On GENERATIONS
Selected by Peter Watrous of the New York Times as one of the best recordings of 1998!"...after digging in to this recording it becomes clear that Steve Wilson also embodies generations of jazz tradition in his own playing...Throughout this recording Wilson shows the maturity of concept and skill which he has been working on as a sideman for the last dozen years. Starting in 1986 with the group Out of the Blue to his current membership in Chick Corea's band Origin, Wilson has been soaking up what it means to be part of a group where the product is greater than the sum of its parts. And considering the parts that he put together for this session, it is no surprise that the result is some sum!"
Glenn Kostur, Jazz Player
"There's an effortlessness to Steve Wilson's saxophone playing, a controlled grasp of melody and rhythm, that cannot be taught in music school. To reach Wilson's level of musicianship obviously takes years and years of intense practice, but this young dude is clearly blessed with an abundance of natural ability. Like a great running back who weaves through would-be tacklers, Wilson meanders gracefully through the spaces created here by Mulgrew Miller (piano), Ben Riley (drums) and Ray Drummond (bass)."
Ed Kopp, www.allaboutjazz.com
"A member of Chick Corea's new group Origin, Wilson is a consummate player whose bright but husky, legato attack and evenness over the whole horn recall the singing, lead alto quality of Benny Carter. His soprano sound is round, controlled and always in tune; his flute, big and piping...He takes his time while improvising, executing fluid, shapely ideas."
Paul de Barros, Down Beat
"Alto saxophonist Steve Wilson's modern mainstream quartet spans generations with respect to career accomplishments, but the music is timeless...On his 5th album as a leader Wilson shows a lovely tone and manner on alto; he also plays soprano sax on three tracks and flute on "Wait."...As with all good music, Wilson's album bridges the generation gap and offers arrangements of substance that will last for an eternity."
Jim Santella, www.allaboutjazz.com
"Steve Wilson has brought his consistent, incisive playing to some of jazzdom's heavier units — groups led by the likes of Chick Corea, Dave Holland, Leon Parker, and Ralph Peterson. "Generations" finds the saxophonist cruising confidently in the driver's seat, backed by a rhythm section of his elders...tracks like the lovely "Chrysalis" and the bright calypso "Trapacería" showcase Wilson's knack for sensible composition and unflagging, airtight improvisation."
Nate Chinen, Billboard
"The first aboveboard recording as a leader by this skillful mainstream saxophonist and flute player has been eagerly awaited by all who have drunk in his exceptional recent work with everyone from Leon parker to Chick Corea. A cooking backing unit nudged along by the great drummer Ben Riley keeps Wilson on his toes--right where he sounds best."
Entertainment Weekly
On the Bandstand "Wilson and Barth brought their own magic to the evening's attendees, with their duet on Buster Williams' number "Christina." As Wilson related its heartbreaking, downtempo theme over Barth's poignant accompaniment, their interweavings became so gorgeous and soul-bearing that when Barth's piano solo ended, there was little applause--as if clapping would break the spell."
Drew Wheeler, Jazz Central Station
"It's not surprising that everyone wants to hire the saxophonist Steve Wilson: with a light but commanding sound, he plays lines that sound fresh and airily bluesy, unencumbered by the too- common will to overwhelm. More and more, too, he's a jazz composer, which means not just that he has control over notated harmonies but that he has worked out cueing routines with his band, which he executes on the fly in the heat of performance. He's among the best New York jazz has to offer."
Ben Ratliff, New York Times
"..."Diaspora," one part of Mr. Wilson's "Trans Africa Suite," was built on bass figures that sometimes harmonized with the piano. For Mr. Wilson's solo the tempo flared up, with Mr. Parker snapping away at the metal rims of his drums with wooden sticks. Everything changed, both formally and improvisationally, and Mr. Wilson and the band went straight to the heart of the matter, which was to make new music."
Peter Watrous, New York Times
"A riveting improvisor, alto and soprano saxophonist Steve Wilson plays his horn if it were the most routine activity possible. Nothing's exaggerated in his music, yet vigor thrives, often in disarming ways." ... "...the balance between consideration and creativity was exceptional. The band swerved around "Perdido" like it was a Utah salt flat, at high speed but in total control. Other pieces were as episodic as a Carl Stallings ‘toon track, contoured to accommodate constant adjustments. Often, bop's structural rules were nudged aside. But the dinner ‘n' drinks crowd remained rapt because the styles regard for definition was underscored at every turn. Wilson's prevailing sense of calibration would have it no other way."
Jim Macnie, The Village Voice
