[.ca] Goat Hill Junket

amazing modern bop with solid roots:
Wilson's second full length takes a firm hold on the classic guidelines of Jazz, while stretching the harmonic potential that only come from years of finely tuned craft. Here he has assembled a soulful group of players that breeze along deftly through the many moods of Wilson. Wilson's guitar virtuosity is unmatched in the scene for it's fluid and sweet emotion. He has firmly entrenched himself at the turn of the century as one of the great modern composers, arrangers, and performers. If you are ever in Los Angeles, check out Wilson at one of his many weekly stints, you will be spiritualy infused for certain...

What a treat!:
I recently "discovered" Anthony Wilson by listening to Diana Krall. I have all of her albums and the DVD of Live from Paris. After being electrified by the guitar player on the Paris recordings, I started searching out Anthony Wilson. I thought he was just some guitar player! Then I started buying Anthony Wilson recordings. I have them all now and am waiting for more. I am just starting on albums done by his father, Gerald Wilson. There is a whole Wilson World out there that I never knew about. I bought "Our Gang" first, which I really like. Then I went to "Adult Themes", which I like even better. Then "Goat Hill Junket". "Anthony Wilson" just showed up in the mail and I haven't played it yet. I have been listening to music all of my life (I'm in my sixties), including some really great jazz. The Wilson music is very satisfying. It is comforting like "comfort food", yet has excitement in every number. The musicians in the band hang together like buddies rather than like people who are paid to play music. The genius of Anthony Wilson is breathtaking. I, personally, like large chords, like Richard Strauss and Mahler, and he manages to do the big chords in the jazz idiom. Ellington and Basie are personal favorites, so I get all choked up at some of Wilson's treatments of some of the more beefy chords that are reminiscent of the Ellington and Basie days. The musicians in the Wilson bands are all so great! It sounds as if they have played together for years. I very much recommend any of the Anthony Wilson albums, especially the Goat Hill. It is easy on the ears and would be good for someone who is freaked out by a little dissonance once in a while.

In the footsteps of his dad:
I really enjoyed the diversity of Anthonys writing. Sometimes children of well knowns want to establish their own identity. I don't know who arranged the music, but could clearly hear his dads voice peeping through. Anthony comes from the finest and is on his way himself to be one of the finest.

A composer first, guitarist second:
Some jazz musicians stand by "art for art sake". What they play can only be enjoyed by musicians and critics. At the other end, there is a "smooth" jazz, which is listenable by general public but lack the quality of jazz. In the liner notes, Anthony mentioned that he wanted people to enjoy the songs, the melody. This CD is enjoyable as Anthony managed to reach his goal. The presence of Benny Wallace made the session stronger.

• W-2 Blues
• Here's That Rainy Day
• Cherry Tree
• It Has Happened to Me
• Georgia Waltz
• Hell's Belles
• Flossie Lou
• Stairway to the Stars