2009 studio album by Gerald Wilson Orchestra
Detroit is an album by the Gerald Wilson Orchestra recorded in 2009 and released on the Mack Avenue label.[1]
Reception
AllMusic rated the album with 4 stars; in his review, Michael G. Nastos noted: "A quite spirited and energetic music is heard here from the 90-year-old Wilson, whose charm and wit would rival anyone many decades his junior. It's a swinging affair molded in the traditional big-band visage of Count Basie, Ernie Wilkins, or early Quincy Jones, with Wilson's deft touch for embellishing the blues".[2] In JazzTimes Owen Cordle wrote: "Wilson’s chord progressions, chord voicings and rhythmic figures for the ensemble are strong characteristics of his writing. He also has a flair for atmospheric themes. One could quibble about the combo-esque strings of solos and the scarcity of ensemble interludes. Nevertheless, his writing style continues to serve him well".[4] On All About Jazz Robert J. Robbins noted: "Gerald Wilson's six-movement "Detroit Suite" demonstrates that after nearly seven decades in the music business, the nonagenarian composer and arranger still has a great deal to offer in terms of musical creativity".[3]
Track listing
All compositions by Gerald Wilson.
- "Blues on Belle Isle" - 5:30
- "Cass Tech" - 8:47
- "Detroit" - 6:40
- "Miss Gretchen" - 7:07
- "Before Motown" - 7:12
- "The Detroit River" - 8:47
- "Everywhere" - 12:32
- "Aram" - 6:12
Personnel
- Gerald Wilson - arranger, conductor
- Los Angeles Band (tracks 1-6):
- Jeff Kaye, Rick Baptist, Winston Bird, Ron Barrows - trumpet
- Eric Jorgensen, Les Benedict, Mike Wimberly, Shaunte Palmer - trombone
- Carl Randall, Kamasi Washington, Jackie Kelso, Louis Van Taylor, Randall Willis, Terry Laudry - reeds
- Brian O' Rourke - piano
- Trey Henry - bass
- Mell Lee - drums
- Special guests: Sean Jones - trumpet, flugelhorn and Anthony Wilson - guitar
- New York Band (tracks 7 & 8):
- Jon Faddis, Frank Greene, Sean Jones, Jimmy Owens, Terrell Stafford - trumpet
- Dennis Wilson, Luis Bonilla, Jay Ashby, Douglas Purviance - trombone
- Steve Wilson, Antonio Hart, Ron Blake, Kamasi Washington, Ronnie Cuber - reeds
- Renee Rosnes - piano
- Peter Washington - bass
- Anthony Wilson - guitar
- Lewis Nash - drums
- Special guest: Hubert Laws - flute
References