About

Sam Ross is a saxophonist, composer, and educator in the Northeast Ohio area who has been involved with music for over 10 years. Originally hailing from Eastern Iowa, Sam has earned a Bachelor of Music degree in Jazz Performance at the University of Iowa, 

where he studied under Dr. Damani Phillips, jazz 

saxophonist and head of the jazz department. 

Sam actively performs both as a bandleader and 

sideman, as well as a weekly jazz jam session host in Akron, OH. He has performed at a wide range of venues and events, including Noce Jazz Club in Des Moines, Iowa City Jazz Festival, a monthly residency 

at the Ideal Theater in Cedar Rapids, weddings, 

cocktail hours, engagement parties, and more. While his repertoire is typically based around jazz, he is known for his stylistically diverse sets ranging from funk, soul, latin, R&B, hip-hop, neo soul, rock, blues, and fusion. In 2024, Sam performed as a featured guest artist at the 2024 Jazz Education Network Conference (JEN) in New Orleans, LA. Additionally in 2024, Sam performed with the Motown group The Four Tops for a sold-out show they played in Iowa. In 2025, Sam was accepted into the live competition round of the esteemed North American Saxophone Alliance (NASA) regional competition for jazz saxophone in South Dakota, where he placed second overall. In May 2025, he performed an opening set for New York-based jazz trumpeter Michael Sarian at his Iowa City show during his national tour featuring songs from his new album. During his time as a musician, Sam has performed with many professional musicians such as Benny Green, William Menefield, Curtis Taylor, Steve Grismore, Steve Shanley, Craig Erickson, Blake Shaw, Jordan McBride, James Dreier, Zaire Darden, Jerome Gillespie, and Michael D'Angelo. Sam is currently pursuing his Master's in Music (MM) in Saxophone Performance at the University of Akron, where he also serves as a teaching assistant for the jazz department. At Akron, he studies with saxophonist Chris Coles, pianist Theron Brown, guitarist Dan Wilson, and drummer Anthony Taddeo.