Dan Wilson

SJWis very happy to welcome guitarist Dan Wilson to the faculty. Dan is one of the most exciting young guitarists working today, having made a huge mark with the trio of the late, great organist Joey DeFrancesco, as well as with Christian McBride’s Tip City.

Dan grew up in Akron, Ohio, and spent the majority of his youth within the church community, where his musical path began.

Traces of his major guitar influences – including Wes Montgomery, Charlie Christian, Joe Pass, and George Benson  – are evident in his playing, but his musical identity has been shaped by everything from gospel and blues to traditional jazz and hip-hop, as well as by horn players like Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson.

After graduating from Hiram College, Dan made his recording debut with pianist Joe McBride and later, his debut as a leader on To Whom It May Concern.

Dan’s career took him on an exploratory journey into the guitar and organ trio tradition, eventually leading to an invitation to perform and record with Joey DeFrancesco’s quartet, with which Wilson went on to earn a Grammy nomination for Project Freedom (Mack Avenue Records, 2017).

Dan had been playing with DeFrancesco for a few years when he met bassist, composer, and arranger Christian McBride, and went on to tour with McBride’s trio Tip City. McBride produced Dan’s most 2021 release, Vessels of Wood and Earth, and released the album on his newly-formed imprint Brother Mister Productions through Mack Avenue Music Group.

Dan has had the honor of sharing the stage with jazz greats including Eric Marienthal, Russell Malone, Les McCann, René Marie, Jeff Hamilton, David Sanborn, and Dave Stryker. He also teaches jazz guitar and music theory through private lessons.