Sam Gucwa

Biography

Sam Gucwa is known for her bold bandleading and inventive solos across genres. An avid woodwind doubler, Gucwa has performed with the Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra of Colorado and the Boulder Philharmonic, and in trombonist Stafford Hunter’s Young Lions residency series. As a fellow of the Carr Center’s 2024 Gathering Orchestra under the direction of Rodney Whitaker, she can be spotted in the award-winning documentary The Best of the Best: Jazz From Detroit. She has toured internationally in Japan and throughout the US in venues including Dazzle, the Blue LLama, and the New Studio on Broadway. The most recent addition to her woodwind menagerie is the suona.

Gucwa can be heard on the Mikey Votano Big Band’s recordings of Broke, All We Need Is, Say I Love You, and Votano’s GRAMMY-Nominated arrangement, Harry Frickin’ Potter. Gucwa is also featured on singles by Experimental Brunch, Rachel Winnick, and Chris Glassman. Live at Lion’s Lair features her orchestrations and music coordination for indie rock band Bleak Mystique. She has performed live as a guest artist with groups including MoonMill, the Alluvion Big Band, and Brian vander Ark of the Verve Pipe.

As an ethnomusicologist, Gucwa’s primary focus of study explores the work of non-musician women and their contributions to the development of American musics. Gucwa has presented her research on the impacts and lives of Miles Davis’ romantic partners at TEDxMSU 2024, and her analysis of Betty Davis, Juliette Greco, and Cicely Tyson’s contributions to jazz at the 9th annual Rhythm Changes Conference at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam in August 2025. Her forthcoming debut album sonically explores women within the Miles Davis legacy and is generously supported by the Puffin Foundation, Ltd.

Gucwa documents her work on Instagram as @sams_saxophone, as well as on YouTube and Threads. Believing strongly that social media is often a young musician’s first access point to representation, her content seeks to model a modern musician’s lifestyle and share her ethnomusicological research.

Gucwa received her B.M. in Jazz Studies from Michigan State University, having studied under tenor saxophonist Walter Blanding and Doctor Kenneth Prouty.

  • "Sam is a rhythm catalyst!"

    Ricky Sticks, Packin’ Heat Band

  • “Sam Gucwa… showed herself to be a great section player as well as soloist. In addition, her friendly and pleasant personality both make her a joy to work with and a player who fits very well with the diverse personalities in our band.”

    Jim Mick, Metropolitan Jazz Orchestra