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Jack Wilson

Jack Wilson was an American jazz pianist and composer.

Wilson was born in Chicago on August 3, 1936, moving to Fort Wayne, Indiana at age seven. From 1949 to 1954, he studied piano with Carl Atkinson at the Fort Wayne College of Music. It was during this time that he was introduced to the music of George Shearing.

Later picking up tenor saxophone, Wilson played in the Central High School band and began performing locally as a leader of small combos. By his fifteenth birthday, he had become the youngest member ever to join the Fort Wayne Musicians Union (Local 58). At the age of 17 he played a two-week stint as a substitute pianist in James Moody's band.

After graduating from Central High, Wilson spent a year-and-a-half at the Indiana University, encountering Freddie Hubbard and Slide Hampton. Touring with a rock 'n' roll band, he wound up in Columbus, Ohio, connecting with the then unknown Nancy Wilson and Rahsaan Roland Kirk.

After a year in Columbus, Wilson moved to Atlantic City, leading the house band at the Cotton Club, now adding organ to his musical arsenal. At the Club he encountered Dinah Washington, with whom he worked from 1957 to 1958.

Returning to Chicago, Wilson played with Gene Ammons, Sonny Stitt, Eddie Harris and Al Hibbler. His longest gig there was at the Persian Lounge with bassist Richard Evans, with whom Jack made his recording debut as a sideman on Richard's Almanac (July 21–23, 1959). Drafted into the Army, he went to Fort Stewart, Georgia, and became the first Black music director for the Third Army Area, playing tenor saxophone in the army band.

In 1961, Wilson received an honorable medical discharge (because of diabetes). He returned to Dinah Washington's band from 1961 to 1962. Encouraged by Buddy Collette, he moved to Los Angeles.

In Los Angeles, Wilson worked for Gerald Wilson, Lou Donaldson, Herbie Mann, Jackie McLean and Johnny Griffin. Frequently in and out of the studio for recording, film and television work, he did stints with Sammy Davis Jr., Sarah Vaughan, Lou Rawls, Eartha Kitt, Julie London, as well as Sonny & Cher.

He appeared on and wrote the title track for Earl Anderza's debut album Outa Sight! (1962).[3]

In 1965, Jack Wilson recorded the album Jack Wilson Plays Brazilian Mancini together with Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Jack Wilson was part of the Ike Isaacs trio and is a strong presence on several of Lambert Hendricks and Ross recordings including "LHR sing Ellington".

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My Blue Note Obsession

Jack Wilson: Something Personal – 1966

Read "Jack Wilson: Something Personal – 1966" reviewed by Marc Davis


Maybe I'm imagining it, but pianist Jack Wilson owes a great big thank-you to John Coltrane on Something Personal. At least that's how I hear it on the opening track, “Most Unsoulful Woman," one of two highlights on this 1966 album. Coltrane, the legendary saxman, released his masterpiece A Love Supreme in 1965. It is as introspective and spiritual as any music ever recorded. That's the part you know. Here's the part you don't: A year ...

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Backgrounder: Jack Wilson Plays Brazilian Mancini

Backgrounder: Jack Wilson Plays Brazilian Mancini

Source: JazzWax by Marc Myers

Jack Wilson was a jazz pianist with solid commercial instincts. His dashing looks and a fast arranging pen brought him to the attention of Buddy Collette, a West Coast multi-instrumentalist and studio musician. In the early 1960s, Buddy suggested that Wilson move out to Los Angeles, where studio orchestrating and recording work was plentiful. Wilson arrived and went directly to work, ghost arranging, recording under his own name and recording with major jazz musicians. By the mid-1980s, he relocated to ...

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Plays Brazilian...

Essential Media Group LLC
2011

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Legacy

AIM (2)
1982

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Innovations

Discovery Records
1977

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Song For My Daughter

Blue Note Records
1969

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Easterly Winds

Blue Note Records
1967

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Something Personal

Blue Note Records
1966

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