Bobby Selvaggio’s interview
by Frankie Pfeiffer
Editor in chief – PARIS-MOVE
June 16th, 2026
Photographer: Heidi M. Rolf
Photos’ credits: Bobby Selvaggio
Summary: The live album Red Rhinoceros is the second HCR (Hidden Cinema Records) release from Bobby Selvaggio, and the first recorded with his octet, Red Rhinoceros. The album features eight original compositions by saxophonist, composer, Bobby Selvaggio and will be his thirteenth album as leader.
Review on Paris-Move
To buy the album
Bobby Selvaggio’s interview
Frankie Pfeiffer: Bobby, you are a saxophonist and composer. Can you introduce yourself to the readers of Paris-Move?
Bobby Selvaggio: My father was a Jazz accordionist and pianist, and I was very fortunate to grow up around many great Cleveland Jazz musicians. I started my formal Jazz training at Kent State University before moving to New York City in the 1990’s, where I received my master’s at Manhattan School of Music, where I studied with Jazz greats Bobby Watson, Dick Oatts, and Maria Schneider. After moving back to Northeast Ohio around 2000, I started composing more and focused on being a creative musician, putting various Jazz projects together and recording and touring. I also started teaching more at the collegiate level, leading me to today being the Director of Jazz Studies at Kent State University, where I received my undergraduate degree.
Frankie Pfeiffer: What is your musical background? What bands have you played in?
Bobby Selvaggio: My father was a big influence, seeing him perform as a Jazz musician. My time in New York City really showed me how to be a creative entrepreneurial musician, giving me an understanding on how to create projects, compose/arrange/and orchestrate music, be a recording artist, put tours together, and promote my brand.
One of my earliest performing opportunities in New York City was playing with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra at the legendary Vanguard Jazz Club. I have worked with multiple Big Bands through the years, including the Bicoastal Jazz Collective. I have also been very fortunate to work with Jazz greats like Kenny Werner, Sean Jones, Jamey Haddad, as well as many others.
Frankie Pfeiffer: Who are the musicians who influenced you?
Bobby Selvaggio: That really has 3 answers; historical Jazz legends, present-day greats, and local to my scene musicians. There are so many historical Jazz musicians that have influenced me. But ones that immediately come to mind are Cannonball Aderley, John Coltrane, Woody Shaw, and Keith Jarrett. More present-day greats would be Bobby Watson, Kenny Werner, Dan Wall, and Joe Lovano. And there are many local musicians that have influenced me, especially when I was younger, like Kenny Davis and Bob Frazer.
Frankie Pfeiffer: You don’t just play the saxophone. What other instruments do you play?
Bobby Selvaggio: I think Jazz musicians today focus on learning multiple instruments today for various reasons. I play most single reed instruments, saxophones, clarinets, and flutes. I also play piano and drums. I do all my composing at the piano, and I learn tunes mostly at the piano.
Frankie Pfeiffer: Red Rhinoceros is your second HCR (Hidden Cinema Records) release and the first recorded with this octet but also the thirteenth album as leader! Congratulations! Can you introduce us to the musicians of this octet who accompany you on this album?
Bobby Selvaggio: We are very fortunate in Northeast Ohio to have many great Jazz musicians that can play various styles of Jazz. My Red Rhinoceros group today on this record includes musicians I use on multiple projects, as well as musicians I chose specifically for this record. The rhythm section is made up of Zaire Darden on drums, Kevin Martinez on electric bass, and Zakk Jones on guitar, all musicians I use on various projects. The horns are comprised of Tommy Lehman on trumpet, Zack Warren on trombone, AJ Kluth on tenor saxophone, and Betty Jeanne Quimby on baritone saxophone and bass clarinet.
Frankie Pfeiffer: In what state of mind did you compose the different tracks for this album? How do you compose?
Bobby Selvaggio: For this recording of Red Rhinoceros, I actually composed the music 15 to 25 years ago when I first moved back from New York City. That’s when I put the first version of Red Rhinoceros together. I never had the opportunity to record that band and moved on to other projects. I recorded this music because I felt it was important music to document, so I finally recorded it.
My compositional process hasn’t changed much through the years. I will hear anything from a melody to a chord progression, to a groove, to a bass line and will build a composition from that. And I have composed for many different ensemble settings, so that will influence what and how I compose.
Frankie Pfeiffer: Why did you record live the tracks you have composed for this album? And why not do a studio recording and album first?
Bobby Selvaggio: Since I was looking to document this project from my early days as a composer and improvisor, it was important to me to represent this project in its original way. Since the original Red Rhinoceros group was about live performance, it was important to me to get that spontaneity across, so the way to do that was to do it as a live record.
Frankie Pfeiffer: What instructions do you give to other musicians when you record your compositions, and Live? How much freedom to play and improvise do you give/offer them?
Bobby Selvaggio: I hire musicians specifically for their personal sound and approach and I want that to come across in the music. So, I give the freedom to bring that to the music. There are of course the written parts of the music that must be played a certain way, but I give no direction for their improvisations. I want them to bring themselves to the music and their improvisations and know that they will improvise solos that make sense for the composition, bit in their way with their voice. And I hire rhythm section players that can play the music the way it should be played while interacting and communicating with everyone.
Frankie Pfeiffer: How do you see your music evolving?
Bobby Selvaggio: I have been a composer for 30 plus years and feel it has evolved or matured. For me these days, I am trying to compose in different ensemble settings. I recently composed something for Jazz quartet and Wind Ensemble. I am looking to compose something for Jazz group and full orchestra.
Frankie Pfeiffer: On Red Rhinoceros you play in octet but you have already played in other types of formations. Which formula do you think suits you best?
Bobby Selvaggio: I have composed for about every type of ensemble. From every kind of Jazz combo size, to octet like Red Rhinoceros, to my 11-piece chamber Jazz group, to Big Band, to Wind Ensemble, and looking towards composing for full orchestra. It’s not about what setting is best or not, it’s about using all the ensemble settings to get your voice, your sound across. I like them all equally for various reasons.
Frankie Pfeiffer: Which famous musician(s) would you like to play with? …and have them play on one of your next albums?
Bobby Selvaggio: I have actually been very fortunate to have recorded, performed, and tour with great musicians through the years, like Joe Lovano, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, Kenny Werner, Jamey Haddad, Dan Wall, Sean Jones, Nir Felder, Robin Eubanks, Carl Allen, Aaron Goldberg, etc… I have actually been focusing on using local musicians from my Northeast Ohio scene more these days, because there are world-class Jazz musicians in Northeast Ohio. I think it’s important to build a connection with the musicians around you.
Frankie Pfeiffer: How do you imagine your next album? With the same musicians?
Bobby Selvaggio: I am working on a grant to do a large project that would include my new quintet the “Hope Quintet”, a string orchestra, a choir and voice, and dance. This will be a project documented both from an audio and a film standpoint. Hopefully updates soon.
Frankie Pfeiffer: Congratulations, in any case, for this new album! It gets the highest mark on Paris-Move, ‘A must have’!