Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Gerald Wilson Orchestra: Monterey Moods

372

Gerald Wilson Orchestra: Monterey Moods

By

Sign in to view read count
Gerald Wilson Orchestra: Monterey Moods
A decade ago, when he was commissioned to write music to commemorate the fortieth anniversary of the Monterey Jazz Festival, Gerald Wilson produced the memorable, double Grammy Award-nominated Theme for Monterey (MAMA Records,1998). Now the 89-year-old dean of American Jazz composers has scored another triumph, saluting the festival's golden anniversary with a picturesque seven-part suite, Monterey Moods, that musically epitomizes the scope and character of that annual event.

The motif is deceptively simple: a three-note idea used in various ways as the bedrock of each movement (Allegro/Jazz Swing Waltz/Ballad/Latin Swing/Blues/Bass Solo/Hard Swing), much as a single melodic phrase was deftly rearranged to underscore each section of Theme for Monterey. Wilson's orchestra introduced Moods at the Monterey Festival and recorded it in a studio for Mack Avenue Records. The album's playing time has been increased to nearly an hour by appending Wilson's atmospheric arrangement of Cole Porter's "I Concentrate on You (featuring son Anthony Wilson's mellow guitar) and his gregarious "Mini Waltz (solos courtesy of trumpeter Jimmy Owens, baritone saxophonist Ronnie Cuber and special guest Hubert Laws on flute).

The suite is almost entirely upbeat; even the slower-paced "Ballad simmers in a Basie-like groove behind heated solos by Laws and tenor saxophonist Kamasi Washington. The remaining movements personify their names, using Wilson's spare entrée as a springboard for a series of bright and swinging vignettes marked by powerful rhythms and persuasive solos. The rhythmic muscle is supplied by Anthony Wilson, pianist Renee Rosnes, bassist Peter Washington and drummer par excellence, Lewis Nash. The improvisations for the most part are by Laws, Cuber, Owens, Wilson, trumpeters Terell Stafford and Sean Jones, saxophonists Kamasi Washington, Ron Blake, Antonio Hart and Steve Wilson. Peter Washington is also showcased on the suitably named "Bass Solo.

Writing a suite like Monterey Moods would be a daunting task at any age, let alone for someone on the doorstep of his ninetieth birthday. But Wilson has risen to the challenge, composing another in a series of masterful compositions whose evolution began nearly seventy years ago. In the liner notes, Wilson says he's looking forward to "the sixtieth celebration at Monterey. So are we.

Track Listing

Monterey Moods Suite: Allegro, Jazz Swing Waltz, Ballad, Latin Swing, Blues, Bass Solo, Hard Swing; I Concentrate on You; The Mini Waltz.

Personnel

Gerald Wilson
composer / conductor

Gerald Wilson: composer, arranger, conductor; Jon Faddis: trumpet, flugelhorn; Frank Greene: trumpet, flugelhorn; Sean Jones: trumpet, flugelhorn; Jimmy Owens: trumpet, flugelhorn; Terell Stafford: trumpet, flugelhorn; Steve Wilson: alto and soprano sax, flute; Antonio Hart: alto and soprano sax, flute; Ron Blake: tenor sax; Kamasi Washington: tenor sax; Ronnie Cuber: baritone sax; Dennis Wilson: trombone; Luis Bonilla: trombone; Jay Ashby: trombone; Douglas Purviance: bass trombone; Renee Rosnes: piano; Anthony Wilson: guitar; Peter Washington: bass; Todd Coolman: bass; Lewis Nash: drums. Special guest: Hubert Laws: flute.

Album information

Title: Monterey Moods | Year Released: 2007 | Record Label: Mack Avenue Records

Comments

Tags


For the Love of Jazz
Get the Jazz Near You newsletter All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who create it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

You Can Help
To expand our coverage even further and develop new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for a modest $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination will vastly improve your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.

More

Love Is Passing Thru
Roberto Magris
Candid
Sunny Five
Inside Colours Live
Julie Sassoon

Popular

Eagle's Point
Chris Potter
Light Streams
John Donegan - The Irish Sextet

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.