Tony Williams - 1996 "Wilderness"

 

A full orchestra joins Tony Williams, Herbie Hancock, Michael Brecker, Pat Metheny and Stanley Clarke in this collection of tone poems that compare and contrast several takes on the meaning of wilderness. The leader provides a glimpse of the moods being portrayed through his choice of titles, as well as by supplying in the liner notes several familiar quotations about mankind and the natural world. Drummer Williams, who led the fusion band Lifetime in decades past, opts to contrast the natural sounds of an orchestra with the electronic sounds from keyboard synthesizers, electric bass, and electric guitar. Three distinct thoughts on wilderness present themselves through the musical moods being portrayed. The full orchestra, with its natural sounds, supplies pastoral scenes of the outdoors. The fusion quintet, through its "China Town" trilogy, expresses the brash rhythmic attitude of city life. Several pieces are special in that they employ thoughtful and soulful improvisation, which of course comes from that other wilderness lying deep within the mind.

One of drummer Tony Williams' final studio projects, this adventurous effort alternates selections by an all-star quintet (which includes tenor saxophonist Michael Brecker, guitarist Pat Metheny, pianist Herbie Hancock and bassist Stanley Clarke) with string orchestra tracks (usually using the rhythm section). Williams wrote most of the music (there is one song apiece from Metheny and Clarke), and despite the general unpredictability of the music (which ranges from melancholy to fiery), there is a surprising unity throughout the CD. Highlights include the pretty opener for strings "Wilderness Rising," a lyrical quintet number, "The Night You Were Born," the rockish freakout "China Moon" and the heated "Gambia"; only guitarist Lyle Workman's guest spot on his droning "Machu Picchu" is a minus. Otherwise, this is intriguing music that rewards repeated listenings, making one further appreciate the great loss suffered as a result of Tony Williams' premature death.

"The Night You Were Born" features Michael Brecker with a challenging tenor sax outing that shows off his technique and deep, ringing tone. Hancock on piano and Metheny on guitar blend to produce an image of some smoky dance hall late at night with only a few customers left standing around. Hancock stretches out in "Gambia" to share his unique mix of energetic and blues-based piano stylings; Metheny follows that with some of his delicate and fluid solo guitar work. Finally, "Cape Wilderness" sums it all up with fine solo work and group interplay from the quintet. Recommended.

This is the Tony's authoral last work, if i'm not wrong.
As he said in a 1997 interview to modern drummer, he was very proud with this album. He composed almost all musics. He was feeling himself more mature as a composer. This album is about a travel. Something like an imigrant in the new world travelling across the new land by train. This work is a movie in music format. The arrangement have an harmonic orchestration. For him, one album is a complete history, not a fragmented number of peaces. This songs are linked, musical, peacefull, not a drum show in first plane (this he made as a master in all his life). It's a beautyfull and poetical goodbye from one of the greatest master of the music. And, defying simple categorization, right to the end. Tony William's last album (?) and in many ways a synthesis of more new beginnings for him - jazz meets the orchestra - neo-fusion - funk - latin - swing - classical. If anything, I was only disappointed he didn't throw in some hard bop - but his own compositional leanings were more toward jazz-rock-fusion, and in some ways that has become mainstream - only because Mr Williams was one of the key innovators of these genre, and we are appreciating his work from a post-Williams, post-Zappa perspective, if you get my drift. Anyway, it's a fantastic album - with great synergy between all players - all giants of jazz!! Highly recommended.

Track listing:

01 Wilderness Rising     7:35
02 China Town     8:33
03 Infant Wilderness     2:31
04 Harlem Mist '55     4:03
05 China Road     2:46
06 The Night You Were Born     8:05
07 Wilderness Voyager     2:07
08 Machu Picchu     6:42
09 China Moon     3:24
10 Wilderness Island     2:49
11 Sea Of Wilderness     3:06
12 Gambia     6:13
13 Cape Wilderness     7:15

Personnel:

    Drums – Tony Williams*
    Piano – Herbie Hancock
    Bass – Stanley Clarke
    Guitar – Lyle Workman (tracks: 8), Pat Metheny
    Bassoon – John Steinmetz (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11), Rose Corrigan (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11)
    Cello – Armen Ksajikian (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11), Steve Erdody (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11)
    Clarinet – Charles Boito (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11), Ralph Williams (4) (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11)
    Double Bass – Chuck Berghoffer* (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11)   
    Flute – Gerri Rotella* (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11), Susan Greenberg (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11)
    French Horn – David Duke (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11), Rick Todd* (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11)
    Harp – Katie Kirkpatrick (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11)
    Oboe – Chris Bleth (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11), Earle Dumler* (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11)
    Percussion – Bob Zimmitti (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11)
    Percussion [Additional] – David Garibaldi (tracks: 2)
    Tenor Saxophone – Michael Brecker
    Trombone – Alan Kaplan (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11)
    Trumpet – Walt Fowler (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11)
    Viola – Alexis Carreon (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11), Brian Dembow (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11), Ken Burward-Hoy* (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11), Margot Maclaine (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11)
    Violin – Karen Jones (2) (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11), Kathy Lenski* (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11), Ken Yerke* (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11), Liane Mautner (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11), Margaret Wooten (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11), Mario De Leon* (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11), Ralph Morrison (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11), Sheryl Staples (tracks: 1, 3, 4, 7, 11)
    Orchestrated By – Tony Williams* (tracks: 1), John Van Tongeren (tracks: 3, 7, 11), Stanley Clarke (tracks: 4)
    Producer – Tony Williams*