Will Gorman

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Will Gorman does it all. He is a pianist, organist, singer, composer, and arranger. Starting classical lessons at a young age, he was dragged to jazz band in high school and never turned back. His music blends the best parts of swing, blues, and gospel into a soulful, modern sound, creating a unique and uplifting experience for the listener. Performing with ensembles ranging from intimate trios to his own big band, he combines expressive vocals with dynamic piano and Hammond organ playing rooted in the Black American musical tradition, connecting with audiences who appreciate timeless soulful music delivered with energy, authenticity, and heart. He’s performed extensively with jazz notables such as Vincent Herring, Claudio Roditi, Madeleine Peyroux, Dave Stryker, Mimi Fox, Jumaane Smith, Cecil Alexander, Winard Harper, Irwin Hall, and the Royal Bopsters, among others.

At age 19, he joined the band of Grammy Award-winning blues master Joe Louis Walker, balancing time between touring and school. He’s played extensively with rising blues stars “King” Solomon Hicks and Vanessa Collier, including work on three of Collier’s albums, including a live DVD recorded at PowerStation in NYC. Will has performed at clubs and festivals all over the U.S., Europe, South America, and Asia, including Jazz in Marciac, Blue Note Beijing, Jazz Madrid, Rochester International Jazz Festival, Smoke Jazz and Supper Club, The Black Cat, and many more. As a background vocalist, he was featured on the 2022 Macy’s Day Parade supporting Dionne Warwick and the 2022 Rockefeller Tree Lighting Ceremony supporting Mickey Guyton. An up-and-coming arranger, he contributed two arrangements for big band on veteran organist Radam Schwartz’s Message from Groove and GW, released on Arabesque, as well as a brand new concert of music for singer/trumpeter Jumaane Smith for a Ray Charles tribute to be recorded.

Will is proud to be on the faculty at Western Connecticut State University in Danbury, CT, where he teaches jazz and commercial voice, directs two Vocal Jazz Ensembles, and teaches Jazz Piano lessons and in a class setting. He also directs the Vocal Jazz Ensemble and teaches lessons at City College of New York in Harlem. He attended William Paterson University, working with Bill Charlap and Harold Mabern, among others, and completed his B.M. in Jazz Piano in 2019 and M.M. in Composition and Arranging in 2020, as well as his M.M. in Jazz Voice from Montclair State University.