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Stillness (Wilson) 5:300:00/5:30
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Wilson's Way
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About the album
Wilson's Way is the fourth album by the Christopher Lucas Wilson Trio and the recorded debut of Wilson's current working trio featuring bassist Alex Austin and drummer Isaiah Spencer. Rooted in hard swing, bebop, and the blues, the album emphasizes feel, ensemble interplay, and melodic improvisation shaped through years of performing together.
Recorded at Transient Sound in Chicago, Wilson's Way features five original compositions, two reimagined jazz standards, and a solo piano interpretation of music by the legendary Mexican songwriter José Alfredo Jiménez. The album moves between hard-swingin' ensemble performances, spacious ballads, and tight trio playing while reflecting Wilson's belief that swing and bebop remain flexible languages for personal expression.
The title Wilson's Way points toward a confident embrace of that musical lineage and the sound of a working band confident in its own identity. More than anything, the album reflects a trio built on long-term collaboration, shared experience, and a commitment to making hard swingin' music together.
the trio
Christopher Lucas Wilson
Pianist, bandleader, composer
Christopher Lucas Wilson is a Chicago-based pianist, composer, and educator whose playing is rooted in swing, bebop, and the blues. Wilson's Way is his fourth album as a leader and the first studio recording featuring his current working trio, documenting a sound shaped through years of performing together.
Isaiah Spencer
Drummer, percusionist
A lifelong Chicagoan, Isaiah Spencer brings dynamic swing, versatility, and decades of experience to the trio. Drawing from a career that has spanned both traditional and progressive corners of the Chicago jazz scene, his playing provides the energy, flexibility, and musical foundation heard throughout Wilson's Way.
Alex Austin
Bassist
Chicago bassist Alex Austin brings a deep sense of time, melody, and interaction to the trio. His long-standing musical partnership with Wilson forms the rhythmic and harmonic foundation heard throughout Wilson's Way.
Reviews & press
“This is a cool, unhurried, deeply satisfying record.”
GREAT / COUP DE CŒUR ❤️ — PARIS-MOVE (France)
“…elegance is very much back in fashion." — bebop spoken here (United Kingdom)
“A sophisticated urban sensibility and an ensemble full of warmth.”— Vento Azul Records / 週末JAZZ (Japan), translated
“On the fourth addition to his discography, the captivating Wilson’s Way, he has matured as both a composer and a bandleader.” — All About Jazz
“…a rich, soulful showcase of modern piano trio date craftsmanship…that honors the lineage of classic trio dates while carving out a distinct voice.” — Kuvo Jazz
“A captivating combination of original compositions and jazz standards… highlighting the virtuosity and interaction between the musicians.” — Carmen Ion, Radio Clasic (Romania), translated
"Wilson has a clarity of tone that fits perfectly with bassist Alex Austin and drummer Isaiah Spencer. Together they make music new, familiar, and alive." — Michael Lauchlan
“At the end, one man alone with a song that isn’t jazz—and doesn’t need to be.” — Aina Torrents, Tótum Revolútum Press (Spain), translated from Catalan
“This is instantly appealing, and like the other Christopher Lucas Wilson records we’ve heard, it goes straight into the collection.”— Adult Music
— Michael Lauclan