| Jazz |
We had already delighted in Matt Wilson’s album *Good Trouble* (see here), so when one of our partners presented us with this Christmas album, I couldn’t resist. I knew I was about to encounter a truly exceptional level of creativity—and that is precisely what unfolds here. Fans of deeply nuanced jazz will marvel at this album, where the festive theme serves merely as a spark for Matt Wilson’s ingenious spirit. This release marks the 60th birthday of drummer, composer, and bandleader Matt Wilson, as well as the 15th anniversary of one of his acclaimed ensembles, the Christmas Tree-O, featuring the legendary multi-reedist Jeff Lederer and distinguished bassist Paul Sikivie.
Often, Christmas albums can be tedious or tailored to the fleeting musical trends of the moment—reggae, rap, R&B, and so on. Here, we find quite the opposite: a genuine jazz album of the kind we cherish, where one quickly forgets the holiday theme and rises to applaud Matt Wilson and his band. The group gave their first performance on December 9, 2009, in Brooklyn, NY, and went on to record their debut album, *Matt Wilson’s Christmas Tree-O*, at Maggie’s Farm studio on a snowy May day in 2010. The album was released in the fall of 2010 under Palmetto Records.
Since then, the group has performed widely across the United States and Canada, with their annual sold-out engagements at the Jazz Standard (now held at Dizzy’s) becoming a celebrated New York holiday tradition. They have welcomed numerous musical legends as guest performers, including Bill Frisell, Jason Moran, Joe Lovano, Kurt Elling, Aaron Diehl, Christian McBride, Esperanza Spalding, Nels Cline, Camila Meza, and Cecile McLorin Salvant.
With such stellar artists gracing these concerts, one can only be captivated. The genius lies in the arrangements, which subtly weave a winter theme here and there—sometimes in an introduction, sometimes in a melodic line. The result is joyful and continuously intriguing, with arrangements that playfully disregard the original themes and rhythms, making it unmistakably Matt Wilson’s music.
In June 2024, the trio braved icy roads to reach Bucks County, Pennsylvania, where they recorded their second album, *Tree Jazz: The Shape of Christmas to Come*. A week later, after the thaw, they welcomed the Treedom Singers—Mary LaRose, Audrey Wilson, and Gregory Rodriguez—who added their vocal magic to the recording. Dawn Clement joins on piano for “Shine Your Light.”
So, if you appreciate jazz that is a touch urbane and intellectual, unpretentious yet highly inventive, this album is likely to be for you. It ventures well off the beaten path, which is why we warmly recommend it, placing it among our now-renowned “Indispensables.”
Thierry De Clemensat
USA correspondent – Paris-Move and ABS magazine
Editor in chief Bayou Blue Radio, Bayou Blue News
PARIS-MOVE, November 9th 2024
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