Results for "Gerald Wilson"

Gerald Wilson

Back in 1939, Gerald Wilson joined the Jimmie Lunceford Orchestra as a trumpet soloist and an arranger. 66 years later, Wilson is still very active, having long been considered one of the top arrangers, composers and big band leaders in the history of jazz. 86 as of this writing, he has lost none of his enthusiasm, skills or creativity, and still manages to sound quite modern. Throughout his career, Gerald Wilson has received incredible acclaim, including winning the Downbeat International Critics Poll both as a composer/arranger and for his big band, and winning the Paul Robeson Award, the NEA American Jazz Masters Fellowship, and a pair of American Jazz Awards

Modern Big Bands: Christian McBride, Marshal Gilkes, Gerald Wilson, Brian Lynch and More

By RUSSELL PERRY

Since the early days of jazz, composers, arrangers, and players have sought out large ensembles for their potential for rich expression and vibrant musical color. Even in the heyday of small-group dominated bebop, Dizzy Gillespie formed a big band as soon as he could. To this day, while few bands can hold together as touring units, ...

The Radam Schwartz Organ Big Band: Message from Groove and GW

By JACK BOWERS

Liner notes notwithstanding, the alliance of a big band and organ is hardly unique—Jimmy Smith, Richard “Groove" Holmes and Joey DeFrancesco are organ maestros who have been there and done that; even the great Oscar Peterson once dipped his toes into that water. Having said that, organist Radam Schwartz and his power-laden New Jersey-based ensemble do ...

Charles Tolliver: Blowing Down The Walls Of Trump’s Jericho

By CHRIS MAY

Charles Tolliver has played with practically every major African American jazz stylist of his generation, and composed for some of them, too. In addition, he is the co-founder of Strata-East, the most influential label at the intersection of hard bop and spiritual jazz during the 1970s. Tolliver's long and distinguished career continues to flourish, with a ...

Atlantic Records: More Giant Steps: An Alternative Top 20 Albums

By CHRIS MAY

Ahmet and Nesuhi Ertegun's Atlantic Records differs in one key respect from Prestige, Riverside, Impulse!, Strata-East and Flying Dutchman, the most prominent labels covered so far in this Building A Jazz Library series. Those labels' discographies consist almost exclusively of jazz. Atlantic had parallel interests in soul and rhythm-and-blues and, later, rock. This had consequences, as ...

Take Five with Andy Clausen

By ANDY CLAUSEN

Meet Andy Clausen Andy Clausen is a New York-based trombonist, composer, and educator. A graduate of The Juilliard School, he currently serves as Artistic Director for Jazz at New York Youth Symphony. Clausen is also a founding member of The Westerlies, an award winning new music brass chamber ensemble. From Carnegie Hall to Coachella, The Westerlies ...

Ernie Watts: Home Light

By ANGELO LEONARDI

Giunto a 73 anni, con alle spalle una ricca e variegata carriera di collaborazioni entro e fuori il mondo del jazz, Ernie Watts predilige da oltre un decennio il suo quartetto con i tedeschi Christof Saenger al pianoforte, Rudi Engel al contrabasso ed Heinrich Koebberling alla batteria. Home Light giunge esattamente 50 anni dopo ...

US Military Service Bands: Histories & Heroes

By CHRIS M. SLAWECKI

Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 US Air Force Airmen of Note The premier jazz ensemble of the US Air Force, the Airmen of Note is one of six musical ensembles that comprise The US Air Force Band. Created in 1950 to continue the tradition of Major Glenn Miller's Army Air Forces ...

What's the Concept?

By PATRICK BURNETTE

Can jazz have “concept albums?" Probably not, but some records do work harder at sustaining a mood--or a sense of narrative--than others. The boys look at five test cases--one brand new, two from that prime year 1969, and two from the transition from the eighties to the nineties. Madge gets a look in during pop matters, ...

Steve Wilson at the Jazz Room

By MARK SULLIVAN

Steve Wilson The Jazz Room Charlotte, NC June 21, 2019 Saxophonist Steve Wilson has an extensive discography. In addition to his recordings as a leader, he has played with such jazz musicians as pianist Chick Corea, saxophonist Michael Brecker, bassist Dave Holland, big band arranger Gerald Wilson, and saxophonist Joe Henderson. ...