Customer Reviews

Theme for Monterey

5 star:		(5)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

You cannot get any better than the arrangements/ orchestrations of Gerald Wilson. His work is complex and academic yet sweet and soulful.

In the era where big bands have made a big comeback in popularity, Gerald Wilson Orchestra in this CD represents just about the best jazz has to offer. They provide the ebb and flow of fascinating harmonics and rhythmic patterns that ultimately give the suite a focus and continuity. This concept album truly exceeds the expectations I had and blows some beautiful stuff.

I could go on & on about Mr. Wilson- great composer, great arranger, great musician, and apparently a great person. You owe it to yourself to check out his music. "Theme For Monterey" is an excellent place to start.

The one thing that you can always count on with Gerald Wilson is great music, good musicians, paints the moods, setting and heartfelt passion he has for the music. The portrait here is the beauty of Monterey and the surrounding area. But you also get a great dose of Wilson's command of his music. All I can say is what a joy.

Gerald Wilson, and his long-time band performed at the 50th Monterey Jazz Festival in September 2007. He was animated. He directed the band! His charts were up-to-date. He was inspiring. I loved this disc because it showed HIS love for Monterey!

This commissioned piece by the Monterey Jazz Festival is a gift to all jazz lovers. It's a theme which plays off different styles each rich with their own textures and rhythms. There is also a swinging version of Gershwin's "Summertime" included on this cd too.

Wilson has been an influence and master maestro who is admired by his peers, such as Jimmy Heath, Clark Terry, Sonny Rollins, Kenny Burrell, Wynton Marsalis and so many others but should be more acknowledged in the commercial world. Possibly, he's too good and too unique to be commercial but this cd is worth anyone's money!

It was my good fortune to be invited to a party attended by Mr. Hubert Laws and Mr. Bennie Maupin. At said pary they both went on and on about how brilliant Gerald Wilson is, and how it's a shame more people don't know of him. So, I decided to check him out. Thank whatever powers may be that I did. It just doesn't get much better than this. America's gift to the world has been in good hands. The Monterey theme is haunting,soulful and a perfect example of what can be done with a simple melody, and "Lyon's Roar" is one of the mostly sweetly arranged things I've ever heard. This CD will be cherished as a prime example of what can be achieved in american music. Thank you, Mr. Wilson!!!!