Glenn Wilson - 'Timely' live album review

Glenn Wilson’s latest album titled Timely is a live album that was recorded over two nights in 2012 at the Havana Nights Jazz Club in Virginia Beach. Dubbed “an unsung hero in modern jazz” by the All Music Guide, baritone saxophonist Wilson is a stirring bandleader as evidenced on this incredibly upbeat and fun to listen to album. Accompanying Wilson’s baritone sax play is trumpeter John D’Earth, pianist John Toomey, bassist Jimmy Masters and drummer Tony Martucci. Released on February 24 on Cadence Jazz Records, this quintet takes compositions from jazz masters like Pepper Adams and Wayne Shorter and proceeds to put their own unique spin on them while still maintaining their classic purity.

The opening track is the title track. It opens with jaunty trumpet from D’Earth making for a very danceable ditty. With Toomey’s piano and Masters’ bass in the background, a cool jazz vibe becomes apparent. Then, Wilson enters the melody with his skilled baritone sax play along with Martucci’s drums playing intermittently, which raises the bar of talent and musical excellence in this track even higher.

“Sightseeing” is the album’s sixth track. Originally by multiple Grammy award winning saxophonist/composer, Shorter, a big band rhythm can be felt right from the intro thanks to the melding of D’Earth’s trumpet, Toomey’s piano and Martucci’s drums. Then, the melody turns scanty as frequent pauses occur making for a singularly unique rhythm. The tempo then slows a tad as Wilson makes his presence known with his smooth baritone sax play accompanied by more tickling of the ivories from Toomey with Masters’ gentle bass in the background.

The fourth track on the album is titled “Dylan’s Delight.” Originally by baritone saxophonist/composer Pepper Adams, this version begins with Wilson’s baritone sax and D’Earth’s trumpet harmonizing in perfect unison. Then, delicate piano play from Toomey and subtle drumming from Masters lighten the mood so much so that listeners could imagine themselves in that jazz club in Virginia Beach, swaying to the sweet strains of this colorful track.

The album’s eighth and final track, titled “Diabolique II” was also originally by Adams. This track differs from the previous ones with its cavernously low intro from D’Earth’s trumpet, which gives off a somberly slow tone. Yet, its achingly unhurried tempo quickly speeds up thanks to Wilson’s sprightly baritone sax work and Toomey’s piano play. In addition, Masters’ proficient bass can be heard in the background, which brings back a bit of that solemn mood.

In conclusion, Glenn Wilson’s live album Timely gives famed compositions new life without discrediting their original virtue. These five talented musicians show their respect for the jazz masters they are honoring by simply adding to their genius and inserting some of their own.

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