Abram Wilson

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Nathaniel Facey and Abram Wilson

Abram Wilson (born 1975) is a jazz trumpeter and vocalist raised in New Orleans and now based in London, United Kingdom. Wilson was born in Fort Smith, Arkansas and began playing trumpet at the age of nine, going on to study at the New Orleans Center For Creative Arts (NOCCA) under the tutelage of Clyde Kerr Jr, Ronald Benko, Dr Burt Breaud, and band director, Augustus Walker at O Perry Walker Sr High School.

1 Early Life
2 Career
3 Awards
4 Nominations
5 Discography
6 References
7 External links

[edit] Early Life

At 17, Wilson earned a music scholarship to Ohio Wesleyan University where he studied classical trumpet with Larry Griffin graduating with a bachelor's degree in music education. He then attained his masters degree at the world renowned Eastman Conservatory in Rochester, New York studying jazz performance and composition with Ralph Alessi, Mike Cain, and Fred Sturm, and classical trumpet with Barbara Butler.

[edit] Career

After graduating from Eastman, Wilson moved to New York where he started his own band – the Abram Wilson Quintet – as well as regularly performing with the Roy Hargrove Big Band and with rhythm and blues legend, Ruth Brown, appearing on her Good Day for the Blues release in 1999 ^[1].

Arriving in London in 2002, Wilson performed with the Julian Joseph Big Band before meeting the directors of Dune Records (the record label responsible for producing British Jazz artists such as Jazz Jamaica, Gary Crosby, Soweto Kinch and Denys Baptiste) and signing to the label in 2003 where he regularly performs with his fellow label-mates as well as leading his own bands.

In mid 2004, Abram worked in a secondary school in Walthamstow, London where he taught music for a year until he went onto work more on his music career and recording.

In October 2004, Abram launched his career as a solo artist with the release of his debut album for Dune, Jazz Warrior (DUNECD011) to great critical acclaim. He was then commissioned by the Cheltenham Jazz Festival (under the Jerwood Rising Star Programme) and Birmingham Jazz to create an extended work for premiere at the Festival in 2006 ^[2]. This new work entitled Ride! – Ferris Wheel To The Modern Day Delta (DUNECD016) was recorded and released on Dune in April 2007.

In Wilson’s latest project called Roll Jordan Roll, he collaborated with British Gospel legend Nicky Brown and Noted Gospel Historian Viv Broughton. ^[3].

[edit] Awards

International Songwriting Competition, Best Jazz Composition 2005
British Jazz Awards, Best New CD 2007

[edit] Nominations

MOBO Award – Best Jazz Act 2005 & 2007
BBC Jazz Award – Best Album 2007
BBC Jazz Award – Heart of Jazz 2007
BBC Jazz Award – Best Band 2005

[edit] Discography

As a band leader:

Soul Vibe (2000, Bleekstar Records)
Jazz Warrior (2004, Dune Records)
Ride! – Ferris Wheel To The Modern Day Delta (2007, Dune Records)

As a featured artist:

Good Day for the Blues – Ruth Brown (1999, Bullseye Blues)
Conversations With The Unseen – Soweto Kinch (2003, Dune Records)
Let Freedom Ring! - Denys Baptiste (2003, Dune Records)
Motorcity Roots – Jazz Jamaica (2005, Dune Records)
A Life In The Day Of B19: Tales of the Tower Block – Soweto Kinch (2006, Dune Records)