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The Tony Wilson Sextet was formed in 1990 in Vancouver,
BC, to perform original compositions and arrangements by guitarist
Tony Wilson. Since 1995 the ensemble’s personal
has remained constant and consists of the musicians heard on this recording.
This is the long awaited second release for the ensemble. Their debut
cd ”Lowest Note” was released on Spool in 2001 and received
great reviews and was one of the Globe and Mail picks for that year.
The centerpiece of this recording is an arrangement of several sections
from the Benjamin Britten composition “Lachrymae”.
Originally written for viola and piano, the Sextet’s version while
staying true to the oringinal, take’s several approaches to the material,
such as, layering melodies over odd time ostinatos, mixing free improv
with fixed melodic statements, creating variations using small sections
of material and verbatim versions arranged for the sextet’s instrumentation.
The Sextet creates a distinct sound that will appeal to fans of both free-improv
and the contemporary third-stream scene.
The recording is round out with four original compositions by Wilson.
”Arpeggio” is based on a polychordal arpeggio that stretches
from the bottom to the top of the guitar, with a counter line from the
horns .The piece then moves into a free tenor /drum duet with backgrounds
from the rest of the ensemble and a reprise of the arpeggio.” The
People Look Like Flowers at Last”, features melodic trumpet by Kevin
Elaschuk floating over the harmonic changes of this composition. ”Let
The Monkeys Dance” a duet for drums and guitar, is a composition
that uses short melodic fragments within the improvisation. The cd ends
with a variation on the Bill Monroe composition “Working on a Building”
a staple in the bluegrass repertoire, featuring a beautiful and intense
solo by on tenor saxist Dave Say.
The sextet consists of Kevin Elaschuk (Flugelhorn, Trumpet),
Dave Say (Tenor and Soprano Saxes and Flute), Peggy
Lee (Cello), Paul Blaney (Double Bass), Dylan
van der Schyff (Drums) and Tony Wilson (Guitar
and Harmonica). All the members of the sextet are in demand locally and
internationally and leaders of ensembles of their own .
Press:
"A talismanic west-coast figure."
- Down Beat Magazine
"Wilson seems, as a player and a composer,
to be beyond category. His talent is worldwide in power." - Pop
Matters
"The mighty Tony Wilson pulls another
rabbit out of his hat with this wonderful disc." - Downtown
Music Gallery (New
York)
"...an enormously accomplished group."
- Point of Departure
"thoughtful music and committed performances."
- Exclaim!
"...their most ambitious record to
date..." - Montreal
Mirror
"...as hip as anything coming out
of any urban jazz mecca." - The Georgia Straight
"...a unique and exciting modern jazz ensemble." - Tokafi
"Free music not allergic of melodic
components." - Vital Weekly (Dolf Mulder)
"...it’s a ride of dissonance
and beauty." - FFWD Weekly
Album
Review: Down Beat
Album
Review: NOW Magazine
Album
Review: Pop Matters
Album
Review: Tokafi
Top
Ten Jazz (2009): Pop Matters
Album
Review: Point of Departure (SCROLL DOWN!)
Album
Review: Textura
Album
Review: The Georgia Straight
Album
Review: Montreal Mirror (SCROLL DOWN!)
Album
Review: Exclaim!
Album
Review: FFWD Weekly
Links:
myspace.com/tonywilsonmusic
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