Guillermo Celano

Unimpeded by clichés or stuffy frames, he absorbs a variety of music styles and then turns it into a quirky sparkling mixture. Jazz, classical, pop, impro, rock: Celano keeps adding new insights. The album title “Fiction and Reality” is melodious; fiction and reality represent concrete and abstract, which also overlap”.

Jazzenzo, Erno Elsinga, august 2020. NL

…”Celano spices his cohesive compositions with stylistic quirks, creating intensely melodic and refreshing frameworks for improvisation – a rare gift…”Amsterdamse Chacarera” mixes chacarera with Dutch new jazz – Argentine melancholy and nuevo tango make for a surging apotheosis of dance”…

The Wire. Andy Hamilton, United Kingdom, july 2015

 …..“The aliens seem to have landed in the head of Celano whom thankfully used their influence for he has created a new science. Let’s hope that this ‘new science’ will give us many more splendid albums “.

Jazzenzo. Nederland, 13/1/2011

Guitarist | Composer | Producer
Born: 1977, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Website: http://www.GuillermoCelano.com

Education & Training

Guillermo Celano, born in Buenos Aires, completed his musical education at the E.M.P.A. in Argentina before pursuing advanced studies in the Netherlands. He holds a Master’s degree in Music from the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. Throughout his studies, Guillermo learned from a distinguished roster of musicians, including: Lee Konitz, Ben Street, Ben Monder, Chris Cheek, Mark Turner, Matt Penman, Peter Bernstein, Jesse van Ruller, Maarten van der Grinten.

After completing his Master’s, he took composition lessons with the esteemed composer Pablo Escande in Amsterdam.

Production & Discography

As a producer, Guillermo has led the production of over 15 albums and has contributed to more than 35 recordings as a guitarist. Some of his most notable projects include:

Celano/Baggiani Group (C.B.G.)

The Celano/Baggiani Group (C.B.G.) has released six albums, featuring collaborations with prominent musicians like Michael Moore (alto sax, clarinet), Sven Schuster (double bass), and Marcos Baggiani (drums). Saxophonist Gorka Benitez joined for the albums Nothing Changes (2008) and Alienology (2010), released by Trytone Records. In 2011, the group expanded to a sextet, featuring tenor saxophonist Ellery Eskelin and pianist Sylvie Courvoisier.

In 2015, C.B.G. released their fifth album, working as a quartet with Joachim Badenhorst (tenor sax, clarinet, bass clarinet) and Clemens van der Feen (double bass).

Website: www.cbg-music.com

Wild Man Conspiracy

Albums:

• Knots (Red Piano Records, New York, 2014)
• Short Stories (Red Piano Records, New York, 2016)
• Live at the Bimhuis Feat. Chris Cheek (Red Piano Records, 2018)

The band features Chris Cheek (sax), Gerard Kleijn (trumpet, voice, effects), Joost Kesselaar (drums), and Guillermo Celano (guitar).

Downbeat USA selected Short Stories as an Editor’s Pick in January 2017, praising the band for its “intriguing” and forward-thinking sound, emphasizing the collective over individual contributions.

Key Collaborations

Iman Spaargaren’s Undercurrent

Guillermo has been an integral part of Iman Spaargaren’s Undercurrent, a project that explores the boundaries between modern jazz, improvisation, and world music. The collaboration has led to tours across Argentina, Cuba, and Spain, along with numerous performances in the Netherlands. This partnership highlights Guillermo’s adaptability and creative synergy within diverse musical contexts, further enriching his international experience and artistic vision.

Antimufa

Focused on “new ways of Argentinean music,” this project features Natalio Sued (tenor, clarinet, voice), Guillermo Celano (guitar), Adan Mizrahi (double bass), and Marcos Baggiani (drums).

Composer Highlights

Guillermo has composed for a variety of formats, from solo pieces to octets. His works often reflect his diverse musical influences, blending elements of jazz, classical, and Argentine folk traditions.

• 40 Years Hothouse (2009): Commissioned to write a piece for the 40th-anniversary festival of Hot House, Guillermo was the youngest composer in a group that included Theo Loevendie, Arnold Dooyeweerd, and Michiel Braam.
• North Sea Jazz Composition Assignment (2013): Winner of this prestigious commission.
• “De appel die ver van de boom viel” (2016): A string quartet with electronics and voice, released on CD.
• “My Father Held a Gun” (2017): Winner of the Golden Amsterdam Fringe Award, with music described as a seamless blend of pop and jazz that enhances the theatrical elements.
• Virtual Reality Film “Blowing Through the Curtains” (2019/2020): Guillermo composed the music for this VR film, now part of the permanent collection at the Art Museum in Arnhem. It was also selected for the “Gouden Kalf” competition at the 41st Nederlands Film Festival.

Other Professional Activities

• Guitar and Composition Instructor: Guillermo offers lessons in Amsterdam, sharing his expertise with aspiring musicians.
• BimLabs Programming: From 2016 to 2020, Guillermo co-curated the BimLabs sessions at the Bimhuis with Monica Akihari.
• Trytone Collective: He works with Trytone, a musicians’ collective involved in both programming and record label activities.
• Advisor, Nederlandse Fonds voor de Podiumkunsten (FPK): From 2017 to 2020, Guillermo served as an advisor for this key Dutch cultural funding body.

Selected Reviews

About “Fiction and Reality” (2020):

• “A brilliant guitarist… unimpeded by clichés, blending styles from jazz to rock with new insights.”
  — Jazzenzo, Erno Elsinga (NL)
• “Celano’s melodic sense… explores the dissonance between fiction and reality, unleashing Hendrix-like fury.”
  — Bad Alchemy Magazine, Rigobert Dittmann (Germany)
• “Extensive creative insight… the album captures the essence of Celano’s South American trip, reflected in colorful, evocative compositions.”
  — Jazznu, Rinus van der Heijden (NL)

C.B.G. – “Erasing Borders” (2015):

• “A richly complex album, with deep grooves, free improvisation, and melodic craftsmanship.”
  — The Wire, Andy Hamilton (UK)
• “Celano reflects on human and ecological impacts through nuanced compositions.”
  — Ken Waxman, New York City

Wild Man Conspiracy – “Short Stories” (2016):

• “A captivating and collective artistic statement, taking the listener to entirely new places.”
  — Downbeat USA, January 2017

Lily’s Déjà Vu – “Live in Paradox” (2015):

• “The balance between freedom and structure makes this album a compelling and creative challenge.”
  — Draaiomjeoren, Guy Peters (NL)