Aliens & Wizards by the Spike Wilner Trio was released on April 23, 2021, by Cellar Music Group. The album was recorded in Long Island City at GB’s Juke Joint in August 2020.

Listeners may feel a significant gap between the impression given by the album’s cover art, and the music it contains. The cover art gives a fresh feeling of spontaneity. On the contrary, the music reminds the listener of those respectful gifts of eternal dedication that gentlemen from another time would give to their sweethearts. It’s beautiful, old-fashioned, touching, and always so pleasant. The “sweetheart” here is naturally jazz music itself (and ragtime, and classical music). Each of the tracks (both compositions and interpretations) has a way to prove its love. They work perfectly, simply, and punctiliously to humbly prove their dedication to jazz, yet they still manage to sound modern.

One might imagine each of the musicians as meticulous, dependable, and sentimental, and that is the cause of the surprising discrepancy between the cover art and the music within, but is it a paradox if it is both spontaneous and meticulous?

The answer comes with the title track “Aliens & Wizards”, a free improvisation. It really shows the trio’s cohesion, and their hidden, wilder nature that has created a foundation dedicated to the propagation of jazz music in New York City through recording, livestreaming, archiving, educational initiatives, and live performances.

This music seems to glow, thanks to its delicate intention and precision, and its resolute musicians, who delight us. Highly recommended!

Read more about Spike Wilner’s inspiring projects and about Cellar Music Group.

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Aliens & Wizards

Line up
Spike Wilner: piano; Tyler Mitchell: bass; Anthony Pinciotti: drums

Aliens & Wizards was released on April 23, 2021

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