Growing up in Akron, Ohio, Dan Wilson 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, to name a few – can be discerned through his playing, but his musical identity has been shaped by everything from gospel and blues to traditional jazz, hip-hop and horn players like Sonny Rollins and Joe Henderson.
After graduating from Hiram College, Wilson made his recording debut with pianist Joe McBride and performed to worldwide acclaim with organist Joey DeFrancesco and bassist Christian McBride’s Tip City Trio, eventually recording his debut as a leader, "To Whom It May Concern."
Wilson 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.
Wilson’s career took him on an exploratory journey into foundations laid down by the guitar/organ tradition, eventually leading to an invitation to perform with jazz great Joey DeFrancesco’s trio quartet, with which Wilson went on to earn a Grammy nomination for DeFrancesco’s "Project Freedom" album.
This collaboration allowed the guitarist to insert his own dialect into the musical prowess and respect that DeFrancesco had earned throughout his journey.
Wilson had been playing with DeFrancesco for a few years when he met bassist, composer, arranger Christian McBride. From there, Wilson went on to tour with McBride’s Tip City, eventually leading McBride to serve as producer on "Vessels of Wood and Earth" and release the album on his new imprint, Brother Mister Productions, through Mack Avenue Music Group.
Wilson performed with Christian McBride's Tip City Trio for the KNKX 5th Anniversary Member Concert in August 2021.
