Christopher Lucas Wilson Trio: Wilson's Way

Chicago pianist Christopher Wilson has an easily recognizable style: lean, elegant, and clear with a resonant sound.  On the fourth addition to his discography, the captivating Wilson's Way, he has matured as both a composer and a bandleader.  Together with two area stalwarts, bassist Alex Austin and drummer Isaiah Spencer, he creates a cohesive, multilayered work.

"Night Notes," for instance, starts with dense, bluesy refrains that build an intriguing mood and form the basis for the shimmering main theme that follows.  Austin, an accomplished improviser in his own right, delivers a lush, lyrical solo with his characteristic warmth before the trio returns to the cinematic melody.

Elsewhere, Wilson and his sidemen bring the same level of urbane excitement to the songwriter Cole Porter's standard "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To." Wilson improvises with eloquence, letting loose percussive chords with agility that match Spencer's subtle and percolating polyrhythms. Spencer, a member of The Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians, shows true versatility, at home in both freer subgenres and more mainstream music like this.

The title track is hard-swinging, with Wilson embellishing it with a soulful cascade of notes. The effervescent interplay among the three musicians is delightfully inventive. It brims with virtuoso performances that transition fluidly from individual to group expression.  This seamless camaraderie marks every one of the eight tunes on the recording. As an example, on the wistful "Stillness," the three musicians together weave a mellifluous conversation with a quiet ambiance. The result is moving and mesmerizing. 

The album closes with Wilson's unaccompanied interpretation of Mexican songwriter José Alfredo Jiménez's "Tu Recuerdo y Yo."  Wilson brings tenderness and intimacy to the melancholic piece with his embellishments.  At times, he peppers it with sparse notes, and at others, he adds crystalline flourishes

With this exciting release, Wilson and his sidemen have recorded music that is both accessible and stimulating.  The vibrant originals fit well with the covers for a mélange brimming with spontaneity. It is highly enjoyable and has a wide appeal.