh 04
Released 10/18/2007
Listen to sample tracks from Empire at Twilight by scrolling up to the MP3 PLAYER above!
To hear additional MP3 excerpts from Empire at Twilight and/or to purchase the CD, visit CDBaby.com!
Listen
for selections from Dream Truths on
KBEM-FM 88.5 ("Jazz 88") in the Minneapolis - St. Paul
metro area. Don't
hesitate to call them at 612-529-KBEM and
request The Willie August Project!
Copyright 2000 B. Siems Thunder Cliff Music, ASCAP
"The Willie August Project
... has achieved something quite personal on this sophomore CD. Siems
writes blues-hued, graceful and often melancholy themes, while his guitar
work is moving further afield from an obvious love of Wes Montgomery
into an idio-syncratic realm. Hauer uses his drum kit in a painterly,
post-modern way, spontaneously composing arresting intros, and adding
cool running commentary to Siems' themes." �Minneapolis STAR TRIBUNE, 12/10/00
"A very fine album." �Leigh Kamman, host of Minnesota Public Radio's, "The
Jazz Image."
"Eight fine examples of what
Twin Cities music critic Tom Surowicz has described as Siems' 'stellar
composing.' From the swinging blues of 'Pool Hall Chatter' to the dark
groove of 'Should Have;' from the introspective 'Ashes of My Dreams'
to the explosively modern, 'The Trial and the Truth,' Siems shows his
remarkable ability to capture a wide range of moods. Dream Truths
truly offers something for every jazz fan." �Twin Cities Jazz Society's, JAZZ NOTES, 12/00
TRANSPARENT
SUNRISE
DiPhoCal
Jazz Records #DiPh01
Released 6/10/1999
PLEASE NOTE: TRANSPARENT SUNRISE is currently out of print. If you are interested in purchasing this CD, please send us an email and we will let you know if there are any copies available. Thanks to all those who have purchased this CD!!
SONGS IN MP3 PLAYER, ABOVE:
The Terms of My Surrender
All selections copyright 1999 B. Siems. Thunder Cliff Music, ASCAP
"Siems wrote a batch of grade-A
songs for the group's debut CD" --Minneapolis Star Tribune, "Free Time," 11/5/99
"Outstanding writing, good
group cohesion, sure swing, well-schooled solos, catchy riffs, and healthy
echoes of Wes Montgomery, Miles Davis and other 1960s post-bop icons
-- TRANSPARENT SUNRISE delivers all that and more." --Twin Cities Jazz Society's, "Jazz Notes," 11/99
WHERE
TO BUY WILLIE AUGUST PROJECT CDs ...
With the help of our friends at the TWIN CITIES MUSIC NETWORK, we are pleased to offer our CDs for sale directly from this site!!
Just scroll up and look for the TCMUSIC.NET "Buy It Now" icons...
You can also hear sound samples from Surrender to the Wind and Dream Truths and/or purchase the discs from our page at IndieJazz.com.
CDs may also be purchased at any Willie August Project performance.
If you live in the Twin Cities metro area, you can find several retail stores selling one or all of our CDs, including the Electric Fetus and all Cheapo/Applause Discs stores. For more information, send an email to The Willie August Project and request information on retail purchase of CDs.