Anthony Wilson lets soloists stretch

Guitarist Anthony Wilson’s dance card has been pretty much dominated by Diana Krall for the past year or so. Not that there’s anything wrong with grooving around the world as a vital part of the rhythm section for the most visible, breakout jazz artist of the past decade.

But Wilson, the son of noted jazz composer and bandleader Gerald Wilson, has other goals in mind as well. One of the most important is the music of his nine-piece ensemble. On Thursday at Rocco’s in Hollywood, he made an extremely rare appearance with the group, concentrating for the most part on trying out a lengthy new suite titled “Tokyo Wednesday.”

In the suite’s untitled segments -- which ranged from open, airy passages to in-the-pocket rhythmic grooves -- he provided ample opportunity for the fine soloists in his ensemble to stretch out.

The results were extraordinary, especially in the presence of the wildly idiosyncratic playing of veteran tenor saxophonist Benny Wallace, the crisp bop stylings of pianist Donald Vega and the muscular swing of baritone saxophonist Adam Schroeder (two young players with enormous potential), and Wilson’s combination of articulate musicality and passionate swing.

Bassist Darek Oles and drummer Mark Ferber drove the ensemble with turbocharged rhythmic energy, balancing laid-back textures with gusts of propulsive power, tossing in their own sterling improvisational contributions.

As musically (and financially) rewarding as his gig with Diana Krall may be, Wilson is correct in working to keep the imaginative music of his nine-piece ensemble alive. In “Tokyo Wednesday,” he has the perfect vehicle for the band’s next recording.