JoeWilson-JazzSax Saxophonist from Raleigh, NC

Joe Wilson is a professional saxophonist based in North Carolina’s Triangle region, offering live music for weddings, private events, fundraisers, corporate gatherings, festivals, and creative collaborations. Whether performing locally or internationally, Joe brings artistry, professionalism, and a deep commitment to tailoring each performance to the event’s unique energy and goals. With years of experience across diverse musical settings, Joe is fluent in jazz, soul, funk, swing, rock, classical, and pop, as well as repertoire from global traditions including hora music, tarantellas, salsa, reggae, and Afrobeat. His services include solo serenades (perfect for proposals, birthdays, and special surprises), jazz cocktail sets with live ensemble or backing tracks, high-energy dance floor performances alongside DJs, solo acoustic saxophone for ceremonies or memorials, and customized band leadership for everything from intimate trios to large-scale bands. Joe also offers studio session work, including arranging, soloing, horn section coordination, and musical direction, as well as ambient sound design for art shows, yoga classes, theatrical productions, and film. Joe has performed throughout New York City, Houston, and on tour across the U.S., Brazil, and Europe. In 2021 he received a South Arts Individual Artist commission to compose and present a multimedia saxophone work with Moving Poets in Berlin. He earned his Master’s degree in Jazz Studies from North Carolina Central University, where he studied under Branford Marsalis, Brian Horton, Joey Caldarazzo, and Ira Wiggins. Joe takes preparation and communication as seriously as the performance itself. From working within your budget to coordinating song selection, timing, attire, and technical needs, he ensures all details are thoughtfully handled. Whether it’s an elegant ceremony, a joyful dance party, or a unique creative request, Joe is committed to making the music a meaningful, seamless part of your event.

• E-Mail Me For Updates | Joe
• A Flower is a Lonesome Thing | Billy Strayhorn
• A Night in Tunisia | Dizzy Gillespie
• Afro Blue | Mongo Santamaria
• Agua de Beber | Astrud Gilberto
• Ain't No Sunshine When She's Gone | Bill Withers
• All Blues | Miles Davis
• All of Me | Billie Holiday
• All of Me | John Legend
• All the Things You Are | Frank Sinatra
• Alone Together | Sun Ra Arkestra
• Along Came Betty | Benny Golson
• Angel Eyes | Blues Standard
• At Last | Etta James
• Barbados | Charlie Parker
• Beatrice | Sam Rivers
• Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen | The Andrews Sisters
• Bemsha Swing | Thelonious Monk
• Besame Mucho | Mexican Standard
• Black Orpheus | Brazilian Standard
• Bloomdido | Charlie Parker
• Blue Bossa | Joe Henderson
• Blue Sky | American Standard
• Blue Train | John Coltrane
• Blues for Alice | Charlie Parker
• Body and Soul | Billie Holiday et al
• Bye Bye Blackbird | Ray Henderson
• Canteloupe Island | Herbie Hancock
• Caravan | Duke Ellington
• Chameleon | Herbie Hancock
• Chega De Saudade | Joao Gilberto
• Corcovado | Astrud Gilberto
• Dark Eyes | Russian Folk Song
• Desafinado | Stan Getz
• Don't Ask Why | Norah Jones
• Don't You Worry 'Bout a Thing | Stevie Wonder
• Equinox | John Coltrane
• Fever | Screamin Jay Hawkins
• Fly Me To The Moon | Frank Sinatra
• Footprints | Wayne Shorter
• Freddie Freeloader | Miles Davis
• Freedom Jazz Dance | Eddie Harris
• Girl From Ipanema | Stan Getz
• God Bless The Child | Billie Holiday
• Hava Nagila | Israeli Folk Song
• Honeysuckle Rose | Louis Armstrong
• I Feel Good | James Brown
• I Want You Back | Jackson 5
• I Wish | Stevie Wonder)
• In a Sentimental Mood | Duke Ellington
• In Walked Bud | Thelonious Monk
• It Is What It Is | Joe Wilson
• It's Later Than You Think | Kermit Ruffins
• Killing Me Softly | Diana Ross/The Fugees
• Little sunflower | Freddie Hubbard
• Marry Me | Bruno Mars
• Mas que nada | Sergio Mendes
• Mercy Mercy Mercy | Cannonball Adderley
• Michelle | The Beatles
• Minor Swing | Django Reinhardt
• Moondance | Van Morrison
• Morning | Tito Puente
• Mr Magic | Grover Washington
• Mr. Bobby | Manu Chao
• Mr. Magic | Grover Washington
• Mr. PC | John Coltrane
• My Funny Valentine | Miles Davis
• My Little Suede Shoes | Charlie Parker
• My Sweet Lorraine | Fats Waller
• Naima | John Coltrane
• Nica's Dream | Joe Henderson
• Night Dreamer | Wayne Shorter
• Night Train | James Brown
• Now's The Time | Charlie Parker
• Nuages | Django Reinhardt
• Oleo | Sonny Rollins
• On The Sunny Side of the Street | Louis Armstrong
• One-Note Samba | Frank Sinatra and Astrud Gilberto
• Oriental Folk Song | Wayne Shorter
• Ornithology | Charlie Parker
• Oye Como Va | Santana
• People Get Ready | Marvin Gaye
• Perdido | Charlie Parker
• Poinciana | Ahmad Jamal
• Recordame | Joe Henderson
• Red Clay | Freddie Hubbard
• Round Midnight | Thelonious Monk
• Ruby My Dear | Thelonious Monk
• Sakura | Japanese Folk Song
• Satin Doll | Charlie Parker
• Scrapple from the Apple | Charlie Parker
• Simon Tov and Mazel Tov | Israeli Folk Song
• So What | Miles Davis
• Softly as in a Morning Sunrise | Frank Sinatra / Sonny Rollins
• Solar | Miles Davis
• Song For My Father | Horace Silver
• Sonny Moon for Two | Sonny Rollins
• Spain | Chick Corea
• St Thomas | Sonny Rollins
• St. James Infirmary | Louis Armstrong
• Stablemates | Benny Golson
• Star Eyes | Charlie Parker / Miles Davis
• Stardust | Hoagy Carmichael
• Stella by Starlight | Rogers and Hammestein
• Stolen Moments | Oliver Nelson
• Summer Time | Gerswhin
• Sunny | Bobby Hebb
• Sweet Georgia Brown | Louis Armstrong
• Take The A Train | Billy Strayhorn
• Tenor Madness | Coltrane and Sonny Rollins
• The Work Song | Cannonball Adderley
• Triste | Antonio Carlos Jobim
• Tristeza | Astrud Gilberto
• Watermelon Man | Herbie Hancock
• Wave | Antonio Carlos Jobim
• Well you Needn´t | Thelonious Monk
• What a Wonderful World | Louis Armstrong
• What's Going On | Marvin Gaye
• Workin' | Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers
• Yesterday | The Beatles
• You Are So Beautiful | Joe Cocker