Upon Further Reflection John Wilson

• Michael Tilson Thomas (b. 1944): Upon Further Reflection:
• 1 Thomas: Upon Further Reflection: I. Bygone Beguine (1973) 06:18
• 2 Thomas: Upon Further Reflection: II. Sunset Soliloquy (Whitsett Avenue, 1963) 13:13
• 3 Thomas: Upon Further Reflection: III. You Come Here Often? (Hello Stranger, 1977) 04:39
• Earl Wild (1915 - 2010): 7 Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin:
• 4 Wild: 7 Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin: I. Liza 03:44
• 5 Wild: 7 Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin: II. Somebody Loves Me 03:15
• 6 Wild: 7 Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin: III. The Man I Love 02:47
• 7 Wild: 7 Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin: IV. Embraceable You 03:23
• 8 Wild: 7 Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin: V. Lady Be Good 03:46
• 9 Wild: 7 Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin: VI. I Got Rhythm 02:14
• 10 Wild: 7 Virtuoso Etudes after Gershwin: VII. Fascinatin’ Rhythm 01:40
• Aaron Copland (1900 - 1990): Piano Sonata:
• 11 Copland: Piano Sonata: I. Molto moderato 07:57
• 12 Copland: Piano Sonata: II. Vivace 04:27
• 13 Copland: Piano Sonata: III. Andante Sostenuto 11:41
• Total Runtime 01:09:04

Info for Upon Further Reflection

The dynamic young American pianist John Wilson first encountered Michael Tilson Thomas in 2015 when he was a fellow with the New World Symphony. John’s protégé status quickly evolved to that of close confidant and collaborator, leading to this solo debut album featuring the world-premiere recording of the title track, MTT’s three-movement suite for piano, Upon Further Reflection. MTT explains innumerable influences that are embedded throughout the work, including the piano music of Debussy and Schumann, bossa nova, gamelan, ragas, Monteverdi, Berg and Peggy Lee’s rendition of the song Alley Cat, all of which “flowed together in a way that seemed completely natural… to me anyway.” In 2019, John premiered a portion of Upon Further Reflection that was broadcast live on Medici.TV to an audience of over 50,000.

John embellishes the album’s Americana theme with two titans of the solo piano repertoire – Aaron Copland’s early Piano Sonata – a work lesser-heard than the composer’s other works for solo piano – and Earl Wild’s virtuoso arrangements of seven of George Gershwin’s most iconic tunes.

“Wilson played through Doctor Gradus ad Parnassum and Serenade for the Doll with all the Parisian delicacy and grace we expect from Debussy” (Joe Cadigansan Francisco Classical Voice)

John Wilson, piano

John Wilson
American pianist John Wilson has appeared as soloist with the New World Symphony, Napa Valley Symphony, New Amsterdam Symphony, and Orchestra Camerata Notturna in New York. As an orchestral pianist, he has performed with the San Francisco Symphony, Milwaukee Symphony, and the San Diego Symphony. He recently won the prize for the Best Performance of an American Work at the 2017 Liszt-Garrison International Piano Competition. An avid chamber musician, Mr. Wilson has appeared in chamber ensembles with musicians of the San Francisco Symphony, Montreal Symphony, and San Diego Symphony, and he has also performed with violinists Anthony Marwood, Gil Shaham, and Joshua Bell, cellists Johannes Moser and Alisa Weilerstein, and soprano Audra McDonald. Dedicated to contemporary music, Mr. Wilson has been sought after for performing in the US and world premieres of solo piano works by Michael Tilson Thomas, Timo Andres, Judith Lang Zaimont, and ensemble works by Steve Reich, Reinbert de Leeuw, HK Gruber, and Bernd Deutsch. These performances mark his San Francisco Symphony solo debut.

Booklet for Upon Further Reflection