Herman Wilson's music is a varied yet cohesive synthesis of his many musical experiences from the mentos, the pocomania, Bach, Handel, and Wesley of his boyhood in Jamaica, his career as a trombonist performing throughout Europe, Africa, and the USA and studies with Richard Arnell.
Studied Trombone and rudimentary principles of harmony and composition as a teenager with Anthony Scott former graduate of neller hall. Played Trombpne in the community chamber symphony orchestra and surry haydon symphony orchestra, college jazz bands. and the sonny bradshaw band.
Wilson started his career as the young trombonist of the Ossie da Costa Band, when this modern jazz group (which included alto saxophonist, Joe Harriot) travelled to Germany working for the American Army spaecial services in the fifties. After 2 yers playing for the US forces Wilson made Paris his home and for the next three years...«...truly served my apprenticeshipby working in just about every posible capacity as a trombonist». moulin Rouge, Variety theatres, Ballet Tours, American establishments at Orly Fountainbleau, gigs and extended European tours with outstanding American jazz expatriates Bill Coleman, Don Byas, Kenny Clarke to name a few...«.. i learnt a lot».
Returning to Germany where he took up residence for the next five years he gave concert performances as a soloist backed by some outstanding German combos of the day.
invited to form a jazz combo his need to write his own compositions and arrangements became paramaount, and so he maintains.....«..I practised the initial ground work for my craft in hotel rooms».
Wilson travelled extensively all over Europe with his band. Based in Westfalia, half the year playing the jazz club circuit: summer tours throughout Scandanavia-lapland, sweden, norway, and the French/ Italian riviera. In 1958 he enjoyed the distinction of leading the first professional jazz band, from the west, to have played since the war in communist poland. As guests of the department of Art and culture they performed concerts at Universities and public venues to over whelming popular and critical musical acclaim. The tour lasted over four months.
As musical and arranger Wilson co-authored with celebrated German novelist Gunter Grass and graphic artist Horst Geldmacher, the childrens book «O Sussana»: very popular in schools throughout Germany, the UK, USA and several continental countries.
The Wilson/Kennedy «method of music making»- abook/2LP set on the art of improvisation was written and produced in collaboration with Guitar Teacher and performer jeffrey kennedy.
During 1960-62 Wilson studied and gained a diploma in Harmony and arranging from the university conservatoire of Chicago, Ills.
Thereafter he concentrated his energies on playing, becoming a very prominent member of the jazz scene in london...J and k Quintet with co leader peter myers. Various aggregations from Quartets to big bands in the jazz and poetry movement activities...Chris logue, mike Harovitz, Pete Brown, Laurie Morgan, Bobby wellins, Heckstall smith, joe Harriot, et al, ae al.
Mid sixties took a septet to Liberia, West africa to play for distinguished world personalities during festivities celebrating the inuguration of third presidency of the late president tubman.
During the four and half months tour in liberia the band selected to take part in the worldwide symposium «what is jazz?» by the voice of america. «Herman Wilson, a jamaican, Band leader Arranger, Great trombonist» was the manner in which the 60 minute programe was introduced says wilson. It was transmitted 3 times in 24 hours around the world. Wilson and his colleagues claim that with that broadcast programme they had done their bit for the cold war.
On returning to londonhe was soon off on his travels to the West Indies and several South american countries. He worked gigs as a featured soloist and with resident groups and bands in clubs, concerts, radio broadcasts and arranging.
He was dining at the house of german jewish acquaintances an Caracas. The son, a talented concert pianist expressed the desire to work in Europe. indeed said Wilson, everyone at that table confessed to missing the art culture element of European life more than anything else.
«After more than a year away from this environment i was missing my friends and colleagues, the laughs, the jokes, the laidback commitment to music, poetry, literature, galleries, films, endless listening, discussions, numerous opportunities for a blow, rehersal bands as well as classical chamber ensembles. The opportunity to get one's compositions or arrangements played existed a plenty. Rehearsal bands and ensembles were many. as a card-carrying member of the Haydn society I missed the Mozart players. the vibrant energy of Youth was not mis-spent I can assure you. At the “centre” was anchored our serious pursuit of musical advancement».
Back on the london scene wilson was one of six british musicians booked to augment the tamla motown Orchestra on thier uk tour with the supremes, stevie wonder, smokey robinson et al. he found the experience very instructive, professional and enjoyable.
With continued signficant help from quincy jones who directed him to Ravel: composer jhon scott: symphonist and master orchestrator professor richard Arnell and the music department of his local library (scores and records), the seventies found wilson most keenly engaged in composing, whilst at the same time gaining practical experience in the handling of the orchestra. this was achieved by working as arranger/md in recording studios with pp singers and groups, stage and night club singing/dancing acts. the lp the woodpeckers (a southafrican male voice trio) with full orchestral backing produced by pete king for Ronnie Scott promotions was typical.
During this period several large scale orchestral works plus woodwinds ball 1 were performed on bbc radio 3 and public concerts in london by the orchestra of Herman Wilson and the Herman Wilson Camber group respectively.
Scaling down his activites in the popular arena Wilson embarked on teaching at the start of the eighties: a pursuit more commensurate with composing music. As a part time teacher, lecturer and director of jazz bands and classical chamber ensembles at london university goldsmiths college and hendon college of further education, whers he remained for 15 years, he continues to lecture to visiting foreign students at summer classes and conducts private lessons/tuition at his home
The early eighties also saw the release on spotlight records of woodwinds ball 2 and guitar solo-(a concerto for guitar and chamber group)-followed by public performances-commissioned and funded by the arts council. Two other arts council commissions were to follow-joe-gone man gone- a 3 movement tribute to Joe Harriot, had its first performance at the Queen Elizabeth hall followed by 12 performances around the country. responce (a modern responce to the walton/sitwell facade) was commissioned by nottingham arts council and had its first performance in the albert hall, Nottingham.
Whereas he was formerly known as a jazz composer/arranger it is as a composer of considerable originality that he now makes his mark.
His varied output includes Suite for orchestra (french horn, flugel horn and tenor sax), Concerto for saxophone Quartet and orchestra. variation on a theme by Dameron. sixteen sounds. quintette for string quartet and Eb baritone saxophone. several works for chamber orchestra and chorus. hymns-oratorio. responce (poems by Martin Glyn) as well as short pieces and essays for flute, guitar, cello and saxophones: music for schools.
Outside the UK he's had his music performed and or broadcast in concert in france, germany, usa, republic of ireland and jamaica. Wilson has written music for the cinema-The budu Ulrich film, basin street blues and j du pasquier's colour talk and ibm industrial films.
Wilson's recently recorded cd the song of the banana man. (evan jones celebrated poem) and other poems. set to music composed and conducted by herman wilson, performed by members of his chamber group.
In march 1999 wilson was elected professor of music and inducted as a member of the royal society of musicians of Great Britain.
Web: http://www.myspace.com/hermanwilsonmusic (2009)