Alien Army, the mention of the disc, is equally good the mention of this novel Big Apple-based band led yesteryear guitarist Jack Wilkins.
At a fourth dimension when the adult contemporary airwaves are saturated amongst jazz wannabees, Wilkins offers modern music rooted inwards tradition, filled amongst energy, as well as rock-solid inwards its depth. Wilkins' collaborators both equally performers as well as writers are drummer Mike Clark (back from terminal year's fine Wilkins outing Call Him Reckless), the double bassist Michael Formanek, as well as keyboard thespian Marc Puricelli.
The band's inability to last pigeonholed makes the listening all the to a greater extent than fun. Wilkins & Co. constantly are throwing surprises into the mix. Just when your feet acquire used to tapping along to the lively swing of 1 passage of a weird medley called Fun Fat, things plow avant-garde. Puricelli's No Time exactly Now is an R&B-rooted burn.
Wilkins shifts from electrical guitar to acoustic for the lovely gypsy-tinged master copy Moon Rain, which is enriched yesteryear Puricelli's haunting synthesizer work. Other dandies include She's the One, Barcelona Rising as well as a wishful ballad aptly called Romance.
Guitarist Jack Wilkins has been on the International jazz scene since the early 1970's. His flawless technique as well as imaginative chordal approach bring inspired collaborations amongst Chet Baker, Sarah Vaughan, Bob Brookmeyer, as well as Buddy Rich amidst many others. H5N1 native of Brooklyn, Jack began playing guitar at historic menses thirteen. His mentors included Johnny Smith, Django Reinhardt, Charlie Christian, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Bill Evans, Clifford Brown as well as Freddie Hubbard.
“Windows”, his foremost album equally a leader (Mainstream, 1973,) equally good available inwards transcription published yesteryear Hal Leonard Publications has been critically acclaimed equally a dazzling, seminal guitar trio work.
Later recordings, “Merge”, “Mexico”, “Call Him Reckless”, “Alien Army”, “Keep inwards Touch”, as well as “Trioart”, characteristic the Brecker Brothers, Eddie Gomez, Jack De Johnette, Al Foster, Phil Woods, Kenny Drew, Jr., as well as many others. Project G7, a 2 CD laid upward tribute to Wes Montgomery, features Kenny Burrell amidst others.
In recent years, Jack has played many international festivals amongst jazz greats Stanley Turrentine, Jimmy Heath, The Mingus Epitaph, 5 Guitars play Mingus, Red Rodney, Ira Sullivan, Johnny Griffin as well as others.
A destination accompanist, Wilkins has played as well as recorded amongst renowned singers Mel Torme, Ray Charles, Morgana King, Sarah Vaughan, Sammy Davis Jr, Tony Bennett, Manhattan Transfer, Nancy Marano, Chris Conner, Cassandra Wilson, as well as Jay Clayton. Wilkins was awarded an NEA grant inwards recognition of his go as well as contribution to the guitar. He has been widely as well as prominently profiled inwards such publications equally Guitar Player, Just Jazz Guitar, Downbeat, 20th Century Guitar as well as Leonard Feather’s Jazz Encyclopedia. Jack was invited to the Smithsonian Institution equally role of the Blue Guitars exhibit, as well as appeared on the P.S. I. foremost alive jazz Internet concert. He was equally good featured on the J.V.C. festival tributes to Johnny Smith, Tal Farlow, Herb Ellis, as well as Barney Kessel
Wilkins teaches at The New School, Manhattan School of Music, NYU, as well as LIU. He was invited to estimate the Monk Institute Guitar Competitions inwards Washington. He equally good conducts seminars on the “Great American Songbook”, as well as guitar clinics, both inwards New York as well as abroad. His latest CD's, "Reunion", “Christmas Jazz Guitar” the DVD”s, “The Benedetto Players inwards Concert”, “The Benedetto Players as well as Guild Jazz Masters”, as well as “Jazz Guitar Workshop” are all currently available. H5N1 novel CD is straightaway available called “Until It’s Time” on the Maxjazz label.
When talking to Jack Wilkins, y'all hear the phrase "to me" to a greater extent than than whatever other. While the opinions he expresses are deeply held as well as reverberate neat thought, he seems intent on non forcing those opinions on others.
Born inwards 1944, Wilkins began playing really early as well as played "the stone as well as gyre of my day". He did non attend college to report music exactly studied privately amongst several teachers, fifty-fifty studying classical guitar for 5 years as well as pianoforte for 2 years. His foremost professional person gig was at xviii as well as he played amongst many local bands inwards his native New York.
Since those humble beginnings, Wilkins has played amongst a broad hit of the really neat musicians of our fourth dimension including (to mention solely a few) Stan Getz, Sarah Vaughan, Chet Baker, Tony Bennett, Gerry Mulligan, Ray Charles, Mel Torme, Bill Evans, Zoot Sims, Dizzy Gillespie, Manhattan Transfer, the Brecker Brothers, as well as Phil Woods.
Currently, Wilkins lives inwards New York city, plays several nights per week, travels, records as well as is on the faculty of the Manhattan School of Music, NYU, as well as Long Island University.
His latest recording, "Alien Army" is available on the Music Masters label.
Track listing:
1 Happy Eyes 5:41
2 Barcelona Rising 6:57
3 Chess 7:41
4 No Time But Now 5:45
5 Fun Fat (Sweet) Fornix 3:40
6 Clean Dreamer 1:54
7 Pod Dance 8:19
8 Moon Rain 5:58
9 She's the One 5:33
10 Romance 2:40
Personnel:
Jack Wilkins - Guitar (Acoustic), Guitar, Guitar (Electric)
Marc Puricelli - Piano, Keyboards
Mike Clark - Drums
Michael Clark - Bass
Michael Formanek - Bass, Bass (Acoustic)
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