Jen Wilson Ensemble: “Twelve Poems; The Dylan Thomas Suite”

A collection of “Twelve Poems”, written by the intriguing Welsh poet Dylan Thomas, has been put to music by Swansea based pianist, historian and composer, Jen Wilson.

The Jen Wilson ensemble features Wilson on piano, the subtle Mark O’Connor on drums (Paula Gardiner Trio, Gareth Roberts Quintet), Paula Gardiner on double bass (Dave Stapleton Quintet, Paula Gardiner Trio), front line instrumentalists Chris Ryan (sax), Cris Haines (trumpet) and the firm, full-bodied voice of Margot Morgan.

The assortment of different musical styles comfortably presents each of the poems in a unique state. We are launched into the album with a feisty, catchy riff that compliments the poem “When I Woke (The Town Spoke)” and a similar meaty groove is heard much later on in “Here In This Spring”. Slow, sultry numbers with delicate horn solos reflect the poems “Fern Hill” and “A Process in the Weather of the Heart”.

“Do Not Go Gentle Into that Goodnight” is presented as a blues, although the blues is evident throughout the whole album providing a rather settled atmosphere. The mysterious experimental sounds at the beginning of “On a Wedding Anniversary” pull you into Wilson’s own musical poetry.

Wilson is the founder of registered charity Jazz Heritage Wales. The charity’s patrons include the Grammy award winner singer Dame Cleo Laine, the Head of Jazz at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Paula Gardiner plus pianist and composer Huw Warren.

Within the liner notes of the album Wilson mentions that Dylan Thomas “threw a line as fancy as Charlie Parker and understood spaces as deftly as Thelonious Sphere Monk…” The way the long poetic phrases are powerfully poured out and delivered convincingly by singer Margot Morgan could be compared to how Parker churns out his melodic lines. Monk’s twisty, agitated notions are explored within the release of certain phonetic sounds - the clear pronunciation, elongated and repeated syllables, entices the delivery even more to your ears.

“Twelve Poems” is an inspired and spirited interpretation of some of Dylan Thomas’s greatest works and is available to buy from http://www.amazon.co.uk and www.jenwilsonjazzpiano.co.uk

Charlotte Keeffe

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