Will Vinson - Saxophonist/Composer
Originally from London, Alto Saxophonist/Composer Will Vinson moved to New York City in 1999. Since his arrival, he has performed, toured and/or recorded with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ari Hoenig, Marcus Gilmore, Chris Potter, Kurt Elling, Lage Lund, Aaron Parks, Miguel Zenon’s Identities, and many others.
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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”.
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Will is a founder and current member of Trio Grande, which also features guitarist Gilad Hekselman and drummer/bassist Nate Wood. UK Vibe had this to say in their 5-star review: “What happens when three of the world’s most accomplished jazz musicians get together for a new trio project? Fireworks! … and an innovative, exhilarating debut album”
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Will has released 10 CD’s as a leader/composer. It’s For You (Sirocco Jazz, 2004) was described as “combining a thoughtful originality of conception with energy and fluidity of execution in very satisfying proportions” (Jazzwise magazine), and “an auspicious debut, an album that is as mature in its conception as it is in its execution” (All About Jazz New York).
Will’s second CD, Promises (NineteenEight Records), was described as “impressive” and “coolly restrained” by Nate Chinen of the New York Times. 2010 saw the release of two CD's: The World (Through My Shoes), a live recording was described as "marvelous" by Downbeat and "exhilarating, cascading... outstanding" by Jazz Times. Stockholm Syndrome (Criss Cross Records) came out in September 2010. 2013 saw the release of Live at Smalls, one of the most successful albums on the Smalls Live label. Twenty sixteen’s Perfectly Out of Place (5Passion, featuring Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Mike Moreno, Matt Penman, Jeff Ballard and Jo Lawry) was described as “a marvel of compositional design” by All About Jazz, and led Jazzwise to hail “Vinson’s ability to cut through to the emotional heart of a song”. Downbeat described a collection of tunes that “challenge the notion of how jazz is defined in this era.” In 2018, Will released It’s Alright With Three on Criss Cross, featuring a new trio of Vinson, guitarist Gilad Hekselman and drummer Antonio Sanchez, which became the precursor of Trio Grande.
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Will’s epic 5-pianist collaboration, Four Forty One, was released on Whirlwind Recordings in January 2020, and immediately hailed by Downbeat magazine as “a musical dream come true”, also describing Will as “one of those players who deals with sometimes daunting tunes like the young Bobby Fischer playing speed chess - but wit humor and heart”. All About Jazz described it as a “fearless and unapologetic”... “exceptional collection of originals and standards that sets the bar very high”.
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In 2012, along with bassist Orlando le Fleming and guitarist Lage Lund, he formed the critically acclaimed OWL Trio, whose eponymous debut in 2013 was hailed by critics and listeners alike. Downbeat declared: “Everything about this album,which should contend for debut of the year honors, is a resounding success. The music swings effortlessly, every utterence is gorgeous and the recording is intimate and beautiful", while All About Jazz noted that "the chemistry, sensitivity and simpatico sensibilities exhibited by these three young men are evident at every turn....OWL Trio is one of those records that finds power in quiet expression, not raised volume or aggression. Lund, Vinson and le Fleming make for an absorbing combination"
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Will has appeared with his own group and as a sideman in the USA, Canada, the UK, Norway, almost every EU country, Switzerland, Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, Taiwan, South Korea, Brazil, Ecuador, Colombia, Russia, China and Japan. His musical experience has not been limited to Jazz. Will is a member of Rufus Wainwright’s band, which toured for 10 months in 2007/8. He has also performed, arranged and/ or recorded with Sufjan Stevens, Sean Lennon, Martha Wainwright, Beth Orton and Harper Simon.
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.

Photo: Joanna Janke