Lacing his horn lines through and around the Hugo Wolf String Quartet, Wheeler brings to string writing the tart voicings, subsurface rhythms and plaintive melodies that have long characterized his compositions and orchestrations for combinations of horns. The Wolf Quartet's interpretations
Don Thompson Quartet, For Kenny Wheeler (Sackville). Thompson is one who takes Wheeler seriously, indeed. In his CD notes about Wheeler, the composer, bassist, pianist and vibraharpist writes of his fellow Canadian:
I can't think of anyone else in jazz with his gift of melody and understanding of harmony and counterpoint. It's my opinion (and that of many others) that Kenny is the most important composer in jazz today. To me he is today's Duke Ellington.
All of the compositions are by Thompson. Only For Kenny Wheeler" and K.T.T." (Kenny
Thompson plays piano on six of the tracks, vibes on two with Dwyer supporting him and soloing on piano. Dwyer tends toward dreaminess on soprano and gutsiness on tenor, as in the decidedly unordinary The Peregrine Blues," with its eccentric intervals and glancing counterpoint with Thompson's piano. Vivian and Clarke are splendid throughout. Clarke's brush and cymbal commentary behind Dwyer's tenor on Another Time, Another Place" is a highlight, Vivian's solo on For Scott LaFaro" another. The recordings I return to for frequent play over the years are those in which I keep hearing new facets. This seems destined to be one of those albums.