Steve Wilson (jazz musician)

Steve Wilson
The Steve Wilson Quartet in Charlottesville, Virginia
Background information
Born	1961 Hampton, Virginia, U.S.
Genres	Jazz, R&B, funk
Occupation(s)	Musician, teacher
Instruments	Saxophone, flute
Years active	1986–present
Labels	Blue Note/EMI
Associated acts	Out of the Blue, Chick Corea, Steve Wilson Quartet, Generations, The Blue Note 7
Website	www.stevewilsonmusic.com

Steve Wilson (born in 1961) is an American jazz multi-instrumentalist, who is best known in the musical community as a flautist and an alto and soprano saxophonist. He also plays the clarinet and the piccolo. Wilson has maintained a busy career working as a session musician, and has contributed to many musicians of note both in the recording studios, but as a sideman on tours. Over the years he has participated in engagements with several musical ensembles, as well as his own solo efforts.

Wilson has not confined himself to the studio and stage. He has held teaching positions in several schools and Universities, as well as holding jazz clinics.

As a teenager, Wilson played in rhythm and blues (R&B) and funk bands. After a year accompanying singer Stephanie Mills, he attended Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond where he majored in music. In 1987 he moved to New York City, where he established himself as a sideman. He performed with the American Jazz Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, and the Smithsonian Jazz Orchestra. In 1988 he toured Europe with Lionel Hampton. Early in his career he was a member of Out of the Blue, a group which featured young Blue Note Records artists.

Wilson was the subject of a 1996 New York Times profile, entitled "A Sideman's Life". That year he joined the Dave Holland Quintet. From 1998–2001 he was a member of Chick Corea's Origin sextet. He played and recorded on Japanese composer Yoko Kanno's debut album, Song to Fly and part of The Seatbelts' New York Musicians during that period.