Performer Notes

Personnel includes: Gerald Wilson (trumpet); Ronald Willis, Louis Taylor, Carl Randall, Plas Johnson, Bobby Shew, Ron Borrows, Tony Lujan, Snooky Young (saxophone); Brian O'Rourke (piano); Anthony Wilson, Eric Otis (guitar).
STATE STREET SWEET was nominated for a 1996 Grammy Award for Best Large Jazz Ensemble Performance.
Personnel: Eric Otis, Anthony Wilson (guitar); Louis Taylor, Jr. (soprano saxophone, tenor saxophone); John Stephens, Randall Willis (alto saxophone); Carl Randall, Jr., Plas Johnson (tenor saxophone); Jack Nimitz (baritone saxophone); Bobby Clark , George Graham, Ron Barrows, Snooky Young, Tony Lujan, Frank Szabo, Bobby Shew (trumpet); Alex Iles, Thurman Green, Charles Loper, Ira Nepus (trombone); Maurice Spears (bass trombone); Brian O'Rourke (piano); Mel Lee (drums).
Liner Note Authors: Gary G. Vercelli; Gerald Wilson.
Unknown Contributor Roles: Bobby Clark ; John Stephens; Alex Iles; Eric Otis; Louis Taylor, Jr. ; Mel Lee; Carl Randall, Jr.; Brian O'Rourke ; George Graham; Ron Barrows; Randall Willis; Jack Nimitz; Plas Johnson ; Anthony Wilson ; Snooky Young; Thurman Green; Tony Lujan; Frank Szabo; Charles Loper; Trey Henry; Maurice Spears; Ira Nepus; Bobby Shew.
Arranger: Gerald Wilson.
Bandleader/arranger Gerald Wilson's first recording in several years is a success. He revisits "Carlos" (featuring trumpeter Ron Barrows) and "Lighthouse Blues" and performs some newer originals including "State Street Sweet," "Lakeshore Drive" and "Jammin' in C." With such soloists as trumpeters Barrows, Bobby Shew, Tony Lujan and Snooky Young, altoist Randall Willis, tenors Louis Taylor, Plas Johnson (showcased on "Come Back to Sorrento") and Carl Randall, pianist Brian O'Rourke and guitarists Anthony Wilson and Eric Otis, this edition of the Gerald Wilson Orchestra is quite strong but it is the leader's colorful and distinctive arrangements that give the band its personality. Recommended. ~ Scott Yanow

Professional Reviews

JazzTimes (7-8/95, p.121) - "...`I passed the state of my four- and five-part harmony long ago' [Wilson] has said. `A band that only employs four-part harmony can never affect the strength my band delivers--no matter how loud they play.' Besides strength, his harmonic structures give a sense of extraordinary depth..."

Jazziz (9/95, p.114) - "...[STATE STREET SWEET] is everything that makes big band jazz the finest music humans have created. It's elegant, sophisticated, graceful, fervent, romantic, raucous, and inspirational....There are no weak spots....It's wall-to-wall happiness."

Jazziz (10/95, p.37) - "...STATE STREET SWEET captures the essence of his style, which is at once elegant, robust, and gritty..."