Home » Jazz Articles » Live Review » Gerald Wilson: New York, NY, September 30, 2011
Gerald Wilson: New York, NY, September 30, 2011
ByDizzy's Club Coca-Cola,
New York, NY
September 30, 2011
There are jazz players who've had extended careers, and then there's

Gerald Wilson
composer / conductor1918 - 2014

Jimmie Lunceford
composer / conductor1902 - 1947

Anthony Wilson
guitarb.1968
Wilson started his part of the program with "Blues for the Count," a composition he wrote for

Count Basie
piano1904 - 1984
The senior Wilson then handed the stage to his son Anthony, a guitarist best known for his work with pianist/vocalist

Diana Krall
piano and vocalsb.1964

Hank Jones
piano1918 - 2010
Grandson Eric Otis' "September Sky" followed, a song based on an earlier composition that he expanded for his grandfather's orchestra. The piece showed a strong capacity for orchestral color, as much in the mode of

Gil Evans
composer / conductor1912 - 1988
The senior Wilson returned to lead to three more pieces. First, his classic "Blues for Yenya," followed by "Aram," a tribute to Soviet composer Aram Khachaturian which shifted back-and-forth between waltz and swing time. Wilson's roaring arrangement of "Milestones" ended the concert.
The Juilliard Jazz Orchestra performed admirably, swinging hard but also showing sensitivity when called for on restrained pieces. Each of the soloists did an excellent job, but trumpeter Riley Mulkerkar and alto saxophonist/flautist Jordan Pettay stood out.
Watching three generations of talent weaving and interacting together made for a memorable eveningtouching and joyful, at times, and always captivating. As a jazz composer and orchestra leader, Gerald Wilson showed that reaching the age of 93 does not make you a relic; it's possible to be as contemporary as those generations younger. Clearly he lives by the philosophy that there's no reason to stop setting records. Or making them.
Tags
Gerald Wilson
Live Reviews
Louis Heckheimer
DL Media
United States
New York
New York City
Jimmie Lunceford
Anthony Wilson
JUILLIARD JAZZ ORCHESTRA
Count Basie
Diana Krall
Hank Jones
Gil Evans
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