Jack Wilkins

Review by Ken Dryden

Jack Wilkins has long been regarded by his peers as one of the top jazz guitarists around. The core band in this 2006 session includes keyboardist Jon Cowherd, bassist Steve LaSpina, and drummer Mark Ferber. Wilkins demonstrates not only his diversity of interests, but also his ability to take fresh approaches to familiar tunes. For example, Burt Bacharach's "Arthur's Theme" was at best an innocuous tune from the movie starring Dudley Moore, played as a leisurely pop ballad and blandly sung by Christopher Cross; Wilkins modifies it into a breezy Latin setting, showcasing his superb chops, adding Latin percussionist Samuel Torres. There are two mellow takes of folk-rocker James Taylor's "Blossom" adding Jeff Barone (whom Wilkins has mentored, while also co-producing and appearing as a guest on the younger man's first two CDs), with Cowherd switching to organ. He switches to acoustic guitar for his intimate interpretation of folksinger Buffy Sainte-Marie's "Until It's Time for You to Go," which ventures a bit further into pop than "Blossom." Wilkins also delivers with his settings of standards and familiar jazz compositions. His brisk midtempo scoring of "Airegin" (often played ridiculously fast) is a refreshing change, while the easygoing treatment of Henry Mancini's "Two for the Road" is a lyrical affair. Jazz guitarist Johnny Smith's "Walk Don't Run" became a surprise mainstream hit in the early '60s, though it had been pretty much ignored for decades until Wilkins came up with his sizzling arrangement, while his rapid-fire interpretation of the Latin favorite "Tico Tico" also shows off his formidable chops. Highly recommended.

(All Music Guide)