Will Holshouser’s new solo accordion album, “The Lone Wild Bird” will be available to order on Adhyâropa Records through Bandcamp on April 4, 2025. Will shares, “The Lone Wild Bird” is one of my mother’s favorite hymns from the southern shape note tradition. Birds are mysterious creatures and great musicians — to our imaginations, they can represent the divine spirit, ghosts, war, peace, etc. Most of the album consists of my own compositions for solo accordion, written over the last few years, which draw on folk, jazz and classical influences. Bandcamp https://willholshouser.bandcamp.com/album/the-lone-wild-bird
Also on the menu are a pair of Irish-style reels by my brother-in-law Kevin Kelly and me, including another hymn and an improvisational take on two Cajun waltzes. Many thanks to my teacher, Bill Schimmel, for guidance and feedback during the process of writing and polishing this music. Thanks to Adhyâropa Records for releasing this! Thanks to Scott Lehrer for engineering, Gina Triplett for the cover art, Erika Kapin for photos, and Oscar Zambrano for mastering.”
Will Holshouser is a veteran of the New York music scene who has performed all over the world with artists including violinist Regina Carter, clarinetist David Krakauer, and improvisers Han Bennink and Michael Moore as well as with his own projects. He has also performed with Antony & the Johnsons, Kiran Ahluwalia, Uri Caine, Guy Klucevsek, New York City Ballet, New York City Opera, Martha Wainwright, Loudon Wainwright, Suzanne Vega, and others.
Will studied accordion and composition with his mentor, Dr. William Schimmel, and composition with Tania León, Dalit Warshaw, Anthony Braxton, and Bill Barron. He lives in Brooklyn, NY with his family and teaches at Brooklyn College.
“The Lone Wild Bird” release concerts will be on April 5, 2025 in Cambridge, MA at The Lilypad and on April 12, 2025 in Brooklyn, NY at the South Oxford Space. The Brooklyn concert will include a solo set plus a set with Will’s trio featuring Ron Horton on trumpet and Dave Phillips on bass. Tickets for April 12 Brooklyn gig: https://www.viewcy.com/e/will_holshouser_solo
Will shares, “Aviary,” a digital single from my new solo album, is out now on various platforms. The first public performance of “Aviary” was part of a Victory Hall Opera program called “Soundflight” in 2022, next to a beautiful quarry near Charlottesville, VA. While playing the piece, I could see turtles swimming up from the depths of the pond and hear birds and insects all around. Thanks to VHO for including this in the program, and thanks to Kelly Peral for the photo.”
“Aviary” by Will Holshouser performed live at Barbès in Brooklyn, NY on Jan. 19, 2025:
For further information: wholsho@twc.com
