OK, so that greeting dates me back to the days of the Dennis The Menace TV show. I couldn’t think of any other way to link together these two albums that have multi-dimensional drummer Matt Wilson as the man behind the reins.
Wilson’s own “quartet” consists of Jeff Lederer/reeds, Kirk Knuffke/cornet, Chris Lightcap/b and John Medeski/p for a fresh sounding mix of swing and post bop. A couple Ellington tunes, “Main Stem” and “You Dirty Dog” as lively and fresh, showing an exciting front line and crisp rhythm. A bopping “Pumpkin’s Delight” has some rich sax work on the Charlie Rouse piece, while Wilson’s own “Hope (For the Cause)” and “Some Assembly Required” display the lightning reflexes of Wilson’s quick draw. Medeski sounds like a bopper at heart, with deft work on “Get Over, Get Off and Get On,” and the whole team having a gas with “Juanita.”
On the Sweet Shadow album, Wilson serves as sideman along with Pete McCann/g, Erik Augis/p and Martin Wind/b on a team lead by big toned tenor Pete Mills. Again, Ellingtonia pops up, with a luminescent take of “The Star Crossed Lovers,” which has the leader in bel canto form. A Monkish “Shiner” has some tricky work by Wilson and Augis, while a pair of “Duos” get a bit free and frisky. Wilson creates a rivulet of rhythm on “Close to Never” for Mills to bear down on and some nice bass work is evidenced on “Sweet Shadow” as well as guitar work by McCann on “The Snagle.” Fresh and energetic material here, with Wilson riding shotgun like Walter Brennan.
Palmetto Records
Cellar Live Records