Pianist/composer Jack Wilson: "Easterly Winds"

Jack Wilson is sadly not a household name but should be better known. He was a very fine pianist who reflected the influences of Hank jones and Tommy Flanagan...in other words a pianist with a light lyrical touch. He was also a fine composer. He was born in Chicago on Aug. 3,1936 and died at age 71 on Oct.5,2007. He recorded for Atlantic records and then did 3 albums for Blue Note and tonight's Jazz feature is the very best of the Blue Note three. It features a hand-picked band by Mr. Wilson that includes Lee Morgan on trumpet, Jackie McLean on alto saxophone, Garnett Brown on trombone, Bob Cranshaw on bass and Billy Higgins on drums. Wilson wrote 4 of the six compositions and arranged them all. A trio track with just bass and drums has Jack Wilson interpreting Johnny Mandel's beautiful tune, "A Time For Love". The other non Wilson tune played by the full band is by saxophonist Frank Strozier and called appropriately enough "Frank's Tune". ""Easterly Winds" is a minor classic and should be better known and tonight it is The Jazz Show's Jazz Feature.