Los Angeles, CA (Top40 Charts/ Steve Wilson Music) Steve Wilson to Open Kennedy Center Jazz Club's 2011/12 Season with String Concerts and Student Workshop
Wilson Helping to Develop Next Generation of Jazz Artists by Producing and/or Performing on Upcoming CDs by Two of His Students
Wilson to Appear on Upcoming Big Band CDs by Ron Carter, Christian McBride
Acclaimed jazz saxophonist Steve Wilson is proud to announce that on October 7th and 8th, he will open the 2011/2012 season at Kennedy Center Jazz Club, with a special 'Strings' performance featuring Bruce Barth, Michael Bowie, Lewis Nash, Diane Monroe and Troy Stuart. Wilson will also conduct a workshop for middle school students at the Kennedy Center Jazz Club, on October 7th.
Between now and then, Wilson looks forward to a Labor Day Weekend performance as part of the Detroit Jazz Festival. The September 4th 'Waterfront Stage' appearance will showcase his 'Wilsonian's Grain' band, featuring Orrin Evans, Ugonna Okegwo and Clarence Penn. Wilson has previously played the festival many times, but this will be his debut as a leader, performing with his own band.
As an educator and mentor, Wilson has taken the support of his students' development to the next level, and has played a major role in two of their burgeoning careers, as they recorded new albums: Last October, Wilson produced his student Janelle Reichman's first album, 'Middleground'. Wilson is also featured prominently as performer on Youngjoo Song's 'Tale of a City'. He comments:
"Janelle Reichman and Youngjoo Song are among the best of the up-and-coming musicians I've encountered in my capacity as an educator. With these new releases they establish their respective places on the international scene and will be heard from for many years to come."
Completing her master's degree at Manhattan School of Music, Janelle has become a highly in-demand and versatile multi-instrumentalist on the New York scene. She has a distinct vision and personality as a composer, arranger, and improviser. Listeners will hear a young master whom with a calm confidence is connected to the past, present, and future. 'Middleground' indeed brings Janelle Reichman to the foreground.
Youngjoo Song is a fresh, vibrant voice as both a pianist and composer. Already a star in her native South Korea and a graduate of Berklee, Manhattan School of Music, and SUNY Purchase, she has the brilliance and conviction that puts her a step ahead. Youngjoo's seventh release as a leader 'Tale of a City' awakes the soul, inspires the imagination, and warms the heart.
BASS SUPERSTAR PROJECTS: Steve Wilson will be a featured performer on upcoming big band releases by two of the preeminent bassists of our time: Ron Carter - 'Ron Carter's Great Big Band' (Sunnyside) and Christian McBride Big Band - 'The Good Feeling' (Mack Avenue).
As the new school year begins, Wilson continues his education work, teaching again at both Manhattan School of Music and at SUNY Purchase. In addition to his workshops at the Kennedy Center, he'll be leading similar events at the Southern AZ Arts & Culture Alliance this fall.
Recent and Upcoming Dates:
Wilson recently recording for Ryan Truesdell's Gil Evans Centennial Project: Newly-discovered works of Gil Evans, which will be released on Evans' 100th birthday, 5/13/12.
Aug 30-Sept 2, Ron Carter Big Band at Jazz Standard
September 4th , Detroit Jazz Festival. The 'Waterfront Stage' appearance will showcase his 'Wilsonian's Grain' band.
Oct 1, Jazz Legends, led by Dennis Mackrel, featuring Marvin Stamm, Steve Davis, Bill Mays, Martin Wind, and Dee Daniels, at the Fox Theater in Tucson, AZ. There will be a workshop that morning for 200 students.
Oct 14 & 15, with Buster Williams at Smoke, NYC
Oct 19-28, European tour with Maria Schneider Orchestra
Nov 4-13, Tour of Japan with a big band that includes Lewis Nash, Peter Washington, Renee Rosnes, Terrell Stafford, Gary Smulyan and Jimmy Green.
12/29 and 12/31 - Christian McBride Inside Straight at Sculler's
Wilson's career shifted to the next level following saturation media coverage of his 50th Birthday at New York's Jazz Standard. Wilson featured six different bands over six nights, and each set during the birthday week saw lines out the door. The diverse shows each reflected a different stage of Wilson's evolution into what NPR describes as "one of the finest saxophonists in the business."
In addition to a major feature in The Wall Street Journal (link below,) Wilson was the sole Pop/Jazz event previewed in The New York Times' Arts and Leisure section's 'The Week Ahead' page; The New York Times also ran two Friday Weekend Arts preview columns; Wilson received a WNYC Radio 'Gig Alert'; Time Out NY gave his shows a 'Critic's Pick'; the Village Voice ran a 'Voice Choice' preview and photo; Jazziz Magazine ran a feature preview in their February Digital Edition; HotHouse Magazine ran a cover story interview; The New Yorker ran a 'Goings On About Town' preview, JazzPolice ran a preview, and more.
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
NY CULTURE - FEBRUARY 7, 2011 - By LARRY BLUMENFELD
https://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703960804576119950902333990.html?mod=WSJ_NY_Culture_LEFTTopStories
The NY TIMES - Arts and Leisure
'The Week Ahead' Preview and photo - By Ben Ratliff, 2/4/11
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/06/arts/06weekaheadweb.html?scp=1&sq=steve%20wilson&st =cse
WNYC GIG ALERT
2/11/2011 By Marlon Bishop
https://culture.wnyc.org/articles/music-hub/2011/feb/11/gig-alert- steve-wilson/ (click link to hear audio sample)
NY TIMES WEEKEND ARTS by Nate Chinen 2/11/11:
Steve Wilson's 50th Birthday Celebration
https://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/04/arts/music/04jazz.html
JAZZIZ Magazine - Digital Edition February Preview Feature - login to Jazziz.com to flip through - Steve Wilson '50 WITH A BANG' is on page 18.
HOT HOUSE JAZZ MAGAZINE -
Cover feature: https://www.hothousejazz.com/
VILLAGE VOICE
Voice Choices By Jim Macnie, 2/2/2011
https://www.villagevoice.com/2011-02-02/voice-choices/steve-wilson-quartet/
TIME OUT NY - CRITIC's PICK - https://newyork.timeout.com/music-nightlife/music/727895/steve-wilson- 50th-birthday-celebration
The New Yorker
https://www.newyorker.com/arts/events/nightlife/2011/02/14/110214goni_GOAT_nightlife?currentPage=2
More about Steve Wilson: Steve Wilson's headlining stand at the legendary Village Vanguard in New York City was documented by NPR and featured in a riveting 'Live at the Village Vanguard' broadcast: https://www.npr.org/2010/12/13/125076907/steve-wilson-live-at-the-village-vanguard .
Wilson previewed the appearance with a terrific interview about the state of jazz on WBGO's 'The Checkout' with Josh Jackson: https://www.wbgo.org/thecheckout/?p=2154. While at the Vanguard, Wilson and his band Wilsonian's Grain were filmed for inclusion in an MSNBC-TV segment of "Your Business" on the historic venue and its proprietor, Lorraine Gordon.
Wilson, described as "an endlessly adaptable alto and soprano saxophonist, at home in myriad settings," by The NY Times' Nate Chinen, and as a "stellar altoist" by Time Out NY, continues to generate rave coverage for his eclectic activities. In addition to an appearance at The Kennedy Center (broadcast on NPR,) Wilson recently appeared live on nationwide television, with a multi-song performance on The CW Network. Watch clips of his performance here: https://www.wgntv.com/news/liveperformances/wgntv-live-music-steve-wilson,0,672046.story
Wilson is among the most well liked, in-demand and respected figures in jazz. JAZZIZ.com echoed this sentiment, calling him "an especially skilled and sensitive saxophonist..." JAZZIZ followed up with news of Wilson's tributes to jazz greats Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman and Joe Zawinul. See the article, here: https://www.jazziz.com/events/2009/12/03/steve-wilson-to-honor-davis- coltrane-coleman-and-zawinul/
NPR featured Steve Wilson on JazzSet: Steve Wilson: A First-Call Saxophonist
https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=10270088 7&ps=rs
In addition to the airing of his 2009 Kennedy Center event and his 2010 Village Vanguard show, NPR has featured Wilson in a live recording with the Blue Note 7. He was also recorded with Christian McBride and Inside Straight at the Detroit Jazz Festival, and was featured as a Special Guest with the Michael Wolff Trio at the Kennedy Center last year.
Wilson's multiple roles as a band leader, sideman, educator and jazz historian have lead journalists to praise him as "a dynamic improviser," "a musician's musician," "one of the finest saxophone players today," and more. DC's Express (A publication of The Washington Post,) described his recordings as "captivating." John Murph's interview with Steve may be seen here:
https://www.expressnightout.com/content/2009/03/finances_and_all_that_jazz_steve_wilson.php
Wilson's performance at the Kennedy Center, heard on NPR JazzSet (click NPR link, above,) was also previewed in the DCist: https://dcist.com/2008/10/16/preview_steve_wilson_the_kc_jazz_cl.php
JAZZIZ.com featured Wilson in a NEWS column timed to his '09 Orchestral debut: STEVE WILSON - A TOUCH OF CLASSICAL https://www.jazziz.com/news/2009/06/25/steve- wilson-a-touch-of-classical/
In a live review in ALL ABOUT JAZZ - NY, Wilson's performance at the Rubin Museum in New York was described as follows: "Wilson wove his sound through the music in a manner that was spellbinding in its nuance and attentiveness to dynamics." https://www.allaboutjazz.com/newyork/aaj_ny_200809.pdf
Nominated once as Alto Player of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association (and this year for Soprano Saxophone Player of the year,) and profiled in ALL ABOUT JAZZ, Wilson is known for his modest, warm personality...and for his in-depth knowledge of all-things-jazz. Read the major 'career' feature on Steve Wilson, from ALL ABOUT JAZZ, here: https://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=29437
At https://www.stevewilsonmusic.com/, visitors can sample new tunes and see performance footage. The site, part of the Jazz Corner family, also includes a streaming audio player, details of Wilson's numerous band configurations, and more.
