Drummer Matt Wilson is scheduled to hit the road this month – quirks and all – for a weekend of performances capped off by a day of educational workshops, all with his acclaimed Arts and Crafts band.
The shows are Jan. 20 at Chicago Symphony Hall, Jan. 21 at St. Louis University and Jan. 22 at Murray’s in Columbia, Mo. Wilson will stay to host a series of educational workshops on Jan. 23 in Columbia, Mo., before returning to New York to resume his busy recording and performing schedule.
The Midwest isn’t new terrain for Wilson, who was born and raised in Knoxville, Ill. and studied music at Wichita State University. After eventually making his way east, Wilson played with everyone from John Medeski to Dewey Redman to Lee Konitz.
Wilson formed Arts and Crafts in 2001. The quartet toured for a short time and released a self-titled debut album on Palmetto in 2002. The band includes Wilson’s Palmetto labelmate, organist Larry Goldings; Terrell Stafford, who plays trumpet and flugelhorn and directs Temple University’s jazz program; and bassist Dennis Irwin, who has performed with Art Blakey and Joe Lovano, among others.
Wilson released a second Arts and Crafts album, Wake Up! (To What’s Happening), in 2004 on Palmetto.
For more information and a few laughs, visit Wilson’s Web site, which features drawings by Wilson’s triplets, interesting Wilsonian facts and an autobiography.
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