Jonathan Wilson-A Southern Son Out West
Jonathan Wilson: A Southern Son Out West
5/14/08
"Are you satisfied?
Are you occupied?
Do you have enough time
To reflect in your mind
As your life moves on
Towards some Avalon,
Just remember your beauty was
Almost undefined..."
"Dreaming"
-Jonathan Wilson
This evening I conducted an interview with the North Carolina musician Jonathan Wilson. Jonathan now lives in Laurel Canyon where he serves as the nucleus around a group of musicians such as Chris Robinson (Black Crowes), Adam MacDougall (Black Crowes), Jonathan Rice and various others that collaborate and jam together. It’s like the second generation of southern musicians that moved to California-- pollinating the west with southern music. Musicians like Gram Parsons, Leon Russell and Delaney Bramlett where the first generation and Jonathan, Chris Robinson and Benji Hughes count as the next generation..
Jonathan’s album Frankie Ray ranks as a classic. He played every instrument on the album such as drums, guitars, acoustic bass, banjo, electric bass, moog bass pedals, mandolin, baritone uke, lap steel, pedal steel, Wurlitzer and Hammond organ. He’s a force…
Jonathan hosts Wednesday night jam sessions at his house that he and Chris Robinson began in late 2006. Wilson recently played and recorded with the Grateful Dead’s Phil Lesh, Elvis Costello, Gary Louris and Jonathan Rice. Jonathan Wilson's new album, titled Gentle Spirit, is complete. He recently played shows in Memphis and Nashville behind Elvis Costello, who recruited Wilson to play on his new album. Jonathan travels south in June to play some shows of his own.
We discussed his career from a musical upbringing in North Carolina to playing with heavies like Lesh, Robinson and Costello. Jonathan’s one of the most down to earth folks you could meet. I respect him immensely…I even suggested he contribute some of his photographs and writings to Swampland/Mystery And Manners, which he confessed he’d enjoy. I look forward to completing the interview for publication--look for it next week. You haven’t heard the last of Jonathan Wilson around these parts…
The Mystery And Manners Jonathan Wilson Interview.
James Calemine
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