A traveler of diverse roads of musical expression, pianist and composer Jed Wilson is active in the worlds of folk, jazz, free improvisation, and more.
Having begun his performance career on the Portland, Oregon jazz scene while still a teenager, Wilson went on to study at Boston’s New England Conservatory, where he expanded his stylistic scope and embarked upon several significant musical collaborations. In Boston, he was a member of the short-lived but innovative Wild Band of Snee, led by singularly brilliant “cello goblin” Rushad Eggleston. He honed his craft as an accompanist, working with renowned jazz vocalist Dominique Eade and Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Aoife O’Donovan. At NEC, he also met the inimitable vocalist Heather Masse, with whom he forged a musical partnership that endures to this day.
Now based in Maine, Wilson continues to explore a multitude of creative avenues. With Dave Kobrenski, a master of the Fula flute and ngoni, he has developed a unique fusion of West African music and improvisation. With mandolinist Joe K. Walsh and fiddler Ella Jordan, he brings a distinct sensibility to the folk-Americana tradition. Meanwhile, he has released several recordings that explore the myriad possibilities of free improvisation, both as a solo pianist and in the company of collaborators like Tony Falco, Allan Chase, and Josh Sinton. With these projects and more, Wilson can be heard regularly in performance throughout New England and beyond.