Join us for a masterclass with Godwin Lewis!
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, Mulatu Astatke Mahmoud Ahmed, Wynton Marsalis and the New York Philharmonic Orchestra, 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 has cultivated a diverse musical palette, seamlessly blending jazz, gospel, classical, Afro-Caribbean rhythms and global sounds. His compositions serve as a testament to his creative depth, exploring the intersections of tradition and innovation.
A professor at the prestigious Berklee College of Music, he has conducted clinics and master classes worldwide. The saxophonist also teaches at the summer music camps of the Connecticut jazz nonprofit BackCountry Jazz.
His work as a humanitarian and ambassador includes his having traveled from Benin to China to help promote cross-cultural understanding and introduce thousands to America’s indigenous art form — jazz — through public concerts, master classes and jam sessions. He is the founder of Experience Ayiti, a nonprofit educational, multidisciplinary arts organization in Haiti.
In 2021, The Godwin Louis Rooftop Club opened in Lomé, Togo. Located at El Doria Hotel, the location is dedicated to performances and educational programs that promote music education in Africa.
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.
The Emerson/Harris Masterclass Series is supported in part by the Robert L. Malster (1956) Fund.
