While there were plenty of soul jazz organists playing their trade across the States in the 60's, Reuben Wilson was one of only a handful to be signed to the exemplary Blue Note Records. Between 1968 and 1971, he recorded five albums for the label and whilst none of these records gained commercial success, they were proven to be way-ahead of their time, becaming popular through the 90's with a whole new generation for being sampled by everyone from Nas to A Tribe Called Quest.
Across the pond Reuben was also being played by early rare groove DJs like Norman Jay, Patrick Forge and Gilles Peterson defining the genre and inspiring a whole bunch of groups like the Brand New Heavies, Incognito, Young Disciples, and Jamiroquai. After Blue Note he recorded for other classic labels such as Groove Merchant and Chess/Cadet, penning his best-known rare groove jazz dance classic 'Got to Get Your Own'. In this interview, he talks us through the stories behind some of his seminal records, and how he contributed to the acid jazz scene.
http://rbmaradio.com/ARCHIVE.153.0.php?extID=0&showID=1375
www.redbullmusicacademyradio.com
Across the pond Reuben was also being played by early rare groove DJs like Norman Jay, Patrick Forge and Gilles Peterson defining the genre and inspiring a whole bunch of groups like the Brand New Heavies, Incognito, Young Disciples, and Jamiroquai. After Blue Note he recorded for other classic labels such as Groove Merchant and Chess/Cadet, penning his best-known rare groove jazz dance classic 'Got to Get Your Own'. In this interview, he talks us through the stories behind some of his seminal records, and how he contributed to the acid jazz scene.
http://rbmaradio.com/ARCHIVE.153.0.php?extID=0&showID=1375
www.redbullmusicacademyradio.com
About Reuben Wilson
Reuben Wilson's career began years ago in Los Angeles. Reuben is one of those somewhat rare organist who began their professional lives playing the Hammond B-3 organ, without paying any prior dues as a pianist.
Born April 9, 1935 in Mounds, Oklahoma, he moved at age 5 with his family to California, settling in Pasadena, where his school mates included bassist Herb Lewis and vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson.
"Except for a half dozen basic lessons with Austin McCoy," says Reuben, "I was self- taught as a pianist. But before I could even get seriously involved with the piano, a friend introduced me to the organ, and I knew this was the direction I wanted to take."
"My original inspiration had been Billy Larkin, of the Delegates. Later, I listened to Jimmy Smith and learned a lot from him, of course."
Around Christmas of 1966, Reuben settled in NY and formed a trio called the Wildare Express with Tommy Derrick, the drummer who also played on Reuben's first Blue Note album On Broadway. During this time, Reuben worked with Grant Green, Sam Rivers, Roy Haynes and Willis "Gatortail" Jackson.
Back in the late 60's, many musicians were reared on "straight-ahead" Jazz. Reuben dug the straight-ahead thing too, but began mixing Jazz with Pop creating Fusion or Funk, which later inspired people like Sly Stone and George Clinton. This new sub-genre called Funk or Soul-Jazz became a hit in London and Blue Note records rode the wave.
In the late 80's, the term Acid-Jazz was coined by DJ's Gilles Peterson, Paul Murphy and Eddie Pillar. They started playing obscure Soul-Jazz records like Reuben's "Gotta Get Your Own", and it became a hit in England, inspiring such acts as Us3, Brand New Heavies and the Young Disciples.
In the 90's, the DJ scene had created a need for a new sound, similar to the same need Reuben felt back in the late 60's. This time it was Us3, Tribe Called Qwest and Nas who sampled Reuben's compositions "Ronnie's Bonnie" and "Were in love" and his version of "Inner City Blues."
With this new success, Reuben was inspired to start working again musically and started writing new compositions and toured Europe, Japan, and North America in 1995, with Guru's Jazzmatazz II.
1997 looks great for Reuben, starting the year off with a gold disc for his compositions on the US3 certified gold album Hand On The Torch, a new son Reuben Jr., and a new recording with Dr. Lonnie Smith and Doug Carn on the Hip Bop follow-up to Organic Grooves. To top that off, Blue Note is reissuing Love Bug and Blue Mode.
If it's funky, and it's a Hammond, it's Reuben Wilson reaching a new generation.
All About Jazz
Reuben Wilson's career began years ago in Los Angeles. Reuben is one of those somewhat rare organist who began their professional lives playing the Hammond B-3 organ, without paying any prior dues as a pianist.
Born April 9, 1935 in Mounds, Oklahoma, he moved at age 5 with his family to California, settling in Pasadena, where his school mates included bassist Herb Lewis and vibraphonist Bobby Hutcherson.
"Except for a half dozen basic lessons with Austin McCoy," says Reuben, "I was self- taught as a pianist. But before I could even get seriously involved with the piano, a friend introduced me to the organ, and I knew this was the direction I wanted to take."
"My original inspiration had been Billy Larkin, of the Delegates. Later, I listened to Jimmy Smith and learned a lot from him, of course."
Around Christmas of 1966, Reuben settled in NY and formed a trio called the Wildare Express with Tommy Derrick, the drummer who also played on Reuben's first Blue Note album On Broadway. During this time, Reuben worked with Grant Green, Sam Rivers, Roy Haynes and Willis "Gatortail" Jackson.
Back in the late 60's, many musicians were reared on "straight-ahead" Jazz. Reuben dug the straight-ahead thing too, but began mixing Jazz with Pop creating Fusion or Funk, which later inspired people like Sly Stone and George Clinton. This new sub-genre called Funk or Soul-Jazz became a hit in London and Blue Note records rode the wave.
In the late 80's, the term Acid-Jazz was coined by DJ's Gilles Peterson, Paul Murphy and Eddie Pillar. They started playing obscure Soul-Jazz records like Reuben's "Gotta Get Your Own", and it became a hit in England, inspiring such acts as Us3, Brand New Heavies and the Young Disciples.
In the 90's, the DJ scene had created a need for a new sound, similar to the same need Reuben felt back in the late 60's. This time it was Us3, Tribe Called Qwest and Nas who sampled Reuben's compositions "Ronnie's Bonnie" and "Were in love" and his version of "Inner City Blues."
With this new success, Reuben was inspired to start working again musically and started writing new compositions and toured Europe, Japan, and North America in 1995, with Guru's Jazzmatazz II.
1997 looks great for Reuben, starting the year off with a gold disc for his compositions on the US3 certified gold album Hand On The Torch, a new son Reuben Jr., and a new recording with Dr. Lonnie Smith and Doug Carn on the Hip Bop follow-up to Organic Grooves. To top that off, Blue Note is reissuing Love Bug and Blue Mode.
If it's funky, and it's a Hammond, it's Reuben Wilson reaching a new generation.
All About Jazz
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