News
July 18, 2011
[NPR] The Gerald Wilson Orchestra: A Living ‘Legacy’
At the age of almost 93, Gerald Wilson keeps adding to his own legacy. In fact, the latest album from his ensemble, The Gerald Wilson Orchestra, is called Legacy, and it features the composer, trumpeter and bandleader's takes on Stravinsky, Debussy and Chicago — his adopted hometown.
Wilson is a giant of jazz who has written for and played with the orchestras of Duke Ellington Count Basie, Benny Carter and many more. On this album, he's joined by his son, Anthony Wilson, and grandson, Eric Otis, who are also composers and musicians. Otis tells Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon that he feels a responsibility to communicate the importance of his grandfather's work.
