Score
Lester
Searchlight
Beginning of a Memory
Request Potato
How Ya Goin’?
Father of the Year
Getting Friendly
Andrew’s Ditty
Flowers for Felicia (Orchids-Wildwood Flower)
No Outerwear
Potato Radio
Go Team Go!/Endless Love
25 Years of Rootabagas
Feel the Sway
Schoolboy Thug
July Hymn
There’s a threnodic undertow to this release, which celebrates the life of Matt Wilson’s wife, violinist Felicia Lynn Wilson. But the spirit of optimism
and life-enhancement that generates the music serves as both a reflection of her character and the nature of the legacy she leaves behind. The 17 tracks
are full of great moments, from the wa-wa Lester Bowie evocations in the second track, which invokes gospel blues and a righteous New Orleans feel, through
the vaguely Caravan-like Ellingtonianism and colour-conscious clarinet choir of Searchlight. The elysian salute, Beginning of a Memory, is graced by warm and poignant lyricism and full of rich sax and brass lines whilst Getting Friendly shows this
loose-limbed ensemble at its finest – a searing sax solo but a lot of space in the ensemble courtesy of the rhythmic control of master drummer Wilson and
his confreres in the engine room.
The funky parade-like vibe of Andrew’s Ditty is followed by some torrid Hard Bop, at a fast tempo, topped by a powerful drum solo from the leader
whereas Flowers for Felicia is an appropriately affecting piece, lyrically rich with a warm piano contribution from the ever excellent Gary
Versace. There’s something folklorically lamenting, with Matt Balitsaris’ use of the dobro adding an authentically pan-thematically American feel to the
opus. This should suggest the breadth, both emotive and stylistic, of this delightful though necessarily sadly affecting album. In the nature of such
things there’s a loping swinger, in the shape of No Outerwear and two bassists and dramatic whoops in Go Team Go! Endless Love, one of
the most uplifting pieces in the set. 25 Years of Rootabagas is more decorous with Versace’s accordion working subtly and wittily behind Jeff
Lederer’s clarinet. There’s a Heard it through the Grapevine groove going on in Feel the Sway (one does, one does) and there’s a joyfully
funky Schoolboy Thug – nasty title, one supposes, but it sounds like the fellers are having an absolute ball.
This is a splendid salute, a spirited and sensitive salute to a much-loved wife.
Jonathan Woolf
CD Reviews
