Veteran virtuoso Saxophonist STEVE WILSON has performed with a �who�s who� of jazz, everyone from Chick Corea, to Ron Carter, Maria Schneider, Christian McBride, Dianne Reeves, Kenny Barron and Louie Bellson. He formed his stellar ensemble �Wilsonian�s Grain� to showcase his own mindset as a leader. Captured live in New York at the most venerated jazz club in the world, �THE VANGUARD SESSIONS� is Steve�s first album as a leader in over a decade. Wilsonian�s Grain is: Steve on saxes, Orrin Evans on piano, Ugonna Okegwo on bass and Bill Stewart on drums. Together, the quartet constitutes one of the finest ensembles in jazz today. They are as cohesive as they are creative, as democratic as they are free. This live recording captures them at the zenith of their skills. The group blazes on the opener, Thelonious Monk�s �Well You Needn�t� with Steve speaking with his main �voice,� the alto saxophone. Everyone burns. Originals provide perfect blowing vehicles for the talented foursome: Evans� �Spot It You Got It� is a soprano romp for the leader, while Wilson�s own �Chrysalis� is a yearning ballad. His �Perry Street� swings with aplomb, and the quirky melody of �Spheresophically� honors the musical philosophy of Mr. Monk. The lovely melody of �If I Were A Wind Of Spring� presents Steve on soprano again; the tune was written by pianist/composer Migiwa Miyajima. The set closes with a Joe Chambers composition, the modal �Patterns.� The pattern for this band is evident. The Detroit Free Press describes it well: �Wilsonian�s Grain, a post-bop quartet�(has) the ability to reference a broad spectrum of strategies and styles without falling prey to pastiche or sacrificing an original voice.�

Additional Details

Label: Random Act Records

Genre: Jazz

Language: English

Run Time: 40 mins

Region: 0

Release Date: 03/24/15

UPC: 080687830909