Drummer-composer Willy Rodriguez navigates loss and memory on In The Unknown (I Will Find You), out March 13 via Sunnyside Records
Drummer, composer, and bandleader Willy Rodriguez returns with In The Unknown (I Will Find You), a profound exploration of loss, memory, and spiritual connection. The album, his sophomore release following the widely acclaimed Seeing Sounds, arrives March 13, 2026 via Sunnyside Records. Recorded at the legendary Rudy Van Gelder Studio, the album features an adventurous bassless trio with saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock and pianist Leo Genovese, with spoken word contributions from Allan Harris.
Rodriguez has established himself as a versatile voice within contemporary music, with recognition spanning multiple genres. In 2022, he joined the drum chair of progressive rock ensemble The Mars Volta for their reunion album, while maintaining an active presence in the creative jazz community. His debut, Seeing Sounds, drew critical praise for its genre-defying approach and willingness to embrace the unpredictable territories of open improvisation.
“He’s like a sonic astronaut, comfortable jamming on genres that are as far apart as Mars’ fiery plains are from the Moon’s cool, cratered landscape.” – Ken Micallef, DownBeat Magazine
“Seeing Sounds catapults listeners into a mesmerizing realm that pushes the boundaries of traditional structures and embraces the risky yet often brilliant edges of open and free improvisation.” – Pierre Giroux, The New York City Jazz Record
In The Unknown (I Will Find You) emerged from Rodriguez’s experience of losing his mother to cancer — a period that transformed his relationship to both grief and creativity. “The emotions and limitations I faced during that time led me on a deeply nostalgic journey … one that allowed me to grow in ways I had never anticipated,” Rodriguez reflects. The album’s title addresses the paradox of reunion and the certainty of an eventual meeting coupled with the absence of a specific place or time. For Rodriguez, music became that meeting place, a spiritual link where he could draw closer to his mother’s memory.
The album’s unusual bassless trio instrumentation was a deliberate choice, designed to create freedom without stylistic constraints. “I wanted freedom without limits,” Rodriguez explains. “The harmonic freedom is multidirectional, and the improvisations can go anywhere.” The album unfolds programmatically, with each composition serving as a distinct chapter within a unified context.
Rodriguez assembled a remarkable ensemble to realize this vision. Saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, recognized as one of the most compelling contemporary improvisers, brings a distinctive voice capable of arresting lyricism and fearless abstraction. Rodriguez notes their shared experience: “We have gone through a similar emotional process with our parents, and it’s truly present on the album.” Her contribution proves essential to the project’s emotional resonance.
Pianist Leo Genovese, who has collaborated with Rodriguez with The Mars Volta, among other settings, brings what Rodriguez describes as “a unique way of hearing and flowing.” The absence of bass allows Genovese’s pianism to occupy the full harmonic spectrum, coloring the music with flourishes of expressionistic invention and bursts of percussive energy.
The music arrived to Rodriguez quickly, born from a deeply felt experience that demanded immediate expression. This is strongly reflected on the title track, which embodies the powerful emotions that drove the fast-moving creative process. Another highlight, “The Perplexity of Eternity” emerged as a riddle with its compositional contour musically presenting the paradox suggested by its title. The track features spoken word contributions from Allan Harris, adding a rich textural dimension to the album’s sonic palette. “A Room Full of Confusion” is Rodriguez’s personal standout due to its emotional weight, exemplified through the haunting melody. Throughout the program, Rodriguez demonstrates an ability to guide the ensemble through transitions between open exploration and detailed compositional events with clarity and propulsion.
The album’s sonic character is shaped by sound designer Chris Connors, whose contributions are integral to the project. Through the creation of distinct aural environments for each piece, Connors imbues the music with an atmosphere of mystery, seamlessly shifting between synthetic and organic textures in response to each composition’s emotional landscape.
In The Unknown (I Will Find You) is an intimate document of personal transformation, demonstrating how music can serve as a bridge between memory and presence, absence and connection. Through this profound work, Rodriguez has created not only a space for his own grief and healing but an invitation for listeners to explore their own relationships with loss, love, and the mysteries that lie beyond.
In The Unknown (I Will Find You) will be available March 13, 2026 via Sunnyside.
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Personnel: Willy Rodriguez – Drums & Compositions Ingrid Laubrock – Tenor & Soprano Saxophone Leo Genovese – Piano, Hammond Organ
Guest: Allan Harris – Spoken Word on “The Perplexity Of Eternity”
Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, Sound Design: Chris Connors