Accessibility links
Matt Wilson Matt Wilson artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music

Matt Wilson

Yule dig? Celebrate the holidays with drummer Matt Wilson's festive Christmas Tree-O

Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O Chris Pizzolo/Courtesy of Artist hide caption

toggle caption
Chris Pizzolo/Courtesy of Artist

Jazz Night In America: The Radio Program

Yule dig? Celebrate the holidays with drummer Matt Wilson's festive Christmas Tree-O

Jazz at Lincoln Center

Celebrate the holidays with drummer Matt Wilson and his festive holiday group the Christmas Tree-O from Dizzy's Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Yule dig? Celebrate the holidays with drummer Matt Wilson's festive Christmas Tree-O

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1142772708/1142781285" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
The Big Tiny Desk Holiday Special

Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings perform a holiday Tiny Desk Concert in 2015. Jun Tsuboike/NPR hide caption

toggle caption
Jun Tsuboike/NPR

Holiday Music Specials

The Big Tiny Desk Holiday Special

NPR Music's Bob Boilen and Stephen Thompson look back at some of their favorite holiday performances at the Tiny Desk.

The Big Tiny Desk Holiday Special

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/564866642/564866718" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
5 New Jazz Albums From 2014 So Far

James Brandon Lewis' second album, Divine Travels, came out in early February. Ingrid Hertfelder/Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Ingrid Hertfelder/Courtesy of the artist

Review

A Blog Supreme

5 New Jazz Albums From 2014 So Far

It may seem as if jazz recordings have slowed to a flurry, but it's more like a blizzard, with dozens already coming down in the new year. Hear highlights from a few albums worth shoveling out, by Archie Shepp, Edward Simon, James Brandon Lewis and more.

Tootie Heath And Matt Wilson On JazzSet

Ethan Iverson, Ben Street and Tootie Heath perform at the Village Vanguard. John Rogers for NPR/johnrogersnyc.com hide caption

toggle caption
John Rogers for NPR/johnrogersnyc.com

JazzSet with Dee Dee Bridgewater

Tootie Heath And Matt Wilson On JazzSet

WBGO

Albert "Tootie" Heath performs in a trio with Ethan Iverson (The Bad Plus) and Ben Street (Danilo Perez Trio), followed by Wilson's Arts & Crafts quartet, in Surround Sound on JazzSet.

Tootie Heath And Matt Wilson On JazzSet

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/176239766/176196584" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Matt Wilson's Arts And Crafts: Live At The Village Vanguard

Matt Wilson. John Rogers for NPR/johnrogersnyc.com hide caption

toggle caption
John Rogers for NPR/johnrogersnyc.com

Live At The Village Vanguard

Matt Wilson's Arts And Crafts: Live At The Village Vanguard

WBGO

Wilson is always a colorful drummer — a timekeeper who exploits all the timbres a snare drum can give him. He's also a colorful personality, a bandleader who wears his goofy joy on his sleeve.

Matt Wilson's Arts And Crafts: Live At The Village Vanguard

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/158905454/160643830" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Matt Wilson: 'I Hear Melody In All Rhythm'

Matt Wilson plays drums in the jazz ensemble Arts and Crafts. Jimmy Katz hide caption

toggle caption
Jimmy Katz

Music Interviews

Matt Wilson: 'I Hear Melody In All Rhythm'

The jazz drummer tells NPR's Guy Raz that great percussionists like Buddy Rich and Max Roach make their cymbals "sing."

Matt Wilson: 'I Hear Melody In All Rhythm'

Listen · 8:45
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/155498603/155637572" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Matt Wilson: Trios, Quartets And 'Don Knotts'

Like a comedian, drummer Matt Wilson knows about offhand dexterity and split-second timing. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

Review

Music Reviews

Matt Wilson: Trios, Quartets And 'Don Knotts'

Fresh Air

Like a comedian, the drummer knows something about offhand dexterity and split-second timing.

Matt Wilson: Trios, Quartets And 'Don Knotts'

Listen · 7:25
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/146514866/146515147" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
  • Transcript
Fivin' Around At The Village Vanguard

Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding performs at the Village Vanguard with the Joe Lovano Us Five, just a month before her Best New Artist win. John Rogers/johnrogersnyc.com hide caption

toggle caption
John Rogers/johnrogersnyc.com

Concerts

Fivin' Around At The Village Vanguard

WBGO

From the best-known jazz club on earth, hear performances by the Greg Osby Five and Joe Lovano's Us Five, featuring recent Best New Artist Grammy winner Esperanza Spalding on bass.

Fivin' Around At The Village Vanguard

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/133838291/133833928" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Joe Lovano Us Five: Live At The Village Vanguard

Joe Lovano. John Rogers for NPR/johnrogersnyc.com hide caption

toggle caption
John Rogers for NPR/johnrogersnyc.com

Live At The Village Vanguard

Joe Lovano Us Five: Live At The Village Vanguard

WBGO

How do you play the highly distinctive compositions of Charlie Parker while sounding like yourself? The monster tenor saxophonist gives it a shot with his double-drummer band Us Five.

Joe Lovano Us Five: Live At The Village Vanguard

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/132682252/132888307" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
All Songs Considered Holiday Music Special

All Songs Considered

All Songs Considered Holiday Music Special

Hosts Bob Boilen and Robin Hilton share some of the tunes that get them in the mood for warm cookies, hot cocoa, and Santa Claus. Grab a blanket and curl up in front of the computer.

All Songs Considered Holiday Music Special

Listen · 1:04:16
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/131666952/131667120" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O: Tiny Desk Concert
Abby Verbosky/NPR

Tiny Desk

Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O: Tiny Desk Concert

With a pink tinsel tree and an animatronic singing Santa hat, the extraordinary jazz drummer clearly embraces the campy side of Christmas. His band's look may be a bit hokey, but as it proves in this performance, their musicianship isn't.

Audio Only: Matt Wilson's Christmas Tree-O

Listen · 19:24
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/132118091/132206071" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Highlights From The Jazz Standard On JazzSet

The Mingus Big Band keeps a regular Monday-night gig at the Jazz Standard in New York City. Jimmy Katz hide caption

toggle caption
Jimmy Katz

Concerts

Highlights From The Jazz Standard On JazzSet

WBGO

One stage, three groups in turn. It's a big, bigger, biggest show with Joanne Brackeen solo, Ron Miles' Quartet and the Mingus Big Band at the Jazz Standard in New York City.

Highlights From The Jazz Standard On JazzSet

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/126197542/126188363" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Lee Konitz Trio: Live At The Village Vanguard

Lee Konitz. John Rogers for NPR/johnrogersnyc.com hide caption

toggle caption
John Rogers for NPR/johnrogersnyc.com

Live At The Village Vanguard

Lee Konitz Trio: Live At The Village Vanguard

WBGO

He's an octogenarian and jazz legend, but he's still going full tilt. Joined by two much younger musicians, the wonderfully unpredictable alto saxophonist performs live at the great New York venue.

Lee Konitz Trio: Live At The Village Vanguard

Listen · 1:10:55
  • Download
  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/122688265/122812070" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">

Concerts

Matt Wilson: Jazz On 'The Scenic Route'

WGBH Radio

Drummer Matt Wilson calls his quartet Arts and Crafts because it makes music from scratch. From his "Scenic Route" to bassist Martin Wind's "Cruise Blues" (music for the trip of life) to Carl Sandburg's "Bubbles," this band keeps it musical and fun.

Matt Wilson: Jazz On 'The Scenic Route'

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/102928536/122215216" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Ted Nash: The Mancini Project On JazzSet

Ted Nash grew up with Henry Mancini's music: His father and uncle played in the jazz composer's studio orchestras. Courtesy of the artist hide caption

toggle caption
Courtesy of the artist

Concerts

Ted Nash: The Mancini Project On JazzSet

WBGO

From the 1950s through the '80s, film composer Mancini collected Oscars and Grammys up to five at a time. Saxophonist Ted Nash is the ideal musician to adapt Mancini themes for jazz quartet, as heard in a rare performance at the Detroit International Jazz Festival.

Ted Nash: The Mancini Project On JazzSet

  • <iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/105194559/125715103" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player">
Browse archive or search npr.org