Song for JoelThe Ed Wilson Big Band | WP (2002)
This is the second album I’ve heard by trombonist Ed Wilson’s
world-class big band from Down Under. That earlier outing ( Up the
Pace ) was quite good; Song for Joel is (on the whole) even
better, which speaks well for Wilson and his mates, who comprise a
number of Australia’s most respected sidemen. Wilson, who arranged
every number and wrote all but five of them, favors handsome melodies
that swing — always a winning parlay — and knows how best to use the
band’s component parts to paint colorful and exciting portraits in sound.
Wilson also solos smartly on trombone (“Sophisticated Samba,” “Fair
Dinkum Blues,” “Jazz County,” the last two muted), bass trumpet (“Scattin’
Latin”) and even sings (“Moments Like This”). Even so, he’s no one-man
band, and stands aside for brief but persuasive comments by trumpeters
Paul Panichi, Bob Barnard, Peter Cross and Keith Sirling; tenors Paul
Williams and David Glyde, alto Trevor Griffin, baritone Lee Hutchings,
flautist Col Loughnan, trombonist Bob McIvor, pianist Tony Ansell,
percussionist Mark Bowden and drummer Kere Buchanan. Barnard is
featured on “All of Me,” Sirling on “Generations in Jazz ’95,” guest
trumpeter Peter Dilosa on the Louis Armstrong hit, “What a Wonderful
World,” guitarist David Colton (less successfully) on “Tribute 2000” and
“House of the Rising Sun.” Colton also solos (with Glyde, Hutchings,
Wilson, Peter Allan on banjo and Len Barnard on washboard!) on the
playful and aptly named “Jazz Country.” The album closes with Wilson’s
poignant “Song for Joel” (showcasing Graham Jesse’s warm soprano
saxophone), written in memory of Joel Corrigan who died in an accident in
April ’96. From the painting on the album’s cover, the smiling redhead
looks to be no more than twelve years old, perhaps even younger. Wilson
dedicated the album to Joel and his parents, Barbara and Pat Corrigan.
“Joel,” whose subdued opening passage serves as a prelude to themes
of joy and optimism, is a memorable end-piece to an album that opens
strongly with a colorful reading of the venerable “Waltzing Matilda” and four
buoyant Wilson originals — “Samba,” “Sailin’,” “Dinkum Blues” and
“Generations in Jazz ’94.” A superlative album by an intrepid band of
plainspoken Aussies. Put some shrimp on the barbie, kick your shoes off
and enjoy.
Contact: Wilson Publishing, P/L, P.O. Box 519, Terrigal, NSW, 2260, Australia. Phone (02) 4384 1436; fax (02) 4384 6109; web site, www.wilsonpub.com.au ; e-mail ed@wilsonpub.com.au
Personnel: Ed Wilson, leader, composer, arranger, trombone, bass trumpet, vocal (“Moments Like This”); Paul Panichi, Norm Harris, Keith Stirling, Peter Cross, Bob Barnard, trumpet; Herb Cannon, Bob McIvor, Steve Powell, Geoff Power, trombone; Trevor Griffin, Graham Jesse, Paul Williams, Col Loughnan, David Glyde, Lee Hutchings, reeds; Tony Ansell, piano; Phil Scorgie (1, 2, 6, 9, 10, 14), Deiter Vogt (3–5, 7, 8, 11–13), bass; Kere Buchanan (1, 2, 6, 9. 10, 14), Len Barnard (3–5, 7, 8, 11–13), drums; Mark Bowden, Rod Bland, percussion. Guest artist — Peter Dilosa, trumpet (“What a Wonderful World”). Published: December 01, 2002
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 More Articles by Jack Bowers
A former newspaper writer / editor who has been writing about big-band Jazz for more than a dozen years. More about Jack...
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