Jack Wilkins

Open Descriptive Transcript

Descriptive Transcript

This is an audio recording of music. White text appears on a black background:

Cadillac Crusade by Composer-in-Residence Jack Wilkins, 2022.  Running Time: 05:34

Acadian Rhythms Performers: Jack Wilkins, tenor saxophone; Danny Gottlieb, drums; Steve Allee, piano/Fender Rhodes; LaRue Nicholson, guitars; Mark Neuenschwander, acoustic bass; Elias Tona, electric bass; Dan Jordan, flute; Tami Danielsson, alto saxophone; James Suggs, trumpet; Rick Simerly, trombone; Per Danielsson, Fender Rhodes (Thunder Hole)

Duration:

5 minutes, 30 seconds

Cadillac Crusade, by Jack Wilkins, Composer-in-Residence, 2022, Acadia National Park, Maine. From Acadian Rhythms is a collection of original compositions and performances inspired by the park. Performers: Jack Wilkins, tenor saxophone; Danny Gottlieb, drums; Steve Allee, piano/Fender Rhodes; LaRue Nicholson, guitars; Mark Neuenschwander, acoustic bass; Elias Tona, electric bass; Dan Jordan, flute; Tami Danielsson, alto saxophone; James Suggs, trumpet; Rick Simerly, trombone; Per Danielsson, Fender Rhodes.

Acadian Rhythms is a collection of original compositions and performances inspired by Acadia National Park, where I was Artist-in-Residence in the Fall of 2022. Selected by the National Park Service, I spent two weeks in the park, exploring the vast area that is Acadia National Park, consulting with park rangers and locals, and exploring the history of the region to find inspiration for new musical ideas. This is a process I really enjoy, resulting in many ideas and inspirational concepts.

Cadillac Mountain is probably the best-known destination in Acadia National Park. Visitors vie for parking passes to access the top, part of a steady stream of cars making the “crusade” to be there for sunrise, sunset or to experience the 360-degree views throughout the day. The “Crusader” theme plays into the music as well, using the trombone and saxophone horn section sound and a funky groove as a tip of the hat to the iconic group, The Jazz Crusaders.

— Jack Wilkins

Open Transcript  Open Descriptive Transcript

Transcript

Jack Wilkins, professor of jazz studies at the University of South Florida School of Music, visited Acadia National Park as an Artist-in-Residence in October 2022. This brief clip was captured during his outreach event at the Jesup Memorial Library in downtown Bar Harbor, ME.

Descriptive Transcript

Man plays a saxophone in a wood-paneled library setting in front of a number of people seated in chairs.

Duration:

9.977 seconds

Jack Wilkins, who visited Acadia National Park as an Artist-in-Residence in October 2022, appeared at an outreach event at the Jesup Memorial Library in downtown Bar Harbor, ME.

Jack Wilkins

Saxophonist and composer Jack Wilkins is professor of jazz studies at the University of South Florida School of Music where he is director of the Jazz Studies program. He was appointed a Fulbright Scholar to the University of Calgary as research chair in the College of Creative and Performing Arts in 2017-18.

His original compositions combine jazz, classical, American roots music and other musical styles. His latest CD projects include The Rundle Sessions, The Banff Project, and The Blue and Green Project.

He also performs as featured soloist on critically-acclaimed recordings by Chuck Owen and the Jazz Surge, including “Whispers on the Wind” for which he was a Grammy award finalist as a performer on the 2017 CD release, and “River Runs: A Concerto for Jazz Guitar, Saxophone and Orchestra,” which was a Grammy Award Finalist in 2013.

He has created music as an artist-in-residence previously in Sweden, Appalachia, and Canada.

Visit his website.

► Return to Artist-in-Residence Catalog