The
new album by American guitarist Dan Wilson will be released in 2 days.
Like many a jazz musician before him, Wilson honed his skills in church.
“This wasn't your average gospel church where cats are just chicken-picking,” he explains. “The music in the church that I grew up in is entirely driven by guitar. I can name thirty great guitarists offhand, generations of players dating back to the forties and fifties. I had never heard of Grant Green or Wes Montgomery or George Benson, but their indirect influence was coming to me through the guys I listened to in church.”
Although playing was frowned upon in the secular jazz world, Wilson had little choice when a jazz-loving uncle broadened his musical horizons. “He played me The Dynamic Duo by Jimmy Smith and Wes Montgomery,” he recalls. “I heard them play 'Down by the Riverside' and from that moment I knew this was what I wanted to do for a living."
From his home base in Akron, Ohio, Wilson became a constant presence on the scenes in both Pittsburgh and Cleveland He came to the attention of organist Joey DeFrancesco in 2014 through the drummer Carmen Intorre, Jr., whose long tenure with Pat Martino speaks to his taste in guitarists. Wilson received an email shortly after inviting him to join DeFrancesco going to the Dirty Dog Jazz Café outside of Michigan. And so Dan joined his band and toured with it.
This is now his fourth album, which he co-produced with Christian McBride. Dan had help from Glenn Zaleski (Fender Rhodes), Brandon Rose (bass), David Throckmorton (drums) and Theron Brown (organ on tracks 11, 12), Nigel Hall (vocals on track 12), Durrell LeGrair (vocals on tracks 8, 12), Tommy Lehman (vocals on tracks 8, 12), Jessica Yafanaro (vocals on tracks 6, 8, 12).
The single 'Sticology' opens with a voicemail from DeFrancesco, and refers to the fact that Dan needs to get out of his room. ‘Since a Hatchet Was a Hammer’ is an original track dedicated to his Aunt Mary. 'Eleanor Rigby' is of course a cover of The Beatles, after which 'For Tomorrow', after the bass intro, comes from McCoy Tyner.
The title track is also an original song, based on a vivid dream. Freddie Hubbard's ‘Bird Like’ is a jazz classic, while ‘Smile Please’ is a Stevie Wonder cover. Herbie Hancock's ‘Tell Me a Bedtime Story’ follows, and Michael Brecker's "Pilgrimage" gets an intro first. Sting's 'Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot' closes in a soft somewhat bluesy atmosphere.
A guitarist who thus combines classics with new work. Dan dedicates it to all the people who were crucial to him, and he already lost.
Tracks:
2. Since a Hatchet Was a Hammer
3. Eleanor Rigby
4. For Tomorrow Bass Intro
5. For Tomorrow
6. Things Eternal
7. Bird Like
8. Smile Please
9. Tell Me a Bedtime Story
10. Pilgrimage Intro
11. Pilgrimage
12. Let Your Soul Be Your Pilot
Dan Wilson