Click Here for Sound Samples! TAS Recommended! Rated a 'Best Audiophile Label Recording' in the November 2009 issue of The Absolute Sound!
A possible breakout album for Anthony Wilson, this organ trio with the superb Larry Goldings on B3 features two of the finest drummers working today - half the tunes are with the swinging Jeff Hamilton on drums and the rest session drummer par excellence Jim Keltner who lays down some truly great percussion. Aside from Wilson's exploration of Latin, south of the border influences, the recording features unique performances of music by Ellington, Hawkins, Jerry Goldsmith and Van Dyke Parks.
Recorded direct to 2-track pure analogue in the legendary Oceanway Studio A in Hollywood on January 27 and 28, 2009.
"Sometimes the postman brings cool surprises. I looked at the quilted envelope marked “Groove Note Records” and figured with a name like that, something good had to be inside and I was not disappointed. Though I’m not terribly familiar with Anthony Wilson, my ears perked up when I saw Jim Keltner listed as one of the musicians, and popped this SACD in the drawer of the new Marantz Pearl SA-K1 SACD player I’ve been reviewing. A few seconds later a big warm sound filled the room and about 15 seconds later, everyone that was hanging out had a big smile on their face."
"Jack of Hearts is straight ahead jazz, served classic trio style. Anthony Wilson is a great guitarist, who plays with a light touch and an exquisite sense of space on “Clark and Old Fender amps.” Trio partner Larry Goldrings brings an equal level of tastiness to the Hammond B-3, mixed in with Jim Keltner and Jeff Hamilton on drums to round out the group. The disc has a nice mixture of jazz standards from Ellington, Hawkins and Parks, with the remaining half of the disc Wilson originals."
"This is one of those special records that has been flawlessly recorded and mastered, but isn’t boring audiophile music. This is a record that you want to share with your friends and your favorite adult beverage with the lights down low. The record was recorded in the legendary Oceanway Studio in Holly wood to 2 track analog and thanks to the care taken in the SACD mastering, Jack of Hearts will put these three guys right in your listening room. For those of you not possessing an SACD player, the CD layer sounds great too, so don’t let that stop you from purchasing this disc. Let’s hope Groove Note releases this on LP for the analog lovers in the crowd!" – Jeff Dorgay, Tone Audio, July 2009
"ThereÂ’s an organic, analog feel throughout, giving the disc an intimacy and lively nature... The blending of Wilson and Goldings with the two drummers makes this a winner." - George Fendel, Jazz Society of Oregon
"Sonically, you get everything you could hope for in a Michael C. Ross Oceanway live to two track analog production. There are sonic riches galore from the to-salivate-from Hammond B-3 organ with its big, fat warm bass lines to the warm, round yet precise electric guitar lines and the woody, cracklinÂ’ rim shots snappy snares, punchy cymbals and cataclysmic kick drum explosions. Ross is going for impact not soundstaging or three guys playing in the distance in a big room, so expect a big drum kit spread across the stage and room-filling man-sized images." - Michael Fremer, Music Angle, rated 8/10 for music, 9/10 for sound!
"..this solo CD is NOT a manic “blowing session” where he tries to blow you away with high speed picking and impossible chord changes. Instead, it sounds like he and his amazing partners in crime are a couple of bottles into some nice stuff from Anthony’s stash and just GROOVING and enjoying each others contributions. No ten chorus solos, no grandstanding, just wonderful, warm, bluesy tunes as well as a few more pastoral pieces to mix it up. We rate it five lamb chops and a bottle of Balgera Sforzato and highly recommend it as a soundtrack to making a nice dinner from scratch, reading a good book or putting the moves on your snuggle bunny. Buy this CD so Tony can buy more wine....it’s a virtuous circle!" - www.wineexpo.com
Features:
• Super Audio CD
• SACD Stereo SACD Layer
• This Hybrid SACD contains a 'Red Book' Stereo CD Layer which is playable on most conventional CD Players!
Musicians:
Anthony Wilson, guitar
Larry Goldings, Hammond B-3 organ, celeste
Jeff Hamilton, drums (2-4, 9)
Jim Keltner, drums (1, 5-8, 10)
 | 1. Mezcal (A.Wilson/L.Goldings) |
| | 2. Jack Of Hearts (A.Wilson) |
| | 3. Hawk Eyes (C.Hawkins) |
| | 4. Carnegie Blues (D.Ellington) |
| | 5. Theme from "Chinatown" (J.Goldsmith) |
| | 6. Vida Perdida Acabou (A.Wilson) |
| | 7. Orange Crate Art (V.D.Parks) |
| | 8. Harajuku (A.Wilson/L.Goldings) |
| | 9. Zweet Zursday (D.Ellington) |
| | 10. Homecoming (A.Wilson) |
