City Newspaper Archives - 1/2007
Anthony Wilson Nonet: "Power of Nine"
Published by Ron Netsky on Jan 16, 2007
If you think of Anthony Wilson only as Diana Krall's guitarist, think again. He may be a superb accompanist, but his new album proves that he is also an extraordinary composer and arranger. Cuts featuring guitar, like Wilson's "I And Thou," are numerous and wonderful, but the real knock-out tracks showcase Wilson's arrangements of originals like the gorgeous "Hymn" and dynamic "Power Of Nine." Nonets are little big bands and Wilson does a beautiful job creating voicings for a variety of horns and one unusual instrument. On his Brazilian influenced "Quadras" there are several excellent mandolin solos by Eva Scow. Great solos are plentiful, from Alan Ferber on trombone, Matt Zebley, Matt Otto, and Adam Schroeder on saxes, Gilbert Castellanos on trumpet, and Donald Vega on piano. In a nice role-reversal, Krall makes a guest appearance with a touching rendition of Cheryl Ernst and Jimmy Rowles' "Looking Back."
