Wes Perry is a multi-instrumentalist, composer, arranger and educator based in Southern California. He is active as a musician with various groups, and is currently the touring saxophonist with The English Beat and General Public.

Since picking up the alto saxophone at the age of 10, Wes has developed an ever-growing passion for music. Hailing from Columbus, Ohio, he began his musical career in high school, when he and his classmates started to perform at various venues in the community. One such group, the Crabfeather Quartet was featured locally on The CW. He was a member of the Columbus Youth Jazz Orchestra, under the direction of Todd Stoll. During his time in the group, he played tenor saxophone and clarinet, and the band toured Lima, Peru, with saxophonist Wess “Warmdaddy” Anderson.

Wes attended The Ohio State University on a music scholarship and earned his bachelor's degree in Jazz Studies in 2015. He studied saxophone with Dr. Shawn “Thunder” Wallace and was a five-year member of the OSU Jazz Ensemble, that traveled a four-city tour throughout China in 2014. During his time at OSU, Wes established a presence as an in-demand saxophonist in Columbus, playing and recording with a variety of groups, including Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra, the rock group The Worn Flints, and the hip-hop project, Mistar Anderson. During this time, Wes has also led his own groups, including one that released an album (Collective Reaction, Breaking Ground - 2014) featuring many of Wes' compositions and arrangements. Wes was also selected to be a member of the JECO Intercollegiate Jazz Ensemble two years in a row and was a member of the 2014 Disneyland All-American College Band.

Shortly after his graduation from Ohio State, Wes moved to California to attend California State University, Long Beach as a KJAZZ scholar, where he earned a master’s degree in Jazz Studies. There, he studied saxophone with Sal Lozano, and performed in many ensembles, including the award-winning Concert Jazz Orchestra. During his time in that group, Wes was named a two-time Outstanding Soloist at the Elmhurst College Jazz Festival (2016 and 2017). He also participated in the Saxophone Ensemble directed by Jay Mason, vocal jazz ensemble Corner Pocket, and even played oboe in Collegium Musicum, an ensemble devoted to playing music of the Baroque period, directed by Dr. David Garrett.

Wes can be seen performing regularly with a variety of acts, including Western Standard Time Ska Orchestra, the SoCal Jazz Collective and the San Diego based big band, Gaslamp Quarter Jazz Orchestra. He has released three albums as a bandleader, and recorded for many artists as a sideman (which can be heard here).

Wes is also an experienced and passionate music educator. He has been a music instructor at the elementary schools in the Palos Verdes Peninsula Unified School District, where he has taught instrumental music (woodwinds and brass), as well as general music. In 2023, he was the recipient of the Outstanding Teacher Award from the California State Parent-Teacher Association. Wes is also on faculty at the SoCal Jazz Academy, a program devoted to enriching the community by celebrating America’s music, where he has taught lessons, coached combos and given masterclasses.  

Wes has had the great honor and privilege of performing with Wang Chung, Wayne Bergeron, John Clayton, Sal Lozano, The Cab Calloway Orchestra, Eric Reed, Delfeayo Marsalis, Jacques Lesure, Marvin “Smitty” Smith, Tribal Seeds, The Original Wailers, and many others

He has performed at some of Southern California’s most well-known venues, including The Greek, The Honda Center, The Wiltern, The Observatory, The House of Blues, The Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts and The Echoplex, and has recorded at Capitol Studios and EastWest Studios.