Ron Wilkins & Rebecca Patterson

THE VIGIL AND THE SLEEPING GIANT

Adhyâropa Records

Because the first four cuts on this album are all part of a four-part suite celebrating the horrific COVID Pandemic, I assumed this worldwide virus made an indelible impression on trombonist and composer, Ron Wilkins.  The first song is titled “COVID Suite I: Big City Livin’.”  Two trombones begin the piece, moving harmonically across my listening room with heavy steps, portrayed by Wilkins and Ed Neumeister engaged in a plunger-muted conversation.  Boris Kozlov joins them, walking his bass beneath their solo tete-a-tete discussion. Ron Wilkins has added Zac Zinger to the mix on his EWI instrument. It brings a more contemporary groove into the mix, with an electronic sound. Mike King plays the Fender Rhodes keyboard, soloing wildly and changing the texture of the tune in jazzy ways. This arrangement builds, spirals, and then ends with the original Wilkins melody that introduced us to the tune played by a solo trombone.

Ron Wilkins is a multi-instrumentalist, a vocalist, composer and bandleader.  He has joined forces with Rebecca Patterson.  She also is a multi-instrumentalist who plays trombone, (tenor and bass trombone) along with tuba. Rebecca is a composer who has written three of the songs on this album. She co-leads the Trombocalist Big Band with Ron Wilkins.

“COVID Suite 11: Comatose Dreams and Nightmares” is the second track on this unique and inspired album. It is meant to share Ron Wilkins’ story of experiencing COVID up-close and personal.

While on tour in Texas in 2020, Wilkins was playing with the Broadway production of Aladdin. The show shut down due to COVID. Ron decided to stay with his mother, who lived in Texas rather than fly back to New York. He didn’t realize he was infected with the virus. It was April of 2020 when he fell asleep and woke up thirty-two days later in a hospital bed from a medically induced coma. 37-days passed, before he could be taken off the ventilator to breathe on his own. He had to learn how to walk again, how to breathe, how to eat on his own, play his instruments, talk and just plain function. That experience inspired this Suite II.  Aaron Heick plays a mean soprano saxophone solo along with Wilkins’ trombone solo and the trumpet solo of Alex Norris. The ensemble trades fours with Ray Marchica before letting Ray express himself on drums. This tune is a cacophony of emotion as it marches through my listening space.

The third movement represents Ron’s awakening from his long coma.  It represents the triumph of surviving the disease and his gratitude for life itself. He uses his voice to sing, joined by a chorus of choir voices. On the fourth COVID movement, Wilkins uses a guttural, low, vocal tone presented wordlessly that I have heard Samoan artists employ, as well as his full range.  He scat sings and rhythmically presents mouth rhythms. Jeff Barone’s guitar solo is spectacular.

The compositions of Rebecca Patterson reflect her experience of being on the outside looking in.  “Sulk City” is her story of quiet resignation, accepting being alone without her partner and the frustration of watching him lie ill without being able to help him. Then, on “Near East,” Zac Zinger adds the Bansuri instrument to their arrangement.  He and Rebecca met at Berklee College of Music some years ago. She pairs bass trombone with his Bansuri, creating a sound rarely heard in a big band setting.

The underlying story that inspired these songs propels the big band instrumentation in creative and challenging ways. This is an unusual album of emotional, original compositions, with horn arrangements that soar and sing. It expresses, musically, the human element of survival and the will to live. This man and his music walk hand-in-hand with a thankful spirit.

THE BAND: Ron Wilkins, tenor & bass trombone/composer/vocals; Rebecca Patterson, bass trombone/composer; Mike King, Fender Rhodes; Boris Kozlov, bass; Ray Marchica, drums; Jeff Barone, guitar;  Zac Zinger, EWI/Bansuri; Alex Norris , Seneca Black & Freddie Hendrix, trumpet; Aaron Heick, soprano & alto saxophone; Ron Blake, tenor saxophone; Carl Maraghi, baritone saxophone; Ed Neumeister, trombone.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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