Ernie Wilkins Albums (5)
What The Critics Say
Almost Big Band. ~ All Music Guide, All Music Guide
What The Critics Say
The fourth and final recording by Ernie Wilkins' "Almost Big Band" (a 13-piece group including ten horns) features the leader's arrangements of five of his swinging compositions plus "Lover Man." Wilkins' pieces include several tributes ("Almost Basie," "Ode to Billy Strayhorn" and "A Little Bit of Duke") and among his better-known sidemen (all Europeans or American expatriates) are trombonist Richard Boone (who sings "B.P. Blues"), the tenors of Jesper Thilo and Bent Jaedig, baritonist Per Goldschmidt, pianist Kenny Drew and drummer Ed Thigpen. Excellent swinging music. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
'The Big New Band of the '60s'
Release Date 1/1/1960
Tracks 24
Label Everest
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What The Critics Say
Despite its title, the Ernie Wilkins Orchestra did not become "the big new band of the '60s" and this LP was its only recording. With such an all-star cast (including trumpeters Clark Terry and Charlie Shavers, tenors Zoot Sims and Yusef Lateef, vibraphonist Eddie Costa and guitarist Kenny Burrell) the big band would not have had much of a chance anyway in the 1960s. Wilkins' progressive but swinging arrangements for three of his originals and nine standards are enjoyable but the brevity of the tracks (the longest one is 3½-minutes) and the rather short solos is unfortunate. This LP falls a bit short of its great potential. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
'Top Brass Featuring Five Trumpets'
Release Date 1/1/1955
Tracks 12
Label Savoy
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What The Critics Say
Although he was a better than average saxophonist with Count Basie, by the time of these 1950s sessions for Savoy, Ernie Wilkins was working exclusively as an arranger and composer. Most of the music within this compilation comes from a 1955 session with trumpeters Donald Byrd, Ray Copeland, Ernie Royal, Idrees Sulieman, and Joe Wilder, pianist Hank Jones, bassist Wendell Marshall, and drummer Kenny Clarke. Four of the first five tracks are swinging originals by Wilkins, and there's also an obscure Johnny Mandel blues, "Dot's What." The remaining music from the first session is a ballad medley where each trumpeter is featured in turn playing a personal favorite, all of which have become time-tested standards. If there's any complaint about this studio date at all, it is the excess reverb used at times, which is surprising due to Rudy Van Gelder's usually impeccable sound. The bonus tracks are from another Wilkins-led session from 1957; trumpeters Art Farmer, Charlie Shavers, Emmett Berry, and Harold "Shorty" Baker join Royal, with Don Abney taking over on piano and Bobby Donaldson on drums. Both of Wilkins' originals, "Blues in 6/4" and "Trumpets All Out," are enjoyable even if they never became widely known. Because reissues of Savoy dates seem to surface and go out of print with blazing speed (this 2001 issue was evidently licensed to Atlantic), fans of Ernie Wilkins are advised not to linger in purchasing this recommended CD. ~ Ken Dryden, All Music Guide
