Gerald Wilson - Detroit (2009)

2019-05-29T14:46:20Z

Gerald Wilson - Detroit (2009)


1 	Blues On Belle Isle 	5:30
2 	Cass Tech 	8:47
3 	Detroit 	6:39
4 	Miss Gretchen 	7:06
5 	Before Motown 	7:12
6 	The Detroit River 	8:48
7 	Everywhere 	6:07
8 	Aram 	6:13

Rick Baptist 	Trumpet
Ron Barrows 	Trumpet
Les Benedict 	Trombone
Luis Bonilla 	Trombone
Winston Byrd 	Trumpet
Todd Coolman 	Bass
Ronnie Cuber 	Sax (Baritone)
Yvette Devereaux 	Violin
Jon Faddis 	Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Frank Greene 	Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Antonio Hart 	Flute, Sax (Alto), Sax (Soprano)
Trey Henry 	Bass
Sean Jones 	Flugelhorn, Guest Artist, Trumpet
Eric Jorgensen 	Trombone
Jeff Kaye 	Trumpet
Jackie Kelso 	Sax (Alto), Sax (Soprano)
Terry Landry 	Sax (Baritone)
Hubert Laws 	Flute, Guest Artist
Lewis Nash 	Drums
Jimmy Owens 	Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Douglas Purviance 	Trombone (Bass)
Bobby Rodriguez 	Trumpet
Renee Rosnes 	Piano
Terell Stafford 	Flugelhorn, Trumpet
Louis Jr. VanTaylor 	Sax (Baritone), Sax (Tenor)
Kamasi Washington 	Sax (Tenor)
Peter Washington 	Bass
Randall Willis 	Flute, Sax (Alto)
Anthony Wilson 	Guest Artist, Guitar
Gerald Wilson Orchestra 	Primary Artist
Mike Wimberly 	Trombone

Detroit comprises a six-composition suite commissioned for the 2009 thirtieth anniversary Detroit International Jazz Festival, played in the studio with musicians from composer/arranger Gerald Wilson's Los Angeles home or New York City area. Curiously, there are no Motor City-based players on the disc, but the themes are based in certain locales from the industrial Midwestern City that has fallen on hard economic times but played a pivotal role in the development of Wilson's highly developed skills as a composer, arranger, and bandleader. A quite spirited and energetic music is heard here from the 90-year-old Wilson, whose charm and wit would rival anyone many decades his junior. It's a swinging affair molded in the traditional big-band visage of Count Basie, Ernie Wilkins, or early Quincy Jones, with Wilson's deft touch for embellishing the blues. Players like trumpeter Sean Jones, son/guitarist Anthony Wilson, violinist Yvette Devereaux, the fine pianist Brian O'Rourke, and particularly L.A. alto saxophonist and flutist Randall Willis or Kamasi Washington on tenor sax, spice up the band's ensemble and solo contributions. The suite begins with "Blues on Belle Isle," a bopping tribute to the riverside playground and picnic area Detroiter's depend on to relax and escape from their troubles. The vaunted school for many jazz legends over the years, a dedication to "Cass Tech" is based on the changes of Benny Golson's "Along Came Betty," and swings along quite nicely with a reharmonized melody. The title track is a ballad for the sprawling metropolis that reflects both its jewels and rundown buildings, while "Before Motown" is a regal and tough Spanish-flavored piece, and the finale "The Detroit River" goes from hard bop right into solos, with Jones as the strongman. In the middle is "Miss Gretchen" for Mack Avenue founder and festival financial supporter Gretchen Valade; it's a midtempo swinger reflecting Charles Mingus' start-stop, pedal-point slow downs and speed ups paired with Duke Ellington's elegance. The two pieces not a part of the suite are the near-13-minute "Everywhere," a unified, powerful, and modal retro-jazz piece reflective of the '70s à la Frank Foster's Loud Minority. The held tension and release of the sprightly waltz "Aram" differentiates from the other selections in that the band cuts loose a bit more, features brief solos from trumpeter Terrell Stafford or alto saxophonist Antonio Hart, and more accurately reflects the personality of the author rather than the city he loves and owes respect to. Making this joyous music, and getting paid well for it, must be extremely gratifying to Wilson and his bandmates, but what it really does show off is Detroit in a positive light, something it desperately needs considering all of the negative press it receives for non-cultural stories. Detroit, in fact, remains a great American city, persevering and enduring through ignorance and abandonment, and those who live and work there will be pleased that Wilson's music perfectly represents their shining spirit and swinging souls. ---Michael G. Nastos, AllMusic Review

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Gerald Wilson Orchestra – In My Time (2005)

2011-12-07T09:56:33Z

Gerald Wilson Orchestra – In My Time (2005)


1.Sax Chase
2.Dorian
3.Ray’s Vision at the U			play
4.Blue’s For Manhattan
5.Lomelin
6.A.E.N.
7.Musette
8.So What
9.Love For Sale
10.Jeri							play

Gerald Wilson Orchestra:
Steve Wilson , Gary Smulyan, Kamasi Washington, Ron Blake , Dustin Cicero, Jerry Dodgian (woodwinds);
Russell Malone (guitar);
Eddie Henderson, Frank Green, Jeremy Pelt, Jimmy Owens, Jon Faddis, Sean Jones, Mike Rodriguez (trumpet);
Luis Bonilla, Benny Powell, Douglas Purviance, Dennis Wilson (trombone);
Renee Rosnes (keyboards);
Peter Washington (double bass);
Lewis Nash (drums);
Gerald Wilson - conductor.

We are fortunate that jazz has been touched by men like Gerald Wilson. Many legends have passed through this music, leaving us with memories of performances and recordings that will remain long beyond their time. Recorded in our time from a man for all time, In My Time is Wilson's second album for Mack Avenue Records and a followup to the Grammy-nominated New York, New Sound. This session of vibrant and electrifying music will be remembered as one of Wilson's best projects. At age 87, the elder statesman of jazz is not yet finished sharing his music with the world. As we relish this big band sound, a separate compilation of his music from 1961-66 has also just hit the street.

What music this is! When one thinks of jazz, the instrument that most often comes to mind is the saxophone. Wilson pays tribute to it with the opening "Sax Chase," previously known as "Triple Chase" because it featured solos from tenor, alto, and baritone saxophones. The band roars through ten minutes of saxational thunder, highlighting some passionate alternating tenor and alto solos, followed by a torrid chorus from Gary Smulyan on baritone, in between an encore chorus of more alto and tenor madness. Saxophonists Ron Blake, Steve Wilson, Kamasi Washington, and Dustin Cicero round out this one. I've been listening to big band music for a long time now, and I have to tell you this one blew me away. The following three selections—"Dorian," "Ray's Vision At The U," and "Blues For Manhattan"—comprise the "Diminished Triangle" suite, a study of diminished chords commissioned by the California Institute for the Preservation of Jazz and presented for the first time at Cal State in April 2005.

"Lomelin" is a special treat and one of the album's highlights. It was penned for Mexican bullfighter Antonio Lomelin and is played in the style of an emotional Spanish bolero, serving as a platform for a high-pitched trumpet solo performance by John Faddis. "Bluesette" belongs to guitarist Russell Malone, who dominates this beautiful bluesy ballad. Pianist Renee Rosnes makes her mark with a two-minute intro on "A.E.N.," later taken by the band into fiery territory. I've heard Cole Porter's "Love For Sale" many times before, but never quite like this. Wilson's arrangement of this standard makes for a memorable big band number. Last but certainly not least is "Jeri," named for Wilson's first-born daughter, a spunky and upbeat brassy finale.

One of the greatest composers and arrangers in the history of jazz, Gerald Wilson is no stranger to Grammy nominations and should not be surprised to get a nod for In My Time. One of the best recordings of 2005, this album is a product of powerful arrangements and writing, inspired musicianship, and a lot of class. Let me echo the only words you hear on this album, at the end of "Jeri"... "Thank you, Gerald." ---Edward Blanco, allaboutjazz.com

Veteran arranger Gerald Wilson utilized a New York band full of all-stars for this very rewarding and memorable project. Three of the selections ("Dorian," "Ray's Vision at the U," and "Blues for Manhattan") form a suite called "The Diminished Triangle," which is based upon diminished chords and utilizes Wilson's eight-part harmony. Guitarist Russell Malone is showcased on the ballad "Musette," a remake of "Lomelin" pays tribute to a bullfighter in dramatic fashion, and such players as tenor saxophonist Kazumi Washington (an impressive new voice), pianist Renee Rosnes, trumpeters Jon Faddis, Jimmy Owens, and Sean Jones, and tenor man Ron Blake are among the many colorful soloists. But it is the enthusiastic arranger/bandleader who takes honors with his consistently inventive writing and (one imagines) enthusiastic conducting. Highly recommended. --- Scott Yanow, AMG

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