Bio
"A modern musician steeped in tradition" Jerry Coker. Multi-reed instrumentalist, composer, educator Will Boyd hails from soul sax tradition like artists Eddie Harris, Hank Crawford, David "Fat Head" Newman, King Curtis and Johnny Hodges. Originally from Orangeburg SC by way of Queens NY, Will currently resides in Asheville, NC. He is a member of the Knoxville Jazz Orchestra and currently has 3 solo albums “Live at the Red Piano Lounge”, “Freedom Soul Jazz”, and "Soulful Noise". Will also co-leads a group with Wife, jazz radio host, and founder of the Knoxville Women in Jazz Jam Festival Kelle Jolly.
Will was playing with professional local R&B groups before he was 18. He then received more training at the music program at South Carolina State University where he received BA in Music Business and met future wife vocalist Kelle Jolly. There he played on the jazz ensemble that boasted distinguished alumni such as tenor man Houston Person, trombonist Ron Westray (Lincoln Center Alum), and trumpeter Charlton Singleton (Ranky Tanky). There he also played in the concert band and the Marching 101. Was inducted into the university’s jazz hall of fame in 1997.
Will would later become a staple in the music scene in Columbia SC where he would play with mostly fusion, funk, and soul bands. There he got opportunities to play with legends in this field including local guitarist, educator Robert Newton, drummer John Blackwell (Prince, Justin Timberlake), trombonist Fred Wesley (JB’s, James Brown) and soul singer William Bell. Through a chance encounter with saxophonist Patrick Langham (Brubeck institute) would lead him to Knoxville TN.
Will moved to Knoxville in early 2000s, and enrolled into the University of TN program where he would receive his Masters of Jazz Studies. During this period Will worked with many local soul, blues and jazz bands, while also studying and performing with prominent jazz educator saxophonist, author Jerry Coker (Woody Herman), South African free jazz artist Zim Ngqawana, and pianist, composer, producer Donald Brown (Art Blakey Jazz Messengers).
Since then, Will has had the opportunity to perform with many artists across genres including Leslie Odom Jr (Hamilton), Wycliffe Gordon (Lincoln Center), Doc Severinsen (Tonight Show), Crissy Collins (Beyonce), Chris Blue (The Voice), Glen Jones, Jeff Coffin (Bella Fleck, Dave Mathews), Rick Simerly, Blanch McCallister- Dykes (Donald Lawrence), Elise Testone (American Idol), Amy Bormet, Laura Theadore, Dave Eggar, Regina Carter, Jeff Sipe, Four Tops, Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra, John Beasley's Monk'estra, and Harry James big band. He is also on recordings which include artists such as Nicholas Payton, Michael Dease, Greg Tardy, Bobby Lyle, Jonathan Scales, Eric Reed, Chris Potter, Jeremy Pelt, Tim Green, Russell Gunn and Darryl Hall. Will has performed at many music festivals from Big Ears in Knoxville TN, to Peter Barakan's It's Magic in Tokyo JP.
Currently, Will is part of the music faculty at The University of North Carolina Asheville and Warren Wilson College. Will also performs with wife Kelle Jolly around the US as well as abroad including many trips touring Japan. They’ve appeared on Season 6 of the cooking show “The Jazzy Vegetarian” with Laura Theodore for the Create Channel. They have also performed on cruise ships and done musical theater shows including "Hairspray"", "Ain't Mis Behavin'", "Five Guys Named Mo", and "Ain't Too Proud". They received the MLK award for the arts in 2013. They are on the soundtrack for the PBS documentary on painter Beauford Delaney. Will also played the premier performances of "Shadow Light" (an opera celebrating the life of Beauford Delaney) with the Marble City Opera. Will also appears in the 2nd episode of “live at Lucille’s”, season 1 (a live jazz concert series on East TN PBS) in the Kenneth Brown Quintet.