Matt Wilson©Andrea Canter

“More and more it is obvious that the drummer is one of the era’s most imaginative jazz figures.”---Village Voice

Matt Wilson has been collecting more than percussion instruments: His accolades include five consecutive titles as DownBeat critics’ “rising star” drummer”;  “Best New Artist” by the New York Jazz Critics Circle; winner of the 2004 Modern Drummers reader’s poll; 2003 winner and 2004/2006 nominee as Jazz Drummer of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association. Similar accolades have been heaped upon his ensembles, the Matt Wilson Quartet and his other foursome, Arts and Crafts. Matt Wilson’s Arts and Crafts. Arts and Crafts—with Terell Stafford, Martin Wind and Gary Versace-- makes their Village Vanguard debut this week, September 4-9. The quartet is coming off their 2012 tour in support of their latest Palmetto release, Attitude for Gratitude.

Matt Wilson was born in Knoxville, IL, where his parents encouraged him to explore art and music. After seeing an episode of I Love Lucy with Buddy Rich as guest star, third grader Matt was inspired to take up the drums. He bought a pair of drum sticks and “began exploring a wide range of suitable cookware and five gallon buckets as sound sources.” After receiving a used set of snare and cymbals, Wilson joined his brother (on tenor sax) and found audiences with the local PTA and 4H Club. Notes Wilson, “It was quite a duo…We had a book that explored all of the hits of the 60’s and 70’s. We were serious Herb Alpert aficionados.” Wilson went on to play in school ensembles, learned to read music, and in 8th grade was hired by his high school band director to play drums in his weekend dance band. He soon had other gigs--a big band (Common Denominator), country bands, Dixieland bands, “anything I could play.”

Martin Wind©Andrea Canter

Wilson has made over 250 recordings as sideman, and has played on numerous national jingles and soundtracks. His resume includes work with a wide array of artists, including Dewey Redman, Ray Anderson, Bill Mays, Janis Siegal, Cecil McBee, Leni Stern, Fred Hersch, Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, Ravi Coltrane, Mark Taylor, Sheila Jordan, Lee Konitz, Rufus Reid, Ted Rosenthal, Mario Pavone, Joanne Brackeen, and many others. Recently he has toured with the Denny Zeitlin Trio, Trio M (Myra Melford and Mark Dresser), Ted Nash, Frank Kimbrough, Deana DeRose and Charlie Haden’s Liberation Orchestra, in addition to his quartets. The Matt Wilson Quartet was initiated in 1996; in 2002 he founded his other touring band, Arts and Crafts. “Both groups swing and have these interesting personalities,” explains Wilson, “just with different instrumentation.” Wilson also continues to lead his Carl Sandburg Project and released a holiday recording in 2010 with his “Christmas Tree-O” trio (with saxophonist Jeff Lederer and bassist Paul Sikivie).

As a popular instructor, Wilson has conducted workshops throughout the U.S., Canada, Europe, Japan, and South America, covering drumset performance, rhythm section performance, music business, and creativity and expression for all instruments. He is also a member of New York's Jazz Composer's Collective.

Arts and Crafts

Of his Arts and Crafts ensemble, Wilson notes that “I wanted to do something with a different instrumentation than the Matt Wilson Quartet. I also wanted to have the opportunity to record tunes I had stored in my ‘want to record someday’ file…to compose pieces that stretched the ‘classic’ jazz quartet instrumentation.” Said Michael Renner (St. Louis Post Dispatch), the results were “innovative, original compositions, beautifully executed standards and arresting musicianship…Wilson, a polyglot on the drums, spoke the languages of bop, Latin, avant-garde and straight-ahead jazz rhythm with equal command. His ballad work erased any distinction between traditional and avant-garde or modern.”

Terell Stafford©Andrea Canter

Arts and Crafts has released four recordings to date, their self-named debut (2001), award-winning Wake Up (To What's Happening) (2004), Scenic Route (2007), and now the acclaimed Attitude for Gratitude (2011), all on Palmetto Records.  The band was a featured act at the 2008 Detroit Jazz Festival.

Master trumpeter Terell Stafford was an anchor of Bobby Watson’s Horizon before breaking out as leader of his own quartet and quintet. Over time he has also played with McCoy Tyner’s Latin All-Stars, Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, the Village Vanguard Orchestra, and Mingus Big Band. Mentor Tyner noted, "Terell is one of the great players of our time, a fabulous trumpet player. He has his own voice on his instrument—a very personal sound.” Stafford has released several recordings with his quintet on MaxJazz.

Gary Versace©Andrea Canter

A native of Flensburg, Germany, bassist Martin Wind came to the U.S. in 1996 for graduate studies at New York University, and ever since has been a first-call and leader of his own ensembles. To date he has released ten recordings as leader and currently works with Bill Mays, Dene DeRose and Don Friedman in addition to Arts and Crafts, and often appears with the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. He's also on the faculty of New York University.

Wilson is “so excited to have the honor of presenting my fine ensemble, Arts and Crafts, at the Vanguard. We have been out touring all year in support of our acclaimed release on Palmetto Records, An Attitude for Gratitude, and are ready to return home to NYC to spread sonic love. It is my first opportunity to lead a band at the Vanguard…Terell, Gary, Martin and I look forward to seeing and sharing our music with you!”

“With even more body language than most drummers, Wilson has a wide ranging human and technical arsenal at his disposal, and he uses it all, from wood to metal sticks, from wire brushes and strings of wood ‘shells’ to the air currents passing through his fluttering hands, literally all the ‘bells and whistles’ that can be whacked, thunked, jingled, even dropped on the floor. He seems to merely give a cymbal a certain look to coax just the right sound” (Jazz Police).

Matt Wilson’s Arts and Crafts performs at the Village Vanguard through Sunday, September 9th, sets at 9 and 11 pm. The Vanguard is located at 178 7th Ave South in Greenwich Village, Manhattan; www.villagevanguard.com

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