Godwin Louis

Grammy Award-nominated saxophonist, composer, arranger, educator, philanthropist, humanitarian and entrepreneur Godwin Louis is a trailblazer in the world of music and beyond. Born in Harlem, New York, and raised in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and Port Au Prince, Haiti, his music taps all corners of a multicultural background rooted in his Haitian heritage.

An acclaimed alto saxophonist, Louis has graced stages around the globe including: Mali, Senegal, Togo, France, Finland, Spain, the United Kingdom, Italy, Russia, Azerbaijan, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Venezuela, Brazil, South Korea, Indonesia and Australia.

A graduate of Berklee College of Music and the prestigious Thelonious Monk Institute of Jazz Performance, Louis has studied and performed with Herbie Hancock, Clark Terry, Roger Dickerson, Ron Carter, Al Foster, Billy Preston, Patti LaBelle, Toni Braxton, Prince, Babyface, Madonna, Barry Harris, Howard Shore and Mulatu Astatke Mahmoud Ahmed, to name a few. In addition, Louis has performed extensively as a sideman and guest soloist.

As a composer and arranger, he received a Grammy nomination for his work on world-renowned vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant's album Mélusine; was awarded a Jerome Foundation Emerging Artist Grant; and was named a 2013 Jazz Gallery Residency Commission recipient.

Louis’s debut album as a leader, Global, was released in February 2019. His album Psalms and Proverbs will be released in August 2024 on the Blue Room Music label.