The Twister

Don Wilkerson - The Texas Twister (1960) {Riverside OJCCD-1950-2 rel 2001}
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© 1960, 2001 Riverside / Fantasy / OJC | OJCCD-1950-2
Jazz / Hard Bop / Soul Jazz / Saxophone

Don Wilkerson was among the unsung heroes of the tenor sax. Although he backed heavyweights like B.B. King and Ray Charles, the improviser's own albums aren't nearly as well known as they should be. But those who were hip to Wilkerson swore by him, and one of his allies was alto saxophonist Cannonball Adderley. It was in 1960 that Adderley produced The Texas Twister, Wilkerson's first album as a leader. The tenor man (who was 27 at the time) shows a lot of promise on this album, embracing standards as well as bop-oriented material by Adderley, pianist Barry Harris, and obscure Texas musician Jim Martin.

In 1957, the bop was a "Hot teen-age dance". Ray Conniff had been making waves with his new style of music for a couple of years. It's too bad that "DANCE TO THE BOP" didn't make it big when it was first released by COLUMBIA RECORDS, but this re-issue is better than I remember. This swingin' collection is still very danceable and it's obvious that Conniff got his inspiration from Country, Rock'n Roll and Rhythm and blues of the era. Ray's trombone is heard throughout the arrangements and he can be heard (on a couple of cuts) singing with his own playing. This effect produced a new and fascinating tonal color for the era that is still very vivid today. This CD also included Conniff "En Espanol". This album was recorded in Mexico in 1966. It's fun to hear "Days Of Wine And Roses" in Spanish. What sells this CD are the first 12 cuts. I recommend this CD highly to anyone that loved the early Conniff sound.
- By Ken Rogers-