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Ryan Anselmi

About Me

Hi! My name is Ryan Anselmi and I am a saxophonist living and working in New York City. I was born in Paola, Kansas, which was just close enough to Kansas City and its rich musical heritage that I couldn't shake wanting music to be apart of my life. At the age of twelve I started taking saxophone lessons from Charles Kessinger and working professionally with the Twin Rivers Jazz Band from Osawatomie, KS. Folks like Twin Rivers Jazz Band, David Basse & The City Light Orchestra and Vocalist/Pianist Jay McShann were my musical inspiration growing up. I moved to Wichita, KS to study music at Wichita State University where I was a student of Tom Fowler, Craig Owens, Jean Lansing, Dr. Thompson, Mark Foley, & J.C. Combs. I was playing with a number of great musicians during this time and a number of them are still performing in the Wichita area. Ryan Heinlein's Project H, Craig Owens & the Bodo Ensemble, Kit Craig, The Hillside Blues Quartet, The Masuda Quartet, The Source, Chet Aikens Quartet, Roberto Bernardinello & Marco Porcu, Kurt Aiken Quartet, The Tom Fowler Big Band, The Air Capitol Big Band, Roger Lewis's “Joy Ride” and the adventurous Colossal. I was inspired by all of these good folks to finish my degree in New York City at The New School for Jazz and Contemporary music program in New York City. I was awarded a scholarship and moved to New York City in August of 2005. After having the opportunity to study under many great teachers and musicians I graduated from the New School for Jazz and Contemporary music in 2008.

After graduating I enrolled in the university of life and began playing, recording and touring with the following artists; Pianist Mr. Junior Mance, Selmer Woodwind Artist Tim Price, Tom Abbott and his Big Bang Big Band, Vocalist/Verve/Brownswood recording Artist Jose James, An AWESOME Southern-Fried Soul Band named The Gold Magnolias, Mr. James Moody,The Coaster's, Bassist Hide Tanaka, drummer Jackie Williams and many, many more. In addition to performing I enjoying teaching!Teaching is a chance for me to solidify the knowledge I have gained and share in the joy of creating! For the last 12 years I've taught students of all levels from beginners to professionals in a multitude of settings that include being a guest lecturer and performer on both the K-12 and university level. I also double on clarinet and flute I am currently writing new music for The Gold Magnolias, The RA Quintet and a fusion project that combines bluegrass, jazz, blues and gospel music. Look for an online album this summer from this new project.

My Jazz Story

To me Jazz is freedom, rhythm and sound. I love learning about this music, where it comes from, who helped shape it and who is shaping the language of this music presently. And so far, by pursuing the answers to those questions I've found the freedom, rhythm and sound(s) that speak to my core.