1. From Dusk ‘til Dawn
2. Rainbow and Fantasies
3. Even Though You’re Bad For Me
4. Obama
5. The Eyes of Belladonna
6. Snake in the Grass
7. Chasing Mosquito Hawks
8. Kiss and Make Up
9. Rush Hour
10. Breaking Point
Abram Wilson - Trumpet
Peter Edwards - Piano
Karl Rasheed-Abel - Bass
Graham Godfrey - Drums
Since arriving in the UK in 2002, the New Orleans raised trumpeter
Abram Wilson has been singled out as a stylist with great promise
whose playing has been influenced by Wynton Marsalis and who delivers
a combination of bebop, blues and tradition in his music.
In this latest release from Dune Records entitled Life Paintings,
Wilson embarks on a series of original compositions that the record
company defines as “absorbing melodic pieces that draw strongly upon
his African-American jazz roots.” That might well be so.
Ably supported by the rhythm section, Wilson offers arrangements
of his compositions that are primarily in his open horn mid-register
comfort zone. He does venture away from this, however, in a couple
of instances. Firstly on Snake In The Grass, Wilson offers
some great growling gutbucket playing very reminiscent of New Orleans
traditional jazz, and on Chasing Mosquito Hawks, he delivers
some very effective muted trumpet that has the sensibility of the
mid-50s Miles Davis.
The longest track on the album is entitled Obama and is offered
as a tribute to US President Barack Obama. And a worthy tribute it
is. Beginning with some marching style drum work by Graham Godfrey,
the music skips along at a brisk tempo with nice intensity and provides
each of the players an opportunity to shine.
Particular mention should also be made of the masterly piano of Peter
Edwards, especially on The Eyes of Belladonna and Rush Hour.
Additionally bassist Karl Rasheed-Abel evidences his deft touch on
Kiss and Make Up.
With this album, Abram Wilson continues on his musical search, using
his background as inspiration for his disarmingly authentic compositions.
Pierre Giroux
CD Reviews
Dune DUNECD 017P
