Glenn Wilson: Blue Porpoise

Unfortunately the majority of jazz baritone sax players must satisfy themselves with ensemble playing, usually in big bands. Only the occasional Hamiet Bluiett has an opportunity to challenge the ears via band leading record dates. Meanwhile there are others out there, the likes of Gary Smulyan and Glenn Wilson: extremely capable soloists whose opportunity to record as leaders is limited. So when it does happen, you can bet they take advantage of it, as Wilson attests to with this third date as a leader for Sunnyside.

All that ensemble work certainly does serve to make them great team players-its not as though Wilson blasts all that stored up energy on this date. He is quite complementary with his fellows, a group which includes bassist Jay Anderson, pianist Marc Copland, drummer Jeff Hirshfield and guitarist Rory Stuart. Wilson is a formidable bari man whose work here is confined to eight original compositions, penned variously by he and the band, and an opening trio foray on “Some Other Time” by Leonard Bernstein.

Originally Published October 1, 1997