Sam Wilson is a guitarist-composer based on the east coast in Halifax/Kjipuktuk, Nova Scotia/Mi'kma'ki. Blending her early love of finger-style/ acoustic guitar music with her love of jazz, she has created an original voice on her instrument. Wilson has released four recording projects to date, which have received nominations from the East Coast Music Awards and Music Nova Scotia. Her collaborative album New Doors with Andrew Jackson won Music Nova Scotia's 2023 ‘Jazz Recording of the year’ and her solo album Into a Heart Pt. II (2020 Muzak records- Japan/ 2021 Canada), won Music Nova Scotia's 'Jazz Recording of the year' in 2022. Her latest release Wintertides is a trio project featuring drummer Jen Yakamovich (Vancouver) and Geordie Hart (Vancouver). Wintertides was written during the winter of 2022 on the east coast in Scotsburn, NS and on the west coast at Lena Residency, on Galiano Island, BC, it is inspired by contrasting landscapes and the collaboration of bi-coastal communities.

In 2021 Sam was awarded the Paul Cram Creation award. This gave her the opportunity to write a piece in honor of Paul Cram's legacy. The piece was premiered by Symphony Nova Scotia at the 2023 Open Waters Festival. As an emerging composer, she has been commissioned by Upstream Music Association to write ‘Illusions on Shaky Ground’ (2021), ‘Waterside’ (2022) and ‘Recover-we’ (2023). Her practice as a performer- composer focuses on creating instrumental music for improvisers. 

Sam frequently plays with the acclaimed trombonist Andrew Jackson in their collaborative project the Jackson\Wilson Duo. They have been exploring the interplay of trombone and guitar, while honing their musical chemistry as a duo since 2014. Upon meeting both musicians were searching for a setting to explore jazz in a less traditional format, which has led them to develop a common musical language and create an original duo sound. Their repertoire extends from standards by the greats of the past such as Billy Strayhorn, to folk covers by the likes of Nick Drake, Feist and original compositions. They released their debut album New Doors on January 28th, 2023. 

‘It’s a highly unusual jazz album, and one that departs from most jazz conventions in significant ways, but that never seems to get old in the listening.’ - Rick Anderson on Wintertides

 'With a lyrical sensitivity to her instrumental compositions, her music draws listeners in with subtlety and introspective levity. Bringing a distinctive angle to her jazz-informed arranging, she creates nuanced space for improvisation and discovery…’- Upstream Music association.

Get to know more about Sam Wilson on the Friendly Heckler Podcast!

Ep. 9- Sam Wilson:

https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/thefriendlyheckler/episodes/Ep--9---Sam-Wilson-e2344tv