Alone With Just My Dreams

Despite being almost 70 years old when he recorded Alone With Just My Dreams, Joe Wilder demonstrates that while he may not sustain the high notes as long as he used to, he still has very solid chops. This is a sumptuous album, highlighting Wilder's lyricism and charm on the trumpet and flugelhorn. Initially released by Benny Carter's Evening Star label, it has since been reissued by the Musical Heritage Society's Jazz Heritage label. Wilder's handling of a mixed play list of standards and a couple of originals results in an urbane, sophisticated, and intelligent 70 minutes of music. The top-notch rhythm section of James Williamson piano, the veteran Remo Palmier on guitar, the ubiquitous Jay Leonhart on bass, and drummer Sherman Ferguson virtually guarantees a satisfactory musical result. The leadoff tune, "But Not for Me," is a master's class session on the technique on use of the mute and on which Wilder shares center stage with veteran guitar player Palmier. "Far Away Places," a piece of pop fluff for Perry Como, is done with both taste and humor, with pianist James Williams getting plenty of solo time and with Sherman Ferguson taking some crackling breaks on his drums. Michel Legrand's "I Will Wait for You" is played with a quick beat. The title tune, "Alone With Just My Dreams" composed by foremost bassist George Duvivier, receives a soulful reading by the group on this, its premier recording, with Wilder again turning to the muted horn. The session ends with a soul-stirring flugelhorn and guitar duo rendering of "What a Wonderful World." Other than some small wavering on the very slow passages in "Answer Me, My Love," Joe Wilder is at the top of his form on his first album as a leader since 1956.