Matt Wilson's Happy Family, Beginning of a Memory

2017 it is and we catch up to a good one on this first post of the year. Drummer-composer-bandleader Matt Wilson puts together his big band Matt Wilson's Happy Family in a recent album Beginning of a Memory (Palmetto). It is a powerhouse of an ensemble that includes Terell Stafford, Kirk Knoufke, Jeff Lederer, Andrew D'Angelo, Gary Versace, Larry Goldings, Chris Lightcap and others, all dedicated to a big sound, avant but rootsy.

There is humor in the seriousness, a sort of Mingus-like forward-backward sensibility, and some great playing from everybody.

The charts are smart and soulful. One is by Andrew D'Angelo and there are a couple of unexpected standards but the rest show off Matt's idea of a big ensemble hitting it for our times.

It is a hell of a nice outing, sounding better every time you put it on.

Dig you should.