Andrew Wilcox | “Dear Mr. Hill” On DL Media Music
The title of Dear Mr. Hill, the engaging debut album by the gifted, Hartford-based pianist and composer Andrew Wilcox, is addressed to the legendary Andrew Hill. But the album as a whole, a spirited mix of original compositions and keenly chosen standards, is a missive from Wilcox to the many mentors and influences that have guided him along his path.
“The elements that are at the core of this album are the people, places and things that have inspired me along the way,” Wilcox says. ““Andrew Hill’s music hit me in a very deep, emotional place. It was the first time I’d heard somebody who was able to paint such complex emotional portraits in ways that I’d never heard before.”
Due out August 16, 2024 via Truth Revolution Recording Collective, Dear Mr. Hill not only conveys the musical inspiration of those teachers and influences, but surrounds Wilcox with them. The album teams Wilcox with the veteran rhythm section of bassist Avery Sharpe and drummer Yoron Israel, both of whom have taken the young pianist under their prodigious wings. The date was produced by fellow pianist and Truth Revolution co-founder Zaccai Curtis, while the liner notes were penned by the trumpeter Haneef Nelson.
In his notes, Nelson hails Wilcox as, “one of the most promising new voices I’ve heard on the piano in a long time.”
Dear Mr. Hill reflects a broader base of influence and experience than just Wilcox’s musical evolution. The music he composed for the album also draws upon his love for and exploration of the natural world, his soul-searching introspection, and the support of his immediate and extended family. “All of my influences have become an integral part of what I do,” he says.
