Craviotto Artist Matt Wilson’s latest release ‘An Attitude for Gratitude’ received a four 4-star review in the April 2012 issue of Downbeat. In addition, it also received a 9 out of 10 star review in Magnet, a respected mag that covers mostly rock, hip-hop and pop. It was the highest rated cd of both issues! The album is currently #2 on the CMJ chart! From Downbeat magazine…
Matt Wilson’s Arts & Crafts, An Attitude For Gratitude (Palmetto) BY FRANK ALKYER
“Any time you get a chance to hear Matt Wilson play drums—whether he’s a leader or sideman—take it, and be sure to sit front and center. He exemplifies the idea of the artist’s instrument and music being an extension of who they are as a human being. You can hear Wilson smiling behind the drum kit. He always has a variety of projects running simultaneously, and one of my personal favorites is Arts & Crafts. The quartet consists of Terrell Stafford on trumpet and flügelhorn; Gary Versace on piano, organ and accordion; Martin Wind on bass; and Wilson at the drum kit. On An Attitude For Gratitude, Wilson combines strangely wonderful original compositions and very cool covers. On the wonderful originals front, Attitude kicks off with “Poster Boy,” a Versace composition, which has an unusual groove and some fine soloing by Stafford. Wilson contributes “Bubbles,” a playful ode to the floating spheres that sounds like the soundtrack to the world’s hippest carnival ride. And Wind contributes “Cruise Blues,” a lovely, lilting ballad. Another highlight is Wilson’s slow, burning “Stolen Time.” As for the covers, Stafford’s trumpet on “Happy Days Are Here Again” is a slice of tone heaven. The quartet’s take on Paul Simon’s “Bridge Over Troubled Waters” is uplifting. Stafford does a solo version of “There’s No You” that gives you a shiver, a sigh and maybe a tear or two. Other tunes offer a tip of the hat to the music of Cannonball Adderley, Jaco Pastorius and John Scofield. But the songs are simply vehicles for four musicians—honest, talented and true—to make fun, thoughtful, beautiful music together. You can hear them all smiling behind their instruments.”