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Gerald Wilson Orchestra: Detroit

By Robert J. Robbins
November 28, 2009
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Commissioned by the Detroit International Jazz Festival and premiered on the occasion of the composer's 91st birthday, 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. Wilson spent the latter part of his teen years in the Motor City, where he studied trumpet, piano, percussion, and composition at Cass Technical High School from 1934-39, and he still regards Detroit as a "hometown."

The opening "Blues on Belle Isle," which is named for a park on a island in the Detroit River, features the alto sax of Randall Willis, trumpeter Sean Jones, violinist Yvette Devereaux (following in the footsteps of the young

Jean-Luc Ponty

violin
b.1942

" data-original-title="" title="">Jean-Luc Ponty, who occupied this chair in the Wilson ensemble four decades ago), and guitarist and Gerald's son

Anthony Wilson

guitar
b.1968

" data-original-title="" title="">Anthony Wilson, who has been a mainstay of the

Diana Krall

piano and vocals
b.1964

" data-original-title="" title="">Diana Krall quartet for the past several years. "Cass Tech," Wilson's paean to his alma mater, is a variation on

Benny Golson

saxophone, tenor
1929 - 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Benny Golson's "Along Came Betty" in much the same fashion as

Bill Holman

composer / conductor
- 2024

" data-original-title="" title="">Bill Holman's take on "Stompin' at the Savoy" for

Stan Kenton

piano
1911 - 1979

" data-original-title="" title="">Stan Kenton over a half-century ago. The ballad "Detroit" spotlights Willis on flute, Jones on fluegelhorn, and the tenor sax of Kamasi Washington (Jones and Washington appear on both the Los Angeles and New York sessions).

Based on the chord changes of

Billy Strayhorn

piano
1915 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Strayhorn's "Chelsea Bridge," "Miss Gretchen" salutes Mack Avenue founder and president Gretchen Valade with solos from pianist Brian O'Rourke and the Harmon-muted trumpet of Winston Byrd, plus Devereaux (adapting the classic

Ben Webster

saxophone, tenor
1909 - 1973

" data-original-title="" title="">Ben Webster solo from the release to her violin) and Anthony Wilson. Latin rhythms a la Wilson's "Carlos" and "Viva Tirado" predominate in "Before Motown" (which bears absolutely no connection with the musical genre of that name), with

Bobby Rodriguez

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Bobby Rodriguez's trumpet, Les Benedict's trombone, and the tenors of Washington and Louis Van Taylor all capturing attention. "The Detroit River," on the other hand, resembles

Count Basie

piano
1904 - 1984

" data-original-title="" title="">Count Basie on steroids, as trumpeter/contractor Ron Barrows, veteran soprano saxophonist

Jackie Kelso

saxophone, alto
b.1922

" data-original-title="" title="">Jackie Kelso, trombonist Eric Jorgensen, Devereaux, Van Taylor, O'Rourke, and Anthony Wilson all contribute to this hyper-charged swinger.

The two remaining tracks, "Everywhere" (a remake of the title cut from a 1968 Pacific Jazz LP by Wilson) and "Aram," are from the same sessions as Wilson's 2005 New York, New Sound (his Mack Avenue debut) and feature the New York ensemble. Flute legend

Hubert Laws

woodwinds
b.1939

" data-original-title="" title="">Hubert Laws highlights the modal "Everywhere," while "Aram" (possibly named for the Soviet-era Armenian composer Aram Khachaturian) offers frequent rhythmic shifts between jazz-waltz and straight-ahead 4/4 tempi supporting powerful solos by trumpeter

Terell Stafford

trumpet
b.1966

" data-original-title="" title="">Terell Stafford (Director of Jazz Studies of the Boyer College of Music at Philadelphia's Temple University, and a member of NYC's celebrated

Vanguard Jazz Orchestra

band / ensemble / orchestra

" data-original-title="" title="">Vanguard Jazz Orchestra) and altoist Antonio Hart.

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Track Listing

Blues on Belle Isle; Cass Tech; Detroit; Miss Gretchen; Before Motown; The Detroit River; Everywhere; Aram.

Personnel

Gerald Wilson

composer / conductor

Gerald Wilson, conductor, composer, arranger; Los Angeles: Ron Barrows: trumpet, contractor; Bobby Rodriguez: trumpet; Sean Jones: trumpet; Jeff Kaye: trumpet; Rick Baptist: trumpet; Winston Byrd: trumpet; Eric Jorgensen: trombone; Les Benedict: trombone; Mike Wimberly: trombone; Shaunte Palmer: trombone; Jackie Kelso: alto, soprano saxes; Randall Willis: alto sax, flute; Carl Randall: tenor sax; Kamasi Washington: tenor sax; Louis Van Taylor: tenor, baritone saxes; Terry Landry: baritone sax; Yvette Devereaux: violin; Brian O'Rourke: piano; Anthony Wilson: guitar; Trey Henry: bass; Mel Lee: drums; New York: Jon Faddis: trumpet, fluegelhorn, contractor; Frank Greene: trumpet, fluegelhorn; Jimmy Owens: trumpet, fluegelhorn; Sean Jones: trumpet, fluegelhorn; Terell Stafford: trumpet, fluegelhorn; Dennis Wilson: trombone; Luis Bonilla: trombone; Jay Ashby: trombone; Douglas Purviance: bass trombone; Hubert Laws: flute; Steve Wilson: alto and soprano saxes, flute; Antonio Hart: alto and soprano saxes, flute; Ron Blake: tenor sax; Kamasi Washington: tenor sax; Ronnie Cuber: baritone sax; Renee Rosnes: piano; Anthony Wilson: guitar; Peter Washington: bass; Lewis Nash: drums.

Album information

Title: Detroit | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Mack Avenue Records

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