Biography
Bassist Will Lyle brings a warm tone and post-bop fluency to both live improvisation and studio work, drawing from the acoustic jazz lineage. His sideman credits include Ralph Peterson, Billy Kilson, and Dave Kikoski, while his first album as a leader, Source Codes, appeared in 2021. The same year saw the formation of his trio with pianist Bijan Taghavi and drummer Kofi Shepsu; their self-titled debut, TrioGram, followed in 2023.
Lyle entered the world in 1994 in Orange County, California. Cello lessons began at age three, soon supplemented by drums, guitar, and piano; at twelve he turned to the bass. Enrolling at Boston’s Berklee College of Music with production ambitions, he encountered the work of Scot LaFaro and Paul Chambers during his freshman year and redirected his focus toward jazz. After graduation he joined Billy Kilson’s quartet for a tour of Japan and then relocated to Los Angeles, where he performed with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra and with Ralph Peterson, Bob Sheppard, Pasquale Grasso, and Ralph Moore.
Between 2017 and 2022 he served as the regular bassist in pianist Jon Mayer’s trio and also appeared with Dave Kikoski, Anthony Wonsey, Barbara Morrison, Randy Napoleon, Bruce Harris, Bill Cunliffe, and Kendrick Scott. In 2021 he moved to New York City, completed a master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music under Ron Carter, and released Source Codes, which featured saxophonist Sheppard, pianist Mayer, drummers Roy McCurdy and Marvin “Smitty” Smith, guitarist Jacques Lesure, and additional guests. He returned in 2023 with TrioGram, the debut recording of his trio alongside Taghavi and Shepsu.
Lyle entered the world in 1994 in Orange County, California. Cello lessons began at age three, soon supplemented by drums, guitar, and piano; at twelve he turned to the bass. Enrolling at Boston’s Berklee College of Music with production ambitions, he encountered the work of Scot LaFaro and Paul Chambers during his freshman year and redirected his focus toward jazz. After graduation he joined Billy Kilson’s quartet for a tour of Japan and then relocated to Los Angeles, where he performed with the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra and with Ralph Peterson, Bob Sheppard, Pasquale Grasso, and Ralph Moore.
Between 2017 and 2022 he served as the regular bassist in pianist Jon Mayer’s trio and also appeared with Dave Kikoski, Anthony Wonsey, Barbara Morrison, Randy Napoleon, Bruce Harris, Bill Cunliffe, and Kendrick Scott. In 2021 he moved to New York City, completed a master’s degree at the Manhattan School of Music under Ron Carter, and released Source Codes, which featured saxophonist Sheppard, pianist Mayer, drummers Roy McCurdy and Marvin “Smitty” Smith, guitarist Jacques Lesure, and additional guests. He returned in 2023 with TrioGram, the debut recording of his trio alongside Taghavi and Shepsu.