Wilton Felder

[John Doheny]

Speaking of players with a strong blues background, anybody know what Wilton Felder is up to these days? Are the Crusaders still working?

[bverkerk]

Hi John,

There's an article about the New Orleans Jazz Festival that mentions Wilton Felder and The Crusaders at: www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=403

The Crusaders also have a "new" recording you can read about at: www.vervemusicgroup.com/verve/artist.asp?aid=2690

[John Doheny]

Thanks man. That was really interesting. I haven't been to the New Orleans jazzfest since 1999, but I'll be there next spring and I'm really looking forward to it.Since I'll be a New Orleans resident at that point I'm hoping that'll increase my chances of scoring a gig. A long shot, but hope springs eternal. The New Orleans festival has a whole different vibe to it than the Vancouver one. That is in no way a shot at CJBS, it's just that NO is much more of a music town than Vancouver is. The place is ALL about music, 24/7/365. Well, music and food. Vancouver is like, shopping and skiing and sailing and hiking.

I really dig Wilton's playing. I've got half a dozen Crusaders albums on vinyl, starting back with "Young Rabbits" when they were still the Jazz Crusaders. Wilton's playing is so soulfull, with lots of gospel influences. I remember copping tons of little melismatic things off his solo on "Way Back Home" on the "Scratch" LP back in the seventies. Then I sorta forgot all about him through the late 80's and 90's. Then just recently I pulled out all those old records and fell in love with him all over again. When I'm playing R&B or pop style gigs, I can really hear him in my own playing. I don't know why we don't hear more from him. I guess he just one of those guys who's hard to categorize, and therefore difficult for the trend pimps to market.

[Russell Chan]

In addition to his well-known sax accomplishments, Wilton also plays bass. He played on among others: "I Want you Back" and "ABC" by the Jackson 5....

[Russell Chan]

I hear alot of Wilton's influence in Kirk Whalum. Must be the Texas thang... Wilton's done very well financially over the years.. just bought a brand-new house and a Mercedes. BTW the Crusaders are on the road now with the badd-ass Ray Parker on guitar!!

[John Doheny]

You know, you're right. There is a lot of Wilton in Kirk Whalum. I haven't listened to a lot of Kirk's stuff so I hadn't really made the connection, but I can hear it now you've steered me there.It might be a Texas thing for sure ( love them Texas tenors) but I seem to recall reading somewhere that Kirk Whalum comes from a strong gospel background. I love gospel music. In the late 70's my S.O. and I used to make regular Sunday morning trips up to Harlem (no matter how hung over I was) to Abbysinian Baptist to hear Rev. Proctor and the choir.