Anthony Wilson is best known for his role as a sideman in Diana Krall’s band, but the guitarist has put out a heft catalogue of his own material out as well, and each release has its own unique features to make it a distinct part of Wilson’s mosaic of a career.
This time around, Wilson sings on a handful of the songs as he’s accompanied by a regular team of Petra Haden/vio, Mike Elizondo/b, Patrick Warren/key, and Jim Keltner-Matt Chamberlain/dr and various guests. What’s fascinating is that on the folksy-indie pieces “She Won’t Look Back” and cozy “Arcadia” and fun “I Saw It Through The Skylight” his voice delivers a hint of John Lennon as if he were sitting in at McCabe’s Guitar shop in front of friends. You also get some swamp and boogie with Josh Nelson’s piano on “Silver and Flint” and a boogie 60s riff on the mellow “The Geranium.” Charles Lloyd brings his elliptical tenor sax for a spacey and tangential “Your Footprints” and the band goes to Piazza Navona with a thoroughly enjoyable “Occi Di Bambola.” Casual, well thought and reflective of a man who is comfortable with any musical setting.