Will Sessions

Will Sessions is a Detroit-based ensemble led by trumpeter and producer Sam Beaubien. Formed in 2007, the group emerged from the city's rich jazz and hip-hop scenes, notably serving as the house band for the legendary Motor City Funk Night.

Their sound identity is defined by a 'live-sampling' aesthetic, where a highly trained eight-piece band recreates the textures and rhythmic nuances of sample-heavy hip-hop and rare-groove funk. The band's career arc is marked by high-profile collaborations with Detroit hip-hop royalty like Slum Village, Black Milk, and Guilty Simpson, cementing their role as the bridge between the city's musical eras. Critically, they are lauded for their technical proficiency - many members are alumni of Wayne State University's jazz program - and their ability to maintain an 'underground' grit despite their polished musicianship. They occupy a unique cultural position as curators of the Detroit sound, preserving the legacy of Motown and P-Funk while pushing into modern electronic and hip-hop territories. Their influence is felt most strongly in the 'live hip-hop' movement, where they are considered a gold standard for authenticity.