Report that Gerald Wilson has passed away

[ghost of miles]

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.

[clifford_thornton]

sad to hear, if true.

[Mike Schwartz]

http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-gerald-wilson-20140909-story.html#page=1

[Hardbopjazz]

Wow. RIP Gerald. He had a long life.

[Chuck Nessa]

A life well executed.

[Mike Schwartz]

Wow. RIP Gerald. He had a long life.

Just turned 96 a couple of days ago, 09/04

[ghost of miles]

Last of the swing-era lions.

[CJ Shearn]

Thank you for the music, Gerald

[Tom 1960]

Sad news. Thanks for all the great music, Gerald.

[jazzkrow]

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...

[Tom 1960]

So glad to have his Mosaic set...

Agreed!

[Noj]

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.

[JSngry]

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.

[GA Russell]

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.

[sidewinder]

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.

[king ubu]

Sad news - but I guess he had quite a life indeed and left us with some great music! Much obliged, Mr. Wilson!

[chewy-chew-chew-bean-benitez]

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.......

[BFrank]

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.

[Teasing the Korean]

When I used to DJ, this track was in regular rotation:

[LarryCurleyMoe]

RIP Gerald, you made a lot of great music in your time!

[Scott Dolan]

Boy, did he ever.

I was lucky enough to see him at the Chicago Jazz Festival several years ago.

R.I.P., Master Wilson...

[John L]

RIP.

[mr jazz]

Got into his music about 10 years ago. A major talent who lived a full life. RIP

[The Magnificent Goldberg]

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

[Clunky]

His career was simply incredible, an amazing talent RIP.