ALBUM REVIEWS

THE GERALD WILSON ORCHESTRA

“State Street Sweet”

MAMA Foundation

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As he has for the last 51 years, bandleader Gerald Wilson gets top-shelf performances here from a multi-generational roster with a host of fine younger players, including saxophonists Randall Willis and Louis Taylor, pianist Brian O’Rourke and Wilson’s own son, guitarist Anthony Wilson, leading the way. Few arrangers employ 17 musicians as gainfully. The charts, some recent, some dating to the early ‘60s, bear all the usual Wilson signatures: rich voicings, occasional Latin touches, plenty of brassy splashes thrown against improvisations, lots of dynamic range and an unfailing sense of swing, regardless the tempo.

The newer numbers--”Lakeshore Drive” and the title tune--vary little in style from songs written 30 years ago, such as “The Serpent” and “Caprichos.” Yet “State Street Sweet” has a decidedly modern sound based on its drive, rich texture and the occasional harmonic twists. The timeless nature of the selections is a sign that Wilson, who used to name his orchestras for the decade in which they played, writes for the ages.

Albums are rated on a scale of one star (poor) to four stars (excellent).