For those unaware, acclaimed composer and trumpeter Sarah Wilson draws inspiration from visual art, brass bands and the joy of music on her spirited new album Incandescence.

Out July 18TH, 2025 via Brass Tonic Records, the album features Wilson’s brass focused sextet Brass Tonic on an exuberant set sparked by the work of Austrian painter Thomas Reinhold.

Community spirit has been a constant in the work of composer and trumpet player Sarah Wilson, whose experiences and inspirations have ranged from socially conscious puppet theater to brass band and New Orleans traditions to her own illuminating style of jazz. When musicians are truly inspired and connected with one another, Wilson describes, time seems to stand still for artist and listener alike.

“Time just evaporates,” Wilson says, “and you’re completely immersed in feeling the euphoria and joy of being in this creative moment. You forget everything else that is happening in space and time, while paradoxically the music is moving through time.”

Interestingly, Incandescence was commissioned by InterMusic SF’s Musical Grant Program. It draws equal inspiration from Reinhold’s bold, multi-hued abstracts and from the street-level, community-spirited traditions of brass band, marching and New Orleans parade music.

In Brass Tonic, Wilson combines an all-woman horn frontline – herself, alto saxophonist Kasey Knudsen, and trombonist Mara Fox – with the buoyant rhythm section of guitarist John Schott, bassist Lisa Mezzacappa, and, for this recording, drummers Jon Arkin and Tim Bulkley.

1. Architecture in Space [4:52]
2. Incandescence [5:29]
3. Hopeful Sorrow [4:28]
4. Music Appears to Stand Still [4:25]
5. Epilogue [5:11]
6. Jubilant [3:47]
7. Dancing with Cierra [2:24]
8. Fully Unfolding [4:08]
9. Lullaby [3:21]
10. Trifecta [3:24]
11. Echoes Refrain [3:42]

With the music reflecting the experience of art lifting you into a joyful place where time appears to stand still, this new recording opens on the iridescent Architecture in Space and then we get the trombone strutting title track Incandescence, the conversational Hopeful Sorrow, a thoughtfully phrased Music Appears to Stand Still and then we are brought forth the beautifully structured Epilogue.

Along next is the elegantly layered Jubilant, the almost visually grooved Dancing with Cierra and the dutifully sculpted Fully Unfolding, and they are backed seamlessly by the harmoniously sumptuous Lullaby, the immersively creative Trifecta, the set coming to a close on the rhythmically emotive Echoes Refrain.

Musicians:
Sarah Wilson (trumpet), Kasey Knudsen (alto sax), Mara Fox (trombone), John Schott (guitar), Lisa Mezzacappa (bass) and Jon Arkin/Tim Bulkley (drums).

Official Website