bio
American bassist, producer, arranger, and composer based in Los Angeles. Sam Wilkes’ music is steeped in genre fusion, collaboration, and tight rhythm section performance.
A frequent collaborator of Sam Gendel, Louis Cole/KNOWER, and Jacob Mann- Other collaborations throughout Wilkes' career include: Chaka Khan, Mk.gee, Dijon, Rufus Wainwright, Maggie Rogers, Dean Blunt, Neil Frances, Genevieve Artadi, Jacob Collier, and Dominic Fike etc.
Wilkes performs live primarily playing a Fender Precision bass while sitting down.
gallery
press
“…the L.A. jazz bassist forged a new quintet stacked with longtime collaborators; the results sound enlivened by spontaneity, intimacy, and a sense of wonder.”
“Even with the digital release schedules, avant-garde leanings, and TikTok trends, Wilkes will always be a traditionalist at heart. Even for a record as sleek and modern as Uhlmann Johnson Wilkes, Sam Wilkes’ heart and infectious love of all genres remain proudly old-school.”