For those unaware, the dynamic young American pianist John Wilson first encountered Michael Tilson Thomas in 2015 when he was a fellow with the New World Symphony.

John’s protégé status quickly evolved to that of close confidant and collaborator, leading to this solo debut album featuring the world-premiere recording of the title track, MTT’s three-movement suite for piano, Upon Further Reflection.

MTT explains innumerable influences that are embedded throughout the work, including the piano music of Debussy and Schumann, bossa nova, gamelan, ragas, Monteverdi, Berg and Peggy Lee’s rendition of the song Alley Cat, all of which flowed together in a way that seemed completely natural, to me anyway, Wilson says.

In 2019, John premiered a portion of Upon Further Reflection that was broadcast live on MediciTV to an audience of over 50,000. John embellishes the album’s Americana theme with two titans of the solo piano repertoire - Aaron Copland’s early Piano Sonata - a work lesser-heard than the composer’s other works for solo piano - and Earl Wild’s virtuoso arrangements of seven of George Gershwin’s most iconic tunes.

1-3 Upon Further Reflection (24:11) [Michael Tilson Thomas]
4-10 7 Virtuoso Etudes after George Gershwin (20:52) [Earl Wild]
11-13 Piano Sonata (24:07) [Aaron Copland]

Beginning with the titular, and world premiere recording of the near twenty-five minute Upon Further Reflection, a piece that itself opens on the playfully perky, at times sternly ornate Bygone Beguine (1973), that is itself backed by the more serene Sunset Soliloquy (Whitsett Avenue, 1963) and the mischievous musings within You Come Here Often? (Hello Stranger, 1977).

The ornately scattered Liza opens the seven Virtuoso Etudes after George Gershwin, the splendidly opulent Somebody Loves along next and they are in turn followed by the delicately free flowing The Man I Love, the ornately joyful, veritably shimmering Embraceable You, the quietly elegant Lady Be Good, before the tempo is raised for the flirtatiously fervent I Got Rhythm, the works culminating in the expertly melodiously crafted work within the foot-tapping Fascinatin’ Rhythm.

The recording comes to a close on the first of the three Piano Sonata’s, the stern, at times burgeoning, and yet always forthright and rhythmic Molto moderato, the sprightly Vivace, itself coming to a close on the eleven minute keyed master work within Andante Sostenuto.

Official Purchase Links

www.johnwilsonpiano.com