Anthony Wilson is one of the leading jazz musicians of his generation.  Known for his imagination, maturity, and depth, the guitarist/composer/arranger has recorded eight critically-acclaimed solo albums since 1997, including his Grammy-nominated self-titled debut album, 2006’s “Power of Nine,” which was included in The New Yorker’s roundup of the year’s top ten jazz albums, and “Nova,” a widely-lauded collaboration with Brazilian guitarist/composer Chico Pinheiro.  Wilson’s 2009 recording “Jack of Hearts,” featuring Larry Goldings, Jeff Hamilton, and the legendary Jim Keltner, approached the classic guitar-organ-drums trio format with and a spirit of play and possibility.

A sensitive and gifted accompanist as well as a formidable soloist, Anthony Wilson has been an indispensable member of Diana Krall’s quartet since he joined her in 2001 for a series of performances at Paris’ Olympia Theater that were collected on the Grammy-winning CD/DVD “Live In Paris” (Verve), already widely considered a classic.  Recordings and performances during the past decade with Willie Nelson, Mose Allison, Bobby Hutcherson, Barbra Streisand, Madeleine Peyroux, Jessie Baylin, and Aaron Neville have continued to spotlight Wilson’s growing artistry, musical flexibility, and improvisational authority.  Producers Tommy LiPuma, Joe Henry, and Jesse Harris frequently call on Wilson for his unique contributions to their projects; and Bennie Wallace, Larry Goldings, Harold Land, the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, and his father, the legendary composer/arranger/bandleader Gerald Wilson, are just a few of the respected artists with whom the gifted guitarist has forged fruitful, lasting partnerships.

Anthony Wilson’s abiding love for jazz tradition and his equal willingness to take risks are the hallmarks of his skillful, inspired work as a composer and arranger.  Wilson won the Thelonious Monk Institute International Composers’ Competition in 1995, and since then has received numerous commissions for small- and large-scale original works.   In 2008, his orchestral composition “Virgo” was commissioned by the LA Philharmonic Association and premiered at the Hollywood Bowl; and in 2009 his orchestral arrangement of Ivan Lins’ “Love Dance” was featured on Barbra Streisand’s  #1-charting recording “Love is the Answer.”
Anthony Wilson’s considerable talents as a “triple-threat” guitarist/composer/arranger regularly land him at the top levels of all three of those categories in Downbeat Magazine’s International Critics’ poll.

Two major projects are set for 2011.  The new album “Campo Belo” features Wilson in a dynamic musical encounter with three astonishing young Brazilian musicians – André Mehmari on piano, Edu Ribeiro on drums, and Guto Wirtti on bass – playing a program of original songs, to be released in Spring on Wilson’s own imprint, Goat Hill Recordings.  April will also bring the world première and live recording (scheduled for a late 2011 release) of Wilson’s original piece “4 Seasons,” a suite for guitar quartet composed specifically for an ensemble of four masterpiece archtop instruments built by luthier John Moneteleone.  Acclaimed guitarists Julian Lage, Steve Cardenas, and Chico Pinheiro will join Wilson on April 10, 2011 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art for this exciting performance and recording.

Anthony Wilson website