This was a very impressive debut by guitarist
Anthony Wilson, the son of veteran bandleader
Gerald Wilson.
Anthony, who had won the
Thelonious Monk competition for best composition ("Karaoke," which is included on this set), is a fine bop-based guitarist who is a particularly inventive composer/arranger. Seven of the ten selections on this disc are his, as are all of the arrangements other than
Lucky Thompson's "The Parisian Knights," which was transcribed by
Wilson from the original record. His charts utilize such top L.A.-based players as trumpeter
Carl Saunders, trombonist
Ira Nepus, Louis Taylor on various reeds, tenorman
Pete Christlieb, baritonist
Jack Nimitz, pianist
Brad Mehldau, bassist
Danton Boller and drummer
Willie Jones III.
Bennie Wallace takes a guest tenor solo on "Southern Gentleman." The solo stars are
Christlieb,
Saunders and
Wilson, and overall, this is a highly enjoyable effort, a strong start to
Anthony Wilson's career. ~ Scott Yanow