Sam Gendel & Sam Wilkes

Saxophonist Sam Gendel and bassist Sam Wilkes are two of the defining figures of the contemporary Los Angeles jazz scene, known widely as members of drummer Louis Cole’s iconoclastic band Knower and for their groundbreaking duo project blending virtuosic instrumental playing with heavy electronic processing. A partnership at its most unpredictable in a live setting, they perform pieces from their newest album UNRELATED, and more.  

Over the past decade, both musicians have helped redefine the language of modern jazz, shaping a distinctly West Coast sound that merges improvisation with ambient music, hip-hop, experimental electronics, and pop minimalism. 

Gendel first emerged through his acclaimed solo recordings and collaborations with artists ranging from Moses Sumney to Vampire Weekend, developing a saxophone style that feels hauntingly intimate and radically unorthodox. Wilkes, meanwhile, has become one of the most sought-after bassists and producers of his generation, celebrated for his elastic grooves, adventurous harmonic sensibility, and deeply collaborative spirit. 

First meeting at the USC Thornton School of Music, they have built a body of work that feels both deeply cerebral and emotionally immediate. Their latest music expands even further into abstraction and atmosphere, transforming fragments of melody and rhythm into immersive sonic environments. More than collaborators, Gendel and Wilkes have become architects of a new musical vocabulary, influencing a generation of improvisers across jazz and experimental music alike.