Prestigious Announcements for Steve Wilson:
Yamaha Signs Wilson To Endorse Saxophones
Wilson accepts Associate Professorship at The City College of New York (CCNY) in Harlem, NY
Trio Dates Set for Lincoln Center, October 18-20
A series of prestigious announcements are confirmed for jazz saxophonist Steve Wilson:
Yamaha has signed him to join their elite family of artists — “Having Steve Wilson on our team is a dream come true for Yamaha. His artistic mastery as a performer and educator, are second to none. It is truly our honor to call Steve Wilson a Yamaha Performing Artist.” – John Wittmann, Director, Artist Relations, Yamaha Artist Services Indianapolis
In addition, Wilson is proud to accept an Associate Professorship at The City College of New York (CCNY) in Harlem, NY. The position includes teaching ensembles, classes, and guiding the jazz department as they further develop the jazz curriculum. Wilson begins the full-time, tenure-track position, in September 2013. He joins an illustrious faculty including Adam Cruz, Mike Holober, Scott Reeves and Ray Gallon.
Wilson will perform at Jazz @ Lincoln Center’s Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola in NYC, October 18-20, joined by Renee Rosnes and Peter Washington. This collaborative trio is one of Wilson’s favorite configurations: “In this not-so-common drummerless format we’re able to appreciate each others’ voices even more. Renee’s elegant touch and lyricism on the piano is really exquisite, and Peter’s warm sound, deep steady groove, and melodic lines have made him one of the most recorded bassists in the last 25 years. We play for the pure joy of making music together without any agendas.” More details, here: http://jalc.org/dizzys
In other recent news, the August launch of Wilsonian’s Grain at the Village Vanguard in NYC was a rousing success for Wilson. The band, which Wilson has announced as his ‘working quartet,’ has already been re-engaged at the club May 20-25, 2014. Now Wilson will move ahead with more performances for the group (featuring Orrin Evans, Ugonna Okegwo and Bill Stewart,) as well as making a recording. Details will be announced soon.
On August 13th, Steve was Music Director for a Celebration of Mulgrew Miller at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola at the invitation of Jazz at Lincoln Center. The evening featured Miller’s band Wingspan, of which Wilson was a long-time member, with Steve Nelson, Duane Eubanks, Richie Goods and Rodney Green. A number of pianists also paid tribute: Johnnie O’Neal, Kenny Barron, Cyrus Chestnut, Matthew Fries, Sullivan Fortner, Chris Pattishall, Anthony Wonsey and Bill Charlap. Among the other 24 musicians who appeared during the evening, Russell Malone, Joe Lovano, Wallace Roney, and Javon Jackson. The music featured favorite tunes written by Miller, and tunes he loved to play. Miller’s family and many, many friends were in attendance.
As always, Wilson’s busy schedule of touring, collaboration and guest appearances continues, and a full itinerary follows below.
UPCOMING STEVE WILSON ACTIVITY/APPEARANCES:
Aug 27-29: Artist in Residence, Summer Camp, Schroon Lake, NY
Aug 31: with Christian McBride & Inside Straight, Curacao
Sep 4-6: with Christian McBride & Inside Straight, University of MD, College Park
Sep 7-9: with Christian McBride Big Band, Recording
Sep 13 & 14: with Frank Kimbrough, Kitano, NYC
Sep 20: Steve Wilson/Lewis Nash Duo Featuring Nat Reeves, St. Michael’s College, Burlington, VT
Sep 21: Steve Wilson/Lewis Nash Duo Featuring Nat Reeves, Vermont Jazz Center, Brattleboro, VT
Sep 22 & 23: with Maria Schneider Orch, Columbia, MD
Oct 5: Steve Wilson/Bruce barth Quartet, St. Albans Church, St. Albans, Queens
Oct 18-20: Wilson/Rosnes/Washington Trio (with Renee Rosnes and Peter Washington), Dizzy’s Coca Cola Club, NYC
Nov 5-11: with Renee Rosnes Quartet, India
Nov 5-11: Special Guest with Kevin Mahogany, India
Nov 26-Dec 1: with Maria Schneider, Jazz Standard
Dec 14: Steve Wilson Quartet, Mohegan Sun, Uncasville, CT
Dec 15-21: with Maria Schneider, Japan
Dec 27-Jan 2: Steve Wilson/Lewis Nash Duo, Umbria Jazz Festival
Dec 27-Jan 2: with Christian McBride and Inside Straight, Umbria Jazz Festival
Jan 7-12: with Christian McBride and Inside Straight, Village Vanguard NYC
Jan 15: with Darrell Grant, Jazz Standard NYC
Jan 16: Special Guest with Friends Meeting House Orchestra, NYC
Feb 12-14: Clinician, Oakland U, Rochester, MI
Feb 15: with Bill Charlap and Friends, NJPAC, Newark, NJ
Feb 21: with Ryan Truesdell’s Gil Evans Project, Elmhurst, IL
Mar 14 & 15: with Maria Schneider Orchestra, Allen Room, Lincoln Center, NYC
Apr 7: Clinician, NJ City University, Jersey City, NJ
Apr 26: with Maria Schneider Orchestra, Berklee College, Boston, MA
May 8-10: with Maria Schneider Orchestra, Birdland, NYC
May 13-18: with Ryan Truesdell’s Gil Evans Project, Jazz Standard, NYC
May 20-25: Wilsonian’s Grain at Village Vanguard, NYC
Wilson, one of the most most respected and acclaimed musicians in the business, recently spoke with ALL ABOUT JAZZ regarding what he perceives as a crisis in Music Education. Read the engaging article, here: http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=44834&pg=1#.Udw88zlblUQ
Here’s a recent WBGO interview with Gary Walker:
http://www.wbgo.org/blog/saxophonist-steve-wilson-with-gary-walker
Wilson’s 12/12 visit to the Village Vanguard yielded a live concert broadcast on NPR, a full-page feature in the NY Daily News (written by Greg Thomas,) a stellar Time Out NY Photo Preview Pick, and more:
NY DAILY NEWS
FULL-PAGE INTERVIEW FEATURE by Greg Thomas, 12/3/12
http://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/music-arts/saxophonist-steve-wilson-takes-lead-village-vanguard-article-1.1212513
Steve Wilson is known as a super-professional sideman, but now he takes the lead at the Village Vanguard
NPR MUSIC – Live Broadcast of Village Vanguard concert, 12/5/12
http://www.npr.org/event/music/166127626/wilson-rosnes-washington-live-at-the-village-vanguard
TIME OUT NY – Color Photo Critic’s Pick
12/12 http://www.timeout.com/newyork/music/steve-wilson-trio
Time Out says: Whether he’s the leader or a sideman in a given situation, seeing Steve Wilson’s name on a jazz bill is as close to a guarantee of quality as you’ll ever find. Like so many sax greats before him have done, Wilson hits the Vanguard with a trio—but there’s a catch. He’s working with pianist Renee Rosnes and bassist Peter Washington, no drums allowed. Expect chamber jazz of the most soulful sort.
Here’s a story re Steve Wilson’s recent performance in Gainesville.
GAINESVILLE SUN – Interview feature,
1/25/13, by Bill Dean
http://www.gainesville.com/article/20130125/ENT/130129772?tc=cr
Wilson earned saturation media coverage for his 50th Birthday celebration at New York’s Jazz Standard. He 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 describe as “one of the finest saxophonists in the business.”
THE WALL STREET JOURNAL
NY CULTURE – FEBRUARY 7, 2011 – By LARRY BLUMENFELD
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703960804576119950902333990.html?mod=WSJ_NY_Culture_LEFTTopStories
At http://www.stevewilsonmusic.com/, visitors can get updates, 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.
