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| Gerald Wilson & The Juilliard Jazz Orchestra at Dizzy’s  Legendary bandleader Gerald Wilson conducts the Juilliard Jazz Orchestra in a rare NYC Club appearance at Dizzy’s.on October 24-29. Gerald was recently honored as part of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s tribute to West Coast jazz masters and the Gerald Wilson Orchestra was awarded Best Large Jazz Ensemble at this year’s Jazz Journalist Awards. Wilson’s latest release is IN MY TIME on Mack Avenue Records. Guest soloist for the Dizzy’s run will be trumpeter Sean Jones whose new CD ROOTS is just out.Gerald Wilson is an American jazz trumpeter, bandleader, composer, arranger, and educator. Born in Mississippi in 1918, Wilson joined the Jimmie Lunceford orchestra in 1939, replacing its star trumpeter and arranger Sy Oliver. While with Lunceford, he contributed numbers to the band's book, including "Hi Spook" and "Yard-dog Mazurka," the latter strikingly similar to a tune later recorded by the Stan Kenton band, "Intermission Riff." Wilson formed his own band, with some success, in the mid-1940s. He also played and arranged for Count Basie and later for Duke Ellington. In 1960 Wilson formed a Los Angeles-based band that began a series of superb recordings for the Pacific Jazz label. Musicians in the band at various times included trumpeter Carmell Jones, tenor saxophonists Harold Land and Teddy Edwards, guitarist Joe Pass, vibist Roy Ayers, and drummers Mel Lewis and Mel Lee. A number of Wilson's compositions showed his love of Spanish/Mexican themes, especially "Viva Tirado," which later became a hit for the rock band El Chicano. Wilson has continued leading bands and recording in the ensuing decades. Recent musicians have included his then son-in-law Shuggie Otis and his son Anthony Wilson, both guitarists. He has continued to record Spanish-flavored compositions, notably the bravura trumpet solos "Carlos” and "Lomelin”. In 1998 Wilson received a commission from the Monterey Jazz Festival for an original composition, resulting in "Theme for Monterey," which was performed at that year's festival. write your comments about the article :: © 2006 Jazz News :: home page |