Amarillo Globe News Concert Preview- Dec. 2002

"He'll be home for Christmas: Wilson scheduled to give first hometown concert"

By CHIP CHANDLER
Amarillo Globe News / 12-20-02

He just released an album of Christmas music and he's about to celebrate the holidays by giving his first hometown concert, but pianist Jim Wilson has decidedly mixed feelings about the Yuletide.

"I love Christmas as much as I abhor it - not for any other reason than the commercialization of it," Wilson said.

"And yet, Christmas is a wonderful time of year for me. I've never been without family at Christmas; I always come home and hang out with my family."

That sense of familial warmth is reflected in "My First Christmas With You," Wilson's new collection of holiday tunes. He'll perform selections from it Monday in a concert at the Amarillo Civic Center Grand Plaza.

"I wanted it not to be anything that smacked of 'happy jazz.' And I didn't want it to be an album appropriately named 'Here Comes Another Christmas Album.' I wanted it to be from my heart and be a valuable contribution," Wilson said.

"I wanted something deeper, something that captures the warmth of Christmas."

The CD is Wilson's third since a major career shift five years ago took him from being a piano tuner for stars like Elton John, Paul McCartney and Dan Fogelberg to becoming a recording artist in his own right.

The career change was inspired by the death of a close friend, which prompted in Wilson a desire to live life more fully.

His first album, "Northern Seascape," was released in 1999 to solid reviews and sales. The follow-up, "Cape of Good Hope," hit the Top 10 of Billboard's New Age music charts in March. It also inspired a KACV-produced special, "Jim Wilson & Friends: Cape of Good Hope (And Other Musical Portraits)," which has now aired on about 40 PBS stations around the country.

Wilson's holiday album allows him a chance to put his own slant on "that massive lexicon of Christmas music that exists," he said.

"I chose tunes that had meaning to me and that I felt I could put my own stamp on," he said.He said he's most proud of an arrangement of his that combines one of the more cloying Christmas carols ever written with a traditional musical statement of Christian faith: the album track "Doxology/Little Drummer Boy."

Though the doxology - "Praise God to whom all blessings flow" - isn't a traditional holiday song, Wilson said its theme mirrors the theme of his album: "That Christmastime is time to give thanks for all blessings."

"The Little Drummer Boy," meanwhile, "is potentially the cheesiest little cutesy Christmas song, but I actually like the melody. Once I started hearing Native American percussion on it, it suddenly gave (the song) a whole different dimension," Wilson said.

"The juxtaposition with an old traditional American church song suddenly gave it this whole new depth for me. I love performing that one," he said.

Wilson's latest CD also sees his singing debut on the title track, a duet with Marilyn Martin, who sang "Separate Lives" with Phil Collins. Wilson sang in junior high and in church, but not much since.

"When we recorded it, I remembered what a joy singing is. I'm thinking about doing a record of just vocal tunes," he said.

The album's first single is an arrangement of Joni Mitchell's "River," featuring jazz saxophonist Everette Harp. Wilson said he took some liberties with the song, which he said he loves for its sense of melancholy and poignancy.

"I worship Joni Mitchell and I felt a bit of trepidation about taking a knife to the tune, until I heard James Taylor's version, where he leaves off the tag, 'made my baby cry.' So I did my own little spin on it," Wilson said.

"My First Christmas With You" also features vocals by Fogelberg and Steven Bishop, who sang on "Cape of Good Hope," as well.

Wilson said he's proud of the support he enjoys from Amarillo fans.

"It's an extraordinary challenge as a new artist - the slings and arrows you suffer climbing up the ladder," he said. "When you get people really believing in your music, it's heartwarming."

Canyon News Concert Preview - Dec. 2002

"Coming home for Christmas"

By PATRICIA GARDNER
Canyon News / 12-22-02

One of the most rewarding aspects of success is to be able to go back home to share your good fortune with family and friends.

Jim Wilson, who lived briefly in Randall County, will do that Monday when he returns to Amarillo for a Christmas concert at the Civic Center Grand Plaza.

The performance will feature Wilson and members of Amarillo Symphony's string quartet playing traditional Christmas songs accompanied by videos produced by Wilson. He will play a 9-foot grand piano brought to town from Albuquerque.

Tickets are available at Randy’s Music Mart or Panhandle Tickets and cost $21.

Concertgoers are requested to bring a canned food product for High Plains Food Bank. Those who purchase two or more tickets will receive a copy of Wilson’s "My First Christmas With You" CD after the show.

The evening begins with a wine reception from 6:30-7 p.m., followed by the concert at 8 p.m.

Wilson is described as one of the hottest contemporary instrumentalists.

"One of the best aspects of Christmas music is that it creates an instant mood-setting backdrop for enjoying the holidays," Wilson said in a telephone interview last week from Los Angeles.

Wilson was born in Greenville, S.C., but grew up in Amarillo when he moved here with his parents at the age of six years. After graduating from Tascosa High School, he attended music classes at Amarillo College.

Wilson’s music career began at age 7 when he began playing the guitar. Gifted with a passion for music and learning to play it, by 9 he was composing songs. His charismatic cousin from California breezed into town with long hair, a guitar and songs and stories about life on the band circuit that lit the musical fire. That led Wilson to playing in professional bands by the time he was 14.

"I couldn’t wait to be a musician," Wilson said.

When he was 22, he said goodbye to Randall County and headed for Los Angeles, where he wrote songs and became a piano technician to pay the bills. He was so good at his job that he became the favorite tuner of such stars as Elton John, Paul McCartney, Billy Joel and Dan Fogelberg. He also helped develop the revolutionary MIDI adapter for the acoustic piano, which allows the instrument to interact with computers and synthesizers. Whenever Wilson played his own music for the stars while fixing their pianos, they encouraged him to pursue his own musical dreams, which led to an official endorsement by Yamaha Pianos.

"Just being in their sphere influenced my music through their encouragement," Wilson said. "They inspired me to be more than I wanted to be at that time."

Not your typical recording artist, Wilson says a musician must speak the truth and write his or her rules for life to succeed at a goal. He said every person in the music business does it his or her own way, but each needs a good music education.

"If you have an artistic vision, remain true to it and don’t veer off," he said. "Nothing is guaranteed in this business, and music without a message means nothing. God helps me get my music to people it will serve."

Not until 1997, when he lost his close friend, did Wilson begin to rethink his existence and record his first album, which landed him a recording contract. He sent copies to 20 record companies, and seven responded immediately with contract offers, a response almost unheard of in the music business. His two CDs, "Northern Seascape" and "Cape of Good Hope" established his credibility as being able to bridge the gap between new age, smooth jazz and Celtic-flavored pop music. The second release currently is listed No. 8 on the Billboard charts.

Wilson said he doesn’t regret a minute of the lost time getting to where he is because the trip, though paved with disappointments and trials has led him to the spot he is today. His advice to others who want to delve into his world is to push forward with a goal and never let anything stand in the way.

"You never know when you’re going to be called, so you better be proud of what you’ve done and the legacy you’re leaving behind," Wilson said.

Jim says:
Family: Jim Wilson, dad; Lillian Doyle, mom; sister in Alaska.
Favorite movie: "American Beauty."
Philosophy of life: "Don’t let anything stand in your way to your goal."
Pet peeve: L.A. traffic.
Favorite Christmas memory: "Coming home to Texas and family for the holidays."

Canyon News Concert Review - Dec. 2002

Snow, Wilson's Show are a Warm Holiday Mix

By GREG JACKLEWICZ
Canyon News / 12-25-02

Monday's snow only brightened the mood for pianist Jim's Wilson's Christmas concert at the Amarillo Civic Center.

Parked next door to a presentation of the story of Jesus, Wilson's performance provided a secular mix to the nearby religious observance. The artist joked he didn't have an answer for the collection of animals - llamas, donkeys and lambs - assembled next door but that his drummer, Jay Weeks, had brought his dog.

Wilson is the former Randall Country resident and Tascosa High School graduate who sought his musical fortune in Los Angeles. The piano tuner to stars such as Elton John and Dan Fogelberg, he was encouraged to pursue his own career. He came home Monday with several recordings in tow, including his holiday release "My First Christmas With You."

Wilson noted the snowfall and said he appreciated people attending the concert in such weather.

"Those of you who paid $22 a ticket, we're going to give you a $23 show," he quipped.

His show mixed pieces from his previous recording with such seasonal fare as a delicate take on "Silent Night," a more boisterous rendition of "The Little Drummer Boy" and the traditional "Greensleeves," on which he was accompanied by a youngster named Claudia. Not fazed by the audience, she perfectly hit E when prompted by her duet partner.

"She'll get five times more applause than I will," Wilson said, shrugging before the piece was played. He was right.

Joining Wilson were eight other musicians, including flautist Amy Browning-Clark whose instrument brought Fogelberg to mind. The piano-playing top 40 singer used Tim Weisberg's woodwind on his recordings.

Violins and a cello added a reflective tone equal to the season.

Wilson also employed visual images on two big screens. Pictures of trees covered with snow were perfect for "Sierra Snowfall" while views of Paris accompanied "Picasso's Midnight Stroll."

The artist sang once during the first hour, offering the romantic ballad "Donna Lynn." While he has a passable voice, it's suggested he continue to emphasize his talent on the keyboards.

"I do miss Texas and the people and the amazing sunsets," Wilson said. "You're not going to get a snowstorm like this in L.A."

Comedian Kelly Moran opened the show and was a hit with the crowd.