Will Vinson

Originally from London, Alto Saxophonist/Composer Will Vinson moved to New York City in 1999 and has spent most of his adult life there, performing, touring and/or recording with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ari Hoenig, Linda May Han Oh, Chris Potter, Kurt Elling, Lage Lund, Aaron Parks, and many others. 

Will has an international reputation as a leader and sideman. All About Jazz New York describes Will as playing “with a relentless force”. Thomas Michelsen of Denmark’s Politiken, hails this “very exciting saxophonist” with a “beautiful, softly modulating tone”, and John Fordham of The Guardian described a "superb solo of rugged leathery sounds turning into mellifluous high notes” with “secure control and storming energy". Time Out London calls will an "exciting young altoist with a lethal approach to writing and soloing”. 

Will has 10 solo CD’s as a leader, the latest being his trio record, Tripwire, featuring Eric Harland and Matt Penman. His releases have variously been described as “impressive” and “coolly restrained” (New York Times), “marvelous" and “challeng[ing] the notion of how jazz is defined in this era.”(Down Beat, which also described Will as one of his instrument’s “most muscular practitioners”), and "exhilarating, cascading... outstanding” (Jazz Times). Will now tours frequently with the supergroup Trio Grande, featuring Nate Wood and Gilad Hekselman.

Will has appeared with his own group and as a sideman in over 50 countries, and his experience is not limited to Jazz, having performed with Rufus Wainwright, Sean Lennon, Harper Simon, Beth Orton and others in the pop world. 

Will's saxophone playing is executed with incredible power and dramatic sensitivity, and is characterized by his imposing sound and technique; influenced by saxophonists from Cannonball to Chris Potter, he nevertheless brings his own unique approach to every performance. Will's writing, and the playing of his colleagues, combines a great respect for the century-long jazz tradition with explorations into the rhythmic, harmonic and melodic realms of contemporary forms.