Drummer Matt Wilson digs local scenes, reaching people

By Paul de Barros, The Seattle Times

The Ballard Jazz Festival, which commenced Wednesday and continues through Saturday, is presented by the jazz label Origin Records.

Origin Recprds is run by a pair of drummers.

No surprise, then, that one of the world's all-time coolest drummers — Matt Wilson — is on the bill.

Dubbed Drummer of the Year by the Jazz Journalists Association and basking in rave reviews for his latest album, "Wake Up!" (Palmetto), the 40-year-old New Yorker performs with his quartet at 7:30 p.m. Saturday at the Mars Hill Church in Ballard ($20; www.ballardjazzfestival.com).

The triple bill includes saxophonist Tim Ries' Stones Project, with guitarist Ben Monder, keyboard ace Gary Versace and drummer Matt Jorgensen; and trumpeter Don Sickler and New Stories performing the music of Elmo Hope, per their radiant Origin album.

Wilson, Ries, Sickler, Monder, John Stowell, Greta Matassa and Andy Shaw also offer an open-door clinic at 2 p.m. — same day, same venue.

"I'm coming a day early, just to hang out," said Wilson in a phone interview from his home on Long Island earlier this week. "There's so many great players in Seattle. People use New York as the barometer — and the great thing here is the multitude of players and the opportunities and the willingness of people to do things — but these [local] scenes are so strong!"

Wilson came up on a local scene himself — Boston — and didn't move to New York till 1992.

Though the Illinois native graduated in percussion from Wichita State University, many of his early cohorts clustered around Boston's Berklee College, including vocalist Dominique Eade, keyboard player John Medeski and former Seattle saxophonist Andrew D'Angelo. D'Angelo, who worked with Wilson in Boston's fabled Either/Orchestra, has played in Wilson's quartet since 1996.

"Andrew used to work at Tower [Records] in Boston," recalled Wilson. "We became pretty good friends. I had this group with [saxophonists] Joel Frahm and Sam Newsome. Sam couldn't make a tour, then Joel got busy. [So Andrew joined the group]."

A melodic drummer who plays the kit as if it were a little orchestra, Wilson has been drafted by Charlie Haden, Lee Konitz, Bill Mays and dozens of other leaders for his sensitive, creative phrasing. As a kid, he was inspired by a clip of drummer Buddy Rich on the TV show "I Love Lucy." But it was Max Roach's melodic approach that eventually shaped his aesthetic.

"In high school, I had a friend who had this record, 'Rich vs. Roach,' " said Wilson. "They played a version of 'Sing, Sing, Sing!' and Max played over the walking bass. It really sang."

From Max, it was an easy ride to Billy Higgins, Ed Blackwell, Paul Motian, Frankie Dunlop, Shelley Manne, Chico Hamilton, Roy Haynes.

And Joe Morello.

"I still check out that solo whenever 'Take Five' comes on the radio," said Wilson, singing a figure from Morello's famous recording with Dave Brubeck.

Wilson seems to be having so much fun onstage, it's contagious.

"I think that's the point," he said. "I mean, I'm very serious about the craft, but this quartet really reaches people. People don't mind being challenged if they feel they are invited."

You're invited, not only to Saturday's show, but to tonight's Ballard Jazz Walk, which starts at 9 p.m. The New Orleans-style club crawl features Ries' Stones Project and D'Angelo's Norsk Trio; Clarence Acox, Thomas Marriott and the Garfield and Roosevelt High School Combos; Dawn Clement with Laura Welland; the Brent Jensen Quartet; the Origin Records Uber Band (with John Bishop); Greta Matassa and Andy Shaw; Lower Monumental (with Saul Cline); and the David White Trio.