Earnest Woodall

Self promotional mastermind Earnest Woodall is one of those rare musicians that can write, perform, record, package, and release their own material without any financial or artistic interference from record companies. Starting in the late eighties, the ambient/jazz composer began putting together bedroom recordings, slowly making the transition to better equipment and sound quality through the years. Releasing an album per year, Woodall's abilities to daringly write in whatever genre he sees fit when the fancy strikes him is not only admirable, but downright impressive considering how little outside support he receives. Using just about anything to inspire his writing, he reached a high point with 2002's Pictures in Mind, an album written after a particularly moving trip to a New York art museum.