Adult Themes
If Anthony Wilson were simply another new jazz guitar hotshot with chops to burn, he'd still be worth noticing. Wilson's third disc as a leader,Adult Themes, sprinkles plenty of his deliciously melodic andWes MontgomeryandDjango Reinhardt-infused soloing all over the disc's eight tracks. But Wilson's formidable guitar playing isn't even half of what makesAdult Themesso remarkable. Rather, it's the way his composing and arranging takes such full advantage of his nine-piece group that it's hard at times to believe this isn't an actual big band making these sounds. Anyone who noticed the sophistication of Wilson's previous efforts, his self-titled 1997 debut and 1998'sGoat Hill Junket, may not be overly surprised, but what liftsAdult Themesabove those albums is an increased diversity, as John Carisi's "Barry's Tune" settles into a deep Afro-Cuban groove and a version of theBeatles'"Because" even features an electric sitar. But it's the album's closing title piece, a five-part suite that recallsCharles Mingus's ambitious extended works, that is Wilson's crowning moment. Combining unaccompanied guitar, luscious horn orchestrations, and dizzying swing, the piece has a unified mood and should put to rest any speculation about Wilson being someone to watch for in the future: afterAdult Themes, he's clearly already here.--Ezra Gale