Critically acclaimed composer and arranger Mark Masters takes on a journey down memory lane with his latest album Night Talk, which pays homage to the famed composer Alec Wilder. It features special guest Gary Smulyan, considered by many to be THE greatest baritone saxophonist today (and quite possibly ever) accompanied by a well-assembled septet of hand-picked musicians by maestro Masters himself which included Don Shelton and Jerry Pinter on saxophones, Bob Summers on trumpet, Dave Woodley on trombone, Ed Czach on piano, bassist Puttery Smith, and Kendall Kay on drums.
Wilder was a composer admired by many of his contemporaries including Frank Sinatra, Peggy Lee, Tony Bennett, and others for his blending of jazz, classical, and American popular music and would even write his own lyrics on occasions for a few songs. From the onset, it’s clear that the tribute has been conceptualized brilliantly. The arrangements capture the essence of Wilder’s compositions perfectly, and Smulyan stands out as a giant among giants. The playing on the opening track You’re Free sets the tone for this high energy charged album. Smulyan takes ownership of this arrangement and plays with such authority it’s almost as if he arranged the music himself! It’s very clear that Master’s and Smulyan have a history together as the arranging and his playing are like a hand in a glove– they fit so perfectly. And while Master’s is featuring the great baritonist in this project, he still gives his working plenty of chances to shine as is evident in the second selection, Don’t Deny where Bob Summers and Jerry Pinter both take tasteful solos that propel the tune forward and create energy for Smulyan to feed off to bring the tune full circle. The waltz Ellen is charming to listen to, and takes the listener to a place of relaxation and pure bliss, making it a perfect piece to slow things down after the highly charged beginning to this album. The popular Moon and Sand is done in a bossa nova style and allows for both Smulyan’s playing and Master’s arranging to be taken to another level. Lyrical, virtuosic, and sublime all in one… I struggle to put the essence of this tune into words, but although words may fail me, the music surely does not fail the listener but rather puts them in a deep meditative state of joy and rapture.
Baggage Blues, which was recorded by Stan Getz and Chet Baker, shows Wilder’s propensity for drawing on all of his musical influences. This blues sits in the pocket and stays there despite the adventurous harmonic play that happens. The essence of blues never leaves and it simply just feels good the entire time. The tune I like it here is aptly named as it describes the tempo, the feel… everything! The overwhelming happiness one feels when listening to this selection cannot be described. Uplifting and bouncy, it is the perfect tune to brighten anyone’s mood. The title track of the album is melancholic with a sort of urban swagger to it… as if it would be the soundtrack to a Humphrey Bogart movie! All I could picture was a movie being shown in black and white as this music was being played. It truly embodies the essence of the night, at times reminding me of Round Midnight by Thelonious Monk as well as GoodBye Pork Pie Hat by Charles Mingus! Lovers and Losers represents this diametrical relationship perfectly, and it showcases the “cast” of this album, which is Master’s ensemble displaying all their musical genius to the fullest and they perfectly set up Smulyan for a highly charged solo with drummer Kendall Kay, and later the entire ensemble and pushes all the way to the end. The finale of this album I’ll be around is Wilder’s most famous tune and made a great success for the Mills brothers. It is the perfect way to end this tribute to Wilder, and Masters, Smulyan, and the ensemble bring everything home just the way they brought it in….swinging hard! Just like the timeless music of Wilder, I believe this album will prove to be timeless in years to come, but in the meantime, it is so great that Masters has paid homage to this legacy that would almost certainly go unnoticed by today’s generation. Bravo to Mark Masters and his ensemble, and to their guest artist Gary Smulyan for keeping Wilder’s flame burning bright!
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