Julien Wilson - This is Always (2013)

On "Australia Day" 2013, Julien went in to the studio with three of his all time favourite musicians to record a jazz ballads session. The intention was to record an album in the spirit of the old Prestige off-the-cuff “meeting session” recordings, with no rehearsals and no headphones. Recorded in Melbourne and mixed in New York, the album sparkles with the essence of the classic jazz quartets and re-creates the smoke-filled ambience of a 1960’s Parisian Jazz Bar.

The album is the inaugural release on Australia's newest High Definition label, Lionsharecords. Wilson has thoughtfully assembled the never-before-heard dream-team of New York based pianist Barney McAll, with Sydney’s superbly deep and swinging Jonathan Zwartz on bass, and Melbourne's favourite drummer, Allan Browne. Together, they create a sound like no other band in the country. Deep yet light, Old-School and hip, informed yet inspired.

Wilson’s tenor has never sounded fuller or richer than on “This is Always”. Known primarily as a contemporary player, and composer and leader of ensembles with often unusual instrumentation, Wilson delves deep back in to the history of the tenor saxophone and his primary influences here. On his first recording with a “Classic” quartet he has chosen material that lets the players bring their own personalities to the fore. His tone and phrasing allude to a whole generation of the giants of the tenor saxophone.