Search - Don Wilkerson :: The Texas Twister

Strong Debut by "The Texas Twister"

Michael B. Richman | Portland, Maine USA | 03/26/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Texas tenorman Don Wilkerson's debut recording, "The Texas Twister," is a solid affair. After working with Wilkerson in Florida in the mid-50s, Cannonball Adderley decided to give him a recording date while he was producing for the Riverside label. Several of Cannonball's bandmates make appearances on these May 19 & 20, 1960 sessions, including Brother Nat on cornet, Barry Harris on piano and Sam Jones on bass. The quintet's rounded out by the great Billy Higgins on drums, and it should be noted that Leroy Vinnegar replaces bassist Jones on three of the disc's seven tracks. This CD, like most of the more obscure titles on the OJC label, is a limited edition. For further listening, Blue Note just released their own limited edition double CD of Wilkerson's three albums for the label. Both are well worth purchasing for fans who like their classic jazz with a "twist" of soul."