ghost of miles Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 This just showed up on the JPL listserv: John Altman is reporting Gerald Wilson's passing on the West Coast Jazz list and (unfortunately) his information is usually pretty good. Can't find confirmation anywhere else yet. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
clifford_thornton Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 sad to hear, if true. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Schwartz Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-gerald-wilson-20140909-story.html#page=1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hardbopjazz Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 Wow. RIP Gerald. He had a long life. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chuck Nessa Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 A life well executed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Schwartz Posted September 8, 2014 Report Share Posted September 8, 2014 Wow. RIP Gerald. He had a long life. Just turned 96 a couple of days ago, 09/04 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ghost of miles Posted September 9, 2014 Author Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 Last of the swing-era lions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CJ Shearn Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 Thank you for the music, Gerald Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 1960 Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 Sad news. Thanks for all the great music, Gerald. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jazzkrow Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 I know that Gerald lived to a ripe old age, but I am still so saddened by his passing. I met him several times and he was a walking encyclopedia of jazz history. He had not been to Seattle for several decades but remembered all the clubs he played at 50 years ago both in Seattle and in the clubs of N Williams Ave here in Portland. RIP Gerald ....You will be sincerely missed So glad to have his Mosaic set... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom 1960 Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 So glad to have his Mosaic set...Agreed! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Noj Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 I've had a mangled Gerald Wilson Pacific Jazz compilation LP since I first started collecting, and along with some Blue Note compilations it led to my purchase of his Mosaic. I love his music. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JSngry Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 One of the first, very first, jazz records I bought was a Gerald Wilson record, Everywhere. Out of the cutout bins, Loved it then, love it now, and have followed Gerald Wilson ever since. The more I understood big band writing, the more fun it was to listen to him. The Mosiac is a treasure, but don't overlook the later work. They're gems, all of them. RIP. Much love, and you'll be missed down here on the ground. If this was geared for airplay, it worked magnificently. A staple of drive-time jazz radio aorund here for as long as we had it. Electric harpsichord, California flutes, fully voiced brass, and Harold Land. Much, much love. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GA Russell Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 RIP. Time to go to Spotify and listen to the Mosaic box! I can also recommend his Orchestra of the '80s recordings. I never heard of them at the time, but I stumbled upon a couple of 99 cent cassettes in the mid-'90s. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sidewinder Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 RIP. Time to go to Spotify and listen to the Mosaic box! RIP Gerald - I'm reaching for the box this morning. What sad news to start the day. However, I'm grateful that I managed to see him a couple of times. One time in LA with his orchestra (stupendous) and more recently when he did that London concert in his ripe old age. His enthusiasm and vitality at that gig were incredible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
king ubu Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 Sad news - but I guess he had quite a life indeed and left us with some great music! Much obliged, Mr. Wilson! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 he was like the west coast duke ellington, + more, i cant think of anything else to put it. the godfather of west coast jazz. Gerald Wilson. RIP. he played up here once maybe 7 yrs ago,but it was the wildest commute to reach it, involving a auto-ferry and multiple residential point by point turns. it was a time when i was not driving much, and i did not go. But i have all his records incl. the bootleg of his 78rpm stuff, all his pacific jazz lps as a leader, the 'orch. of the eighties' lps....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BFrank Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 Not unexpected considering his advanced age, but still a sad day. The Mosaic box is an indispensable part of my collection, and definitely one of my favorites. Unfortunately I only saw him once - at Yoshi's several years ago as part of Kenny Burrell's 75th birthday celebration. Fortunately, it was recorded by BN, so I'll always have that memory. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Teasing the Korean Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 When I used to DJ, this track was in regular rotation: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LarryCurleyMoe Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 RIP Gerald, you made a lot of great music in your time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott Dolan Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 Boy, did he ever. I was lucky enough to see him at the Chicago Jazz Festival several years ago. R.I.P., Master Wilson... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John L Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr jazz Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 Got into his music about 10 years ago. A major talent who lived a full life. RIP Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Magnificent Goldberg Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 I first heard him in 1963 - this was it and if that's not Groove Holmes on organ there, I'm an Antarctic penguin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJUQNseYUZQ Did Sam ever sound so great? Here's another great arrangement he did - this for Ray Charles; a cover of Chuck Jackson's 'I wake up crying'. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7aIkV0OFoF0 How GOOD he made this stuff sound! People talk about jazz musicians doing commercial work to support their jazz activities, but if those arrangements aren't PURE Gerald Wilson jazz activities, well I dunno what is. BFTs have proved it, I can't recognise Duke Ellington orchestrations, but I CAN recognise Gerald's work. Can't live without all these nice Gerald Wilson recordings. RIP, and many, many thanks for what you did. MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clunky Posted September 9, 2014 Report Share Posted September 9, 2014 His career was simply incredible, an amazing talent RIP. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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