Anthony Wilson - Anthony Wilson (1997) CDRip

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.