Upper Lake >> For Will Siegel, life in music might seem complicated. The Rural Jazz Project, in which Siegel plays guitar, is all about jazz standards. When playing with a group dubbed Panamerica, he strums classical Latin music with a nylon string guitar.
But they say variety is the spice of life. Well, the same could be said for music, at least according to Siegel. The guitarist actively avoids sticking to one style, choosing to bounce between genres depending on venue and audience. Will Siegel and Friends, who play at the Blue Wing on Monday, perform bluesy rock and roll.
So it’s no surprise Siegel finds it difficult to succinctly describe his music. At wineries and brunches it leans toward classical and jazz. When he moves to louder venues and evening shows the blues and rock come out. At the senior center over in Ukiah he like to throw some country into the mix. “It’s very important for me to play music that’s appropriate for my audience,” Siegel said. “When I’m hired … I have the sense of what they’re going to expect from me, then I try to fulfill that.”
It’s not that he’s fickle. He just doesn’t see a reason to limit his sound. “Music is much bigger than one genre,” he explained. “I really believe that we are the sum of all of our experiences.”
But as a guitar teacher of 40 years, Siegel understands the importance of perfecting your craft. He admits that in order to excel at a specific style, a musician must dedicate themselves to that style. Fortunately, over his career Siegel has had many chances to explore a number of genres at length. “I’ve spent large blocks of time in my life studying or practicing in a style and then I seem to drift when an opportunity beckons,” he said.
Possessing a large repertoire is also a matter of practicality. Siegel has found that it can be difficult to round up a group of musicians who want to play the same style regularly, but he’s met many who prefer experimentation, like him. Switching up the music also allows him to bring in certain players when needed, and go on without members when necessary.
Though Will Siegel and Friends have officially been around since the early 2000s, Siegel has been playing music with some of the band members for decades, including his wife. The two have been married and making music together for over 40 years. Today, the group is made up of Ellie Siegel, who plays drums, clarinet and saxophone, among other instruments; keyboardist Tom Aiken; Les Boek on harmonica, guitar and percussion; and Steve Baird on acoustic and electric bass, as well as baritone, flugelhorn and trombone.
“I enjoy playing different styles and so do they so it’s something we have in common,” Siegel said. “Music is what you make of it. I feel very fortunate to have these good people as companions.”
Though Siegel strums away at the Gibson electric guitar when with Will Siegel and Friends, he’s a multi-instrumentalist himself. He’s skilled at the dobro, steel guitar, banjo, mandolin and tiple, but guitar is his dominant instrument and the one he focuses most on. He favors the six string for it’s portability, accompaniment potential and range.
Siegel began playing the guitar at the age of nine, after tuning into the radio to hear the popular musicians of the time like Elvis, Buddy Holly and Ricky Nelson. His parents, too, instilled in him a love of music when they bought him his first guitar and enrolled him in years of lessons. Siegel has forever been grateful. “It’s a gift to be able to share music with people,” he said.
When it comes to his shows, audience is clearly one of the most pressing things on Siegel’s mind. But as he stands in front of an attentive crowd swaying or dancing or singing along, he gets as much as he gives. It’s addictive, “like ice cream,” he said with a laugh. “There’s an energy that comes right back at the performer when the audience is responsive. There’s this symbiotic relationship that keeps cycling. It’s a unique way to communicate with people and I find it very fulfilling.”
Since 2007, Will Siegel and Friends have been playing the Blue Wing’s popular Monday Blues. Snagging the slot was difficult ten years ago. Now it’s nearly impossible, with Bay Area and touring musicians stopping by to put on shows weekly. But with good food, good drinks and good company, it’s not hard to see why. “Doesn’t every town need a little place like the Blue Wing?” Siegel said.
Will Siegel and Friends perform at the Blue Wing Saloon in Upper Lake on Monday from 6:30 p.m. -9 p.m. No cover, but reservations are suggested. Call 275-2245. The Blue Wing is located at 9550 Main St.
Jennifer Gruenke can be reached at 900-2019.
