Joel Del Rosario & Surewill - Side By Side (2013)

"Best New Jazz Duet" (Los Angeles Music Awards 2012) nominees: Joel Del Rosario & Surewill join forces to create their first album together "Side by Side". Featuring 10 amazing tracks ranging from Contemporary Jazz to Neo Soul, both artists have taken out all the stops to provide you the next step in the Smooth Jazz genre. The album features both nationally & internationally known artists: Tony Exum Jr., Sam Hankins, & Toney Rhodes to complete the circle providing YOU the listener with a full palette of instrumentation and an amazing musical experience. Please take a listen to the following music bites, close your eyes, and let the music move you! - jDR

BIOS:

Surewill:

2011 Los Angeles Music Awards nominee for "Jazz Artist of The Year"
2011 Los Angeles Music Award Winner For "National Touring Artist of the Year "

SureWill's thirty year music background began with his playing in church in Buffalo, NY. Influenced by George "Chief" Davis, amazed by his skills of putting a bunch of keys together and the flavor it gave out, Will knew that was where he wanted to focus his talents. He picked up "B" flat clarinet in third grade. Two years later he was playing, reading and writing on the Alto Saxophone.

In church and to avoid the wrath of "Granny" and stay awake during the notorious lengthy Church of God in Christ services he started playing Drums. By eleventh grade he was playing every instrument and his music teacher kicked him out of class saying he wouldn't amount to anything because he wouldn't focus on one. That was the beginning of "ToldUSo" Productions for all the people who said he couldn't do it.

Will has had the pleasure of working on projects and performing with Grammy Award winning artists: Al Jarreau, George Duke, Mary J. Blige, Janet Jackson, and New Edition. He has also performed with many hard working artists in the industry such as NeYo and Sade. Will has worked hard in the industry and has gained the respect of many peers and A-List artists. He has performed live in some great venues and events such as The Long Beach Jazz Festival (2006 & 2007). NeYo and Faith Evans World Tour (2005-2006), JVC Jazz Festival (2005), Newport Jazz Festival (2005). He has also performed for the following shows and televised awards: Grammy's (2005), American Music Awards (2003- 2005), BET Awards (2003-2005), Country Music Awards (2004). Most recently he wrote and performed the score to the December (2010) play The Haunting Secret.

His writing and producing skills have taken him to an area where he wants all those who have the "ToldUSo" mentality to realize their dream. SureWill is now stepping out of the shadows and will continue to reach the world through his gift of music artistry.

Joel Del Rosario (jDR)

2012 "Guitarist of the Year" - Coffee Talk Jazz Radio
2012 Los Angeles Music Awards nominee for "Jazz Duet of the Year"

"Guitarist of the Year 2012" (Coffee Talk Jazz Radio) guitarist and songwriter, Joel Del Rosario has just about touched every genre of music from: Classical, Jazz, Hip Hop, and Southern Gospel. Classically trained in Viola, Joel studied, performed, and was second chair in the San Francisco School of the Arts Orchestra. Though winning several competitions with the renowned SOTA orchestra, Joel felt the pull to venture into the world of jazz, which began his love affair with the genre and which would envelop a majority of his music career.

His passion for the guitar however was born from tragedy. Experiencing the loss of his mother through breast cancer at 11, Joel sought solace and peace through playing guitar. It was during those quiet moments in the dark: contemplating, practicing and developing an intimate relationship with his instrument that Joel developed his guitar voice.

Through the mentorship of Robyn Kazmarcyk, (and later Elroy Jones who taught guitar virtuoso Stanley Jordan) Joel went on to pursue jazz fully and later received the Stan Getz Jazz Scholarship to attend the prestigious Stanford University Jazz camp during high school. Empowered by these positive experiences, Joel has gone on to work, write music for, and or co-write music for the following artists and record labels. He has self produced three albums “All Him”, “Calm In The Storm”, and his latest release "Coast to Coast" encompassing jazz and smooth r&b with a positive message. In addition has also been featured on several periodicals and radio stations all around the world including: MSNBC, The Italian Smooth Jazz Channel, www.jazznet247.com, Coffee Talk Jazz, Smoothjazz.com, and many others, while his international fan base continues to grow.

Currently, Joel has just completed & released his 3rd album, "Coast to Coast" (available for purchase now) while his previous albums “All Him” and “Calm In the Storm” continue to be aired both nationally and internationally. He has toured and been featured with various smooth jazz artist (Dee Lucas, Tony Exum Jr., Cal Harris, & Will Clark) and has been featured on Billboard charting artist, Cal Harris Jr.'s latest release "Shelter Island"- See more at: http://jdrjazz.com