"...Wilson's gruff, streetwise tenor dominates this outing, with a merry band of Philadelphia musicians keeping the vibe straight-up and swinging. They hit their peak in a compelling version of 'Summertime,' with Wilson's passionate blowing going into overdrive above the riffing rhythm section. Five original tunes offer catchy hooks and warm moods, keeping the disc buzzing along nicely."
- JazzTimes
"...Wilson is the primary soloist, performing on tenor and soprano saxophones as he nestles his craft somewhere in-between modern mainstream and progressive jazz. On 'Moon and Sand,' his blithe tone is spiced-up by a sugary edge amid airy and dreamscape-drenched choruses. Pianist Matt Hochmiller provides a sturdy yet limber support structure via his accents, comping and soloing endeavors. But, diversity remains a key to this album’s success as the quartet swings and ventures into hard-bop terrain. More importantly, Wilson injects punch and zip into jazz standards, evidenced by his soulful rasp on 'Summertime,' and a deeply personalized spin on Bill Evans’ ballad, 'Time Remembered.' Then on Wilson’s original composition titled 'Funtime,' the band works through a temperate, Latin-jazz groove to complement a few heated sojourns into the free-zone.
Wilson’s wit shines radiantly during the final piece, which is an extended version of 'Summertime.' Here, the rhythm section gravitates atop a buoyant ostinato as the saxophonist takes on vocal-like attributes, largely due to his emphatic and vibrato-based phrasings. And besides the musicians’ noticeable camaraderie and solid chops, this endeavor pronounces clarity of thought, and proclamations of good cheer."
- jazzreview.com
"Lancaster, Pa.-based saxophonist Dave Wilson can change your mind about the hipness of Amish country.
Wilson...is a threat throughout the woodwind family. It's cool to hear him throw some free-jazz squeals into a happening mainstream vibe...
Wilson is a fluid player who gets around the horn - mostly tenor and soprano - and blends in wherever he lands. Much of this set, like the Wilson original 'Funtime,' is easy to take in, though 'Apocalyptic Blues,' with the 'Maiden Voyage'-like piano accompaniment, can get more involved.
Wilson's blaring tenor in 'Blues on Parade' projects a persuasive, lounge-lizard feel, while Wilson's arrangement of 'Summertime' squeezes some new moves from an overworked chestnut."
- Philadelphia Inquirer
"Wilson opens the album with an unusual choice, Alec Wilder's 'Moon and Sand,'
which he plays as a ballad on both soprano and tenor sax. The remaining ten
selections include three originals, plus 'Just Friends,' Kenny Wheeler's
''Smatter,' Bill Evans' 'Time Remembered' and an original arrangement of
'Summertime.' Wilson offers two versions of the Gershwin classic: first, a
six-minute take on the third track, then the twelve-minute closer, with plenty
of room to display his tenor sax technique.
Wilson does show a keen sense of melody, as well as the ability to turn the
heat a notch up on the uptempo tracks. His ballad 'Song for Lisa,' performed on
soprano sax, is attractive. Pianist Matt Hochmiller provides several punchy solo
statements, while Meashey and Deangelis supply a simmering cushion for the
quartet."
- All About Jazz
"The Dave Wilson Quartet interprets this session
of standards and originals with a unique
approach. The leader’s saxophones supply familiar
melodies and improvised thrills, his piano trio supports
and stretches out with improvised solo work,
and the quartet’s cohesive ensemble mixture
relates each story convincingly. But Wilson adds a
dynamic quality that pushes his quartet’s performance
beyond ordinary. He’s having fun, and that
means his audience can enjoy the spirit equally.
Several selections swing with a traditional grasp of
the situation, while others stand out for their progressive
charm. Wilson’s burly tenor makes a
strong statement, as he surges with fluid ease and
a swinging appearance. His musical statements
emerge as personal pages of conversation that
interact with his musical partners intuitively. Matt
Hochmiller’s piano soliloquies prove sensual and
soothing, while bassist Steve Meashey provides an
arching connector. The harmonic color that he
adds, coupled with drummer Tony Deangelis’ crisp
stick work, gives the session plenty of character.
From Calypso to Swing and balladry, the quartet
comes up with a winner. The best part of the album
comes at the end, with a second take of
'Summertime' that runs for 12 minutes. Wilson
shows his individuality with a fired-up rampage
that captures the sincere emotion originally intended
for this piece by its composer. Wilson’s quartet
opens up, stretches out, and releases the passion
that we look for in this Jazz standard. His session
comes recommended for its appropriate balance of
tradition with the modern mainstream."
- Cadence
"The highlight of this album is track 2, 'Just Friends.' Dave Wilson on
tenor plays as fast as a bootlegger heading for the county line and some
fine four bar exchanges between Wilson and drummer Tony Deangelis cap
off a swinging tune.
A solid ensemble plus a few tried and true standards make this a
worthwhile recording...4 Stars."
- ejazznews.com
"In the tradition of mainstream jazz, reedman extraordinaire Dave Wilson asserts himself to us his devoted listeners like a NASA shuttle bent on conquering the universe. His take on Bill Evans's eternal jazz ballad 'Time Remembered'
personifies this perspective. The quartet 'plays itself' as it were with a natural symbiosis and a full appreciation of
mature bebop....Proffering us their music with compelling chordal extensions, & lovely angular lines, etc....Bringing our sensibilities to a strong musical reaction in real time."
- The Musicians' Ombudsman
"The Dave Wilson Quartet’s 2005 album 'My Time' is very good in a recent CD release that offers mostly original material by Wilson. Bill Evans’ 'Time Remembered' and the Gershwin/Gershwin/Heyward classic 'Summertime' are also included, with the latter covered twice! Instead of being merely repetitious or smug, it works and is entertaining with the combination of talent and energy you expect from such a genre work.
Pretty much produced by Wilson, the PCM 2.0 16bit/44.1kHz Stereo is really nice, with vivid sonics for this format sometimes hitting the audiophile level. It is one of the most replayable Jazz CDs we have heard in a while and fans will be very interested too..."
- fulvuedrive-in.com
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