Trio Grande Will Vinson, Gilad Hekselman, Antonio Sánchez

• 1Northbound06:48
• 2Elli Yeled Tov04:07
• 3Oberkampf07:36
• 4Upside05:46
• 5Scoville08:07
• 6Gocta09:01
• 7Firenze09:23
• 8Will You Let It06:08
• Total Runtime56:56

Info for Trio Grande

"Trio Grande" is the debut statement from a brand new project that unites three of the most innovative, exciting and accomplished musicians working at the interface of New York's contemporary musical culture - British-born saxophonist Will Vinson, Israeli guitarist Gilad Hekselman and Mexico City native, long-time Jackson Heights, Queens resident Antonio Sánchez.

The trio first came together at one of the city's legendary club residencies at the Cornelia Street Café, and the chemistry and excitement was immediate. Each brings their own formidable reputation as bandleader and composer in their own right, but when they started playing together, following their impulses with all the freedom afforded by the baseless trio format, they found the music taking on its own creative directions that surprised and delighted them all.

The album's magic lies in the way that so many disparate musical elements are woven together to create such a coherent whole. 'Northbound', driven along by its powerfully insistent low-end guitar riff, and 'Gocta', with its array of vast, epic soundscapes, were written by Sanchez and reflect his virtuosity and ability to deliver the power and excitement of rock music within a sophisticated musical framework. The uplifting, joyously dancing 'Elli Yeled Tov', with its echoes of carnival, reflects Hekselman's love of song forms, whether pop or folk derived, and showcases the way that he can incorporate the most complex rhythmic ideas and make them sound simple and direct.

Texture and dynamics are as important as melody and improvisation, all brilliantly captured by engineer Mike Marciano's warm, crystal clear studio sound.

“It’s long been my dream to be part of a bassless trio with a pair of musicians who are capable of running with the opportunities that allows, rather than being confined and defined by what’s missing. With Antonio and Gilad, Trio Grande is my dream on steroids. One of the most exciting feelings in this world to present a band with music for which you have a clear vision, only to hear them instantly throw the vision out of the window and reinvent it as something you couldn’t have imagined on your own. I can’t wait to take this music out on the road (if and when that’s a thing) and watch that process happen anew night after night.” (Will Vinson)

“This was one of the easiest albums to make. Everybody brought their thing to it, while leaving room for the others to express themselves fully. Will and Antonio are such masters, and all I needed to do to help is join them on the journey with trust. I can’t wait for y’all to hear this one – I am very excited about how it turned out!” (Gilad Hekselman)

“Making music with Will and Gilad was completely effortless. The recording studio can be a rather sterile environment but the three of us all seemed to be in the same frequency and it was one of those sessions where everybody is having fun and actually playing to their full potential. A very important part of the equations was the material: very lyrical and soulful which made us get into a very creative and relaxed mood right away but complex enough to keep all of us on our toes. Will and Gilad are incredibly complete musicians and masters of their craft and this whole album was a joy to make. Hope you enjoy it as much as we enjoyed making it.” (Antonio Sanchez)

Will Vinson, saxophones, keyboards
Gilad Hekselman, guitars
Antonio Sanchez, drums

Will Vinson
Originally from London, Alto Saxophonist/Composer Will Vinson has made his career in New York City and the world. Since his arrival in NYC, he has appeared and/or recorded with Gonzalo Rubalcaba, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Ari Hoenig, Jonathan Kreisberg, Marcus Gilmore, Chris Potter, Kurt Elling, Lage Lund, Aaron Parks, and many others. ​

Will is a member of a number of leading ensembles, including pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba’s Quartet (he appears on Charlie and the Grammy-nominated Caminos), Ari Hoenig’s Punk Bop and Nonet (Will appears on Inversations, Bert’s Playground and Live at Smalls), Miguel Zenon’s Identities Orchestra (Grammy-nominated for Identities are Changeable), and his own groups featuring, among others, Lage Lund, Jeff Ballard, Aaron Parks, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Shai Maestro and Mike Moreno.

In 2012, along with bassist Orlando le Fleming and guitarist Lage Lund, he formed the critically acclaimed OWL Trio, whose eponymous debut in 2013 was hailed by critics and listeners alike. Downbeat declared: “Everything about this album,which should contend for debut of the year honors,is a resounding success. The music swings effortlessly, every utterence is gorgeous and the recording is intimate and beautiful", while All About Jazz noted that "the chemistry, sensitivity and simpatico sensibilities exhibited by these three young men are evident at every turn....OWL Trio is one of those records that finds power in quiet expression, not raised volume or aggression. Lund, Vinson and le Fleming make for an absorbing combination"

Will has an international reputation as a leader and sideman. All About Jazz New York describes Will as playing “with a relentless force”. Thomas Michelsen of Denmark’s Politiken, hails this “very exciting saxophonist” with a “beautiful, softly modulating tone”, and John Fordham of The Guardian described a "superb solo of rugged leathery sounds turning into mellifluous high notes” with “secure control and storming energy". Time Out London calls will an "exciting young altoist with a lethal approach to writing and soloing”.

Will has released 6 CD’s as a leader/composer. It’s For You (Sirocco Jazz, 2004) was described as “combining a thoughtful originality of conception with energy and fluidity of execution in very satisfying proportions” (Jazzwise magazine)

Will’s second CD, Promises (NineteenEight Records), was described as “impressive” and “coolly restrained” by Nate Chinen of the New York Times. ​

2010 saw the release of two CD's: The World (Through My Shoes), a live recording was described as "marvelous" by Downbeat and "exhilarating, cascading... outstanding" by Jazz Times. Stockholm Syndrome (Criss Cross) came out in September 2010. 2013 saw the release of Live at Smalls, one of the most successful albums on the Smalls Live label. 2016 saw the release of Will’s debut recording for 5Passion, Perfectly Out of Place, featuring an all-star group: Mike Moreno on guitar, Gonzalo Rubalcaba on piano, Matt Penman on bass and Jeff Ballard on drums. The reviews have been ecstatic. All About Jazz calls it "a marvel of compositional design, textural beauty, and musicality"; Downbeat lauds the "incredibly original" compositions that "challenge the notion of how jazz is defined in this era", Jazzwise describes it as "heart-stopping", and Sterophile Magazine declares Will "one of the best alto saxophonists in Jazz". ​

Will has appeared with his own group and as a sideman in the USA, Canada, the UK, France, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Spain, Ireland, Portugal, The Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Australia and Japan. His musical experience has not been limited to Jazz. Will is a member of Rufus Wainwright’s band, which toured for 10 months in 2007/8. He has also performed, arranged and/ or recorded with Sufjan Stevens, Sean Lennon, Martha Wainwright, Beth Orton and Harper Simon. ​

Will's saxophone playing is executed with incredible power and dramatic sensitivity, and is characterized by his imposing sound and technique; influenced by saxophonists from Cannonball to Chris Potter, he nevertheless brings his own unique approach to every performance. Will's writing, and the playing of his colleagues, combines a great respect for the century-long jazz tradition with explorations into the rhythmic, harmonic and melodic realms of contemporary forms.

This album contains no booklet.