The only drummer to have backed the Art Ensemble of Chicago & performed at Woodstock
I used to see Phillip Wilson in the '70's in St. Louis, with multi instrumental wonder Howard Johnson, with Sir Julius and with his own groups. I'll never forget walking by Cicero's in University City one Saturday pm & hearing him practice in its basement. I have never heard a drummer with more command of dynamics.
Phillip Wilson was a terrific drummer in the thick of enduring musical scenes. The circumstances surrounding his murder remain murky and are at odds with the abundant life in the beat he kept in all those hot ensembles.
At 17 years old both records, Full Moon and Dogon A.D.had heavy rotation on my turntable. Lending my copy of Full Moon and never getting it back is one of the tragedies of my youth. Now I have to go to YouTube to lisyen to it. I also saw PW with the PBBB numerous times as well. I had a nice conversation with him in Soho in 1976, maybe 1977. He complained that the PBBB didn't like to rehearse.
I often wonder if Spencer Dinwiddie of the Lakers is related to Gene Dinwiddie of the PBBB and Full Moon.
Although a few other known players appeared on this (keyboardist Merl Saunders and saxophonist Hadley Caliman), no one seems to know what John White did before or after.
The only drummer to have backed the Art Ensemble of Chicago & performed at Woodstock
I used to see Phillip Wilson in the '70's in St. Louis, with multi instrumental wonder Howard Johnson, with Sir Julius and with his own groups. I'll never forget walking by Cicero's in University City one Saturday pm & hearing him practice in its basement. I have never heard a drummer with more command of dynamics.
Thanks for posting, Vinnie!
Thank you Chuck! That’s the kind of stories and eyewitness accounts we’re all hoping to hear! Glad you enjoyed and thank you for the story!
Phillip Wilson was a terrific drummer in the thick of enduring musical scenes. The circumstances surrounding his murder remain murky and are at odds with the abundant life in the beat he kept in all those hot ensembles.
Beautifully expressed Howard! Thanks for reading and commenting, thanks for all your great writing!
At 17 years old both records, Full Moon and Dogon A.D.had heavy rotation on my turntable. Lending my copy of Full Moon and never getting it back is one of the tragedies of my youth. Now I have to go to YouTube to lisyen to it. I also saw PW with the PBBB numerous times as well. I had a nice conversation with him in Soho in 1976, maybe 1977. He complained that the PBBB didn't like to rehearse.
I often wonder if Spencer Dinwiddie of the Lakers is related to Gene Dinwiddie of the PBBB and Full Moon.
John White (a self-titled album by a guitarist for Mainstream Records in 1971) is worth hearing for Wilson in a jazz/funk context. https://www.discogs.com/release/2938390-John-White-John-White
Although a few other known players appeared on this (keyboardist Merl Saunders and saxophonist Hadley Caliman), no one seems to know what John White did before or after.