Will Sellenraad

Will Sellenraad has earned a fast growing reputation of being at the forefront of creative musicians working in New York City. Known for his brilliant improvisations and his compelling, melodic compositions, this New York City native melds the various styles, phrasings and concepts of the jazz idiom with the raw elements of soul, rock and funk, to create a singular sound that is nothing short of inspiring.

The son of prominent New York painters, he was destined towards music at an early age. Raised and immersed in the City's downtown art and music culture, Sellenraad was able to focus all his energies and talent toward the guitar. After being awarded numerous scholarships, Sellenraad graduated from the New School University Jazz Program in 1995, where he studied under many jazz giants.

A recipient of several grants from the New York State Council on the Arts, Sellenraad is a mainstay on the music scene in and around New York City, appearing at storied jazz venues such as The 55 Bar, Smalls, Mezzrow, The Blue Note, Birdland, The Iridium, the former Sweet Basil and many others.

Gear

Trenier Guitars, John Pearse strings, Blue Chip Picks, Reunion Blues Cases, Peluso Microphones, I also love old Fender & Gibson amps...

Tags

Album Review

Star Hustler by Mark F. Turner
Balance by J Hunter
Balance by Greg Camphire

"Sellenraad's music can seduce you one minute and push you back on your heels the next. There's so much to like about Balance" "A bold and rising star on the jazz scene" - Icon

"Balance hits a satisfying sweet spot... A student of both Jim Hall and John Abercrombie, Sellenraad's guitar finds a wonderfully happy medium through Balance that takes Grant Green's cool blue sound and brings it to a grittier, more urban place." - All About Jazz

"gorgeous, subdued guitar lines... The music has an easy feeling and strong character. A good mix by a very together group." - The Santa Fe New Mexican-Pasatiempo

"Sellenraad's music can seduce you one minute and push you back on your heels the next. There's so much to like about Balance" "A bold and rising star on the jazz scene" - Icon

"gorgeous, subdued guitar lines... The music has an easy feeling and strong character. A good mix by a very together group." - The Santa Fe New Mexican-Pasatiempo

"...you will definitely be hearing more from Will Sellenraad" - Kenny Barron

"...sophisticated harmonic thinking and a modern approach...As a guitarist, Sellenraad has an abundance of technique... there is an absence of grandstanding, and one always hears music first."- Jazz Improv Magazine

"will make you start to whisper about this new cat on the horizon" - Midwest Record Recap

"sleek original themes..." - The New York Times

"You might think that a tribute to the great Elvin Jones would be a thunderous song, to represent the drummer's monumental fills and polyrhythmic timekeeping. But composer Will Sellenraad had in mind a softer, soulful side to Elvin. "Prayer" has just such a transcendent quality, centered on merely two chords, given depth and warmth by Sellenraad's guitar, then gently nudged along by bassist Kiyoshi Kitagawa and another preeminent drummer, Victor Lewis. While saxophonist Abraham Burton locates the passionate notes on the higher end of the scale, it's Lewis who, like Jones would have done, provides just the right dose of fills and soft bombs. The leader follows with a flawless demonstration on maximizing the value of each note instead of maximizing the number of notes played.

Sellenraad says that the melody for "Prayer" appeared in his head when he woke up with it at 3 a.m. That must have been one vividly colorful, peaceful dream he had that night. - Jazz.com

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