Kalil Wilson - Time Stops (2018)

"An album this arresting doesn’t appear out of nowhere. Time Stops introduces Kalil Wilson as a fully formed artist whose graceful, emotionally incisive original songs feel like bespoke vehicles for his lithe, honeyed tenor. But he started storing away extraordinary musical experiences almost from birth, and his circuitous musical journey has led to encounters with a succession of sonic visionaries. For starters, he’s the son of pioneering Nigerian bassist Babá Ken Okulolo, who worked with King Sunny Ade, Fela Kuti, and Victor Olaiya before establishing himself as a bandleader in the Bay Area. Conservatory-trained and smitten with jazz, Wilson put together an impressive 2009 debut album, Easy To Love, focused on American Songbook standards. Then followed years of live performances, including dueting with legendary Cuban vocalist Omara Portuondo in Barcelona and singing with Herbie Hancock, Zakir Hussain, and Carlos Santana at the Hollywood Bowl. Now, debuting his own music and lyrics, working with longtime collaborator Dan Marschak, Kalil Wilson demonstrates that he’s far more than a pretty voice." ~Andrew Gilbert