Something to Fret About

Anthony Wilson is an easy swinging, open-minded guitarist who offers a rich, compelling sound. He’s also a distinctive, appealing composer and arranger who mostly plies his work and his guitar artistry with his A-1 nine-piece band, whose latest album is “Adult Themes.”

Unfortunately, the band doesn’t work that much--it has an engagement scheduled April 14 at the USC Jazz Festival. To pay the rent, Wilson performs with small groups.

One of his combo projects is his trio with organist Joe Bagg. Another is the quartet led by trumpeter Gilbert Castellanos. Now and then he teams with fellow guitar ace John Pisano on the latter’s Guitar Night at Rocco, where Wilson will play Monday.

Wilson has an unabashed love for such essential jazz guitarists as the late Wes Montgomery and Kenny Burrell, who currently heads the Jazz Studies program at UCLA.

“Wes had the ability to take the most complex thing and make it sound effortless,” said the Studio City resident. “I want to convey the same fluidity. I may be working to execute, but I want it to come out smoothly, with the right rhythm and feeling.”

The guitarist, son of renowned bandleader Gerald Wilson, also likes adventurous players and folk artists, such as Doc Watson and Norman Blake.

“I want to make music that includes all the traditional stuff, as well as bringing in other things,” he said. “There are so many places in music you can go if you open it up.”

It’s always a treat for Wilson to get together with Pisano at Rocco, where it’s just the two guitarists and a bass player.

“I love the whole idea of it,” he said. “It’s for people, mostly lay people, who have to get their fix of jazz guitar. It’s also a great opportunity to play with John, who is an incredible guitarist. We don’t play anything really far out. We just play tunes and try to make it sound pretty and have a kind of communication through the standards we know really well.”

In Brief: For a variety of Latin-based sounds, stop by this week at La Ve Lee, 12514 Ventura Blvd., Studio City. (818) 980-8158. Tonight, hear the always-rousing Latin jazz ensemble led by dynamic conga drummer Poncho Sanchez. On Saturday, the flavor turns toward Rio with Brazilian pop vocal from the ebullient Katia Moraes. Then on Tuesdays, bassist Marco Mendoza leads a trio with Joey Heredia and Renato Neto in Latin funk. Show times: 9:30 and 11:30 p.m.

BE THERE

Anthony Wilson plays with John Pisano on Guitar Night, Monday, 8:30 p.m., at Rocco Ristorante, 2930 Beverly Glen Circle, Bel-Air. $5 cover, no minimum. Call (310) 475-9807.

Zan Stewart writes about jazz for the Valley Edition. He can be reached at Zansky@AOL.com.

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Iwant to make music that includes all the traditional stuff, as well as bringing in other things. There are so many places in music you can go if you open it up.

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