This selection from the 2016 edition of "A Jazz Christmas" with the Wilson Somers Trio & Guests, including The Tatnall Singers, is a great mix of Dave Brubeck and Richard Strauss that takes a fun run at the hectic holiday season. The arrangement is by Kathy Strauss.
This Wilson Somers composition debuted on April 7, 2019 at 'A Jazz Vespers for Martin,' commemorating the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The musicians include: Wilson Somers, piano; Leon Spencer, contrabass; Bryan Silberman, percussion; and featuring Stan Slotter on trumpet, with the Church of the Advent choir. Performed and recorded at Church of the Advent, Kennett Square, PA.
This rendition of a popular Wilson Somers composition features shared solos by Stan Slotter on flute, Wes Morton on vibraphone and Wilson Somers on piano, accompanied by Leon Spencer on contrabass and Bryan Silberman on percussion. Performed and recorded at 'A Jazz Vespers for Martin,' honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., held April 7, 2019 at Church of the Advent, Kennett Square, PA.
This is a composition dedicated by Wilson to his wife Joan. It appears on the "Beautiful Love" CD.
A mellow selection from 'A Jazz Vespers for Martin' held April 7, 2019 to commemorate the death of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The musicians include: Wilson Somers, piano; Leon Spencer, contrabass; Bryan Silberman, percussion; and featuring Stan Slotter on trumpet and Wes Morton on vibraphone. Performed and recorded at Church of the Advent, Kennett Square, PA From the composer: "A 16 bar blues, 'The Peace" is designed for Vibraphone and Jazz Piano Trio. It is a tune that will keep evolving. This composition is dedicated to my dear friend, The Reverend Canon Lloyd Casson, Rector Emeritus of St. Andrew's and St. Matthew's Church in Wilmington, Delaware. It is a church that transcends boundaries...or like Duke Ellington used to say about his music 'It is beyond boundaries'."
Wilson Somers, composer and pianist
A great performance of the Eden Ahbez classic, "Nature Boy," with lead by Wes Morton on vibraphone, joined by Wilson Somers on piano, Glenn Ferricone on drums and Peter Paulsen on contrabass. From the Springtime in Paris benefit concert on April 30, 2017 at the Laird Center of the Tatnall School in Wilmington, DE.
This lively version of the Richard Rodgers standard features Wilson Somers on piano, with Glenn Ferricone on percussion and Peter Paulsen on contrabass. Performed at Laird Center at the Tatnall School, in Wilmington, DE, during the Springtime in Paris jazz concert on April 30, 2017.
This is a selection from a benefit concert held in Wilmington, Delaware, featuring Wilson Somers on piano, Wes Morton on vibraphone, Glenn Ferricone on percussion, Peter Paulson on contrabass, Stan Slotter on flute and trumpet, Ed Kirkpatrick on saxophone and Wes Morton on vibraphone, performing at the Laird Arts Center, at Tatnall School, in Wilmington.
Beautiful Love was recorded at a special get together of the Wilson Somers Quartet at the Episcopal Church of the Advent, Kennett Square, PA. The musicians include: Wilson Somers, piano; Leon Spencer, contrabass; Bryan Silberman, percussion; and featuring Ed Kirkpatrick on tenor saxophone.
Avalon Pier was recorded at a special get together of the Wilson Somers Quartet at the Episcopal Church of the Advent, Kennett Square, PA. The musicians include: Wilson Somers, piano; Leon Spencer, contrabass; Bryan Silberman, percussion; and featuring Ed Kirkpatrick on tenor saxophone.
This is a terrific performance of a jazzy Christmas tune performed by the talented Annie Fitch at the 2016 Jazz Christmas concert, held at the Laird Center of The Tatnall School. Musicians included: Wilson Somers on piano, Glenn Ferricone on drums, Peter Paulsen on contrabass, Ed Kirkpatrick on saxophone and Wes Morton on vibraphone. A benefit sponsored by Mass for the Homeless, Inc, Music with a Mission.
This tune is written in the classic Tin Pan Alley 32 bar form – AABA. The “B” is for the bridge that contrasts with the repetitive 8 bar phrase. So many great songs of the 20’s through 40’s use this form with songwriter/composers, such as Kern, Gershwin, Porter, Berlin, Rodgers and more. The story behind this particular tune is so well known. Duke Ellington asked Pittsburgh Pianist/Composer Billy Strayhorn to visit him on the Upper West Side of New York City. Billy arrived with this tune to honor Duke. Duke loved it so…that he made it the theme song for the Ellington Orchestra. Billy and Duke were inseparable until Billy’s untimely death. I remember hearing Brubeck’s quartet in the early 1980’s and was so struck that his band’s encore was ‘A Train’. This performance, was the encore for the 2016 Jazz Christmas concert, held at the Laird Center of the Tatnall School, features the gifted vibraphonist, Wes Morton and the late Ed Kirkpatrick on alto saxophone. I am certain that Ed is now sitting in from time to time in Ellington’s Celestial Big Band.
This performance of a Wilson Gault Somers classic features Ed Kirkpatrick on tenor saxophone and the beautiful natural acoustics of the Cathedral of the Episcopal Diocese of Philadelphia.
This performance of "Pavane For A Dragonfly" is from the Wilson Somers Quartet Concert at the Episcopal Cathedral of Philadelphia in October, 2013. It features the late Ed Kirkpatrick on tenor saxophone.
