Jack of Hearts

JACK OF HEARTS isn't the first Anthony Wilson album to feature an organist extensively; for example, the guitarist worked with the Los Angeles-based organist Joe Bagg on his 2005 release SAVIVITY. On this early 2009 session, Wilson forms an intimate trio with Larry Goldings on organ and Jeff Hamilton or Jim Keltner on drums. In the '90s and 2000s, Goldings was one of the leading proponents of a post-Jimmy Smith aesthetic on the Hammond B-3; he has been greatly influenced by the late Larry Young, who started out as a Smith disciple but evolved into an innovative, distinctive post-bop/modal player. So it isn't surprising that Goldings does a lot to shape the post-bop perspective that dominates JACK OF HEARTS. His presence is a major plus on material that was composed by himself and/or Wilson, as well as on the memorable arrangements of Coleman Hawkins' "Hawkeyes" and two of Duke Ellington's lesser-known pieces ("Zweet Zursday" and "Carnegie Blues"). The fact that neither of those Ellington tunes is a standard speaks well of Wilson, who is smart enough to realize that one of the joys of the vast Ellington songbook is hearing all of the worthwhile Ellington compositions that still remain a well-kept secret.