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The Philadelphia Inquirer gave the new CD by Skip Wilkins, assistant professor of music, a favorable review in its Sunday, Nov. 12 edition.
The first CD in a two-album package, Skip Wilkins Quintet: Volume I was released by Dreambox Media in September. In addition to Wilkins on piano, recording and performing musicians include Paul Kendall on tenor saxophone, Tom Kozic on guitar, Tony Marino on bass, and Gary Rissmiller on drums.
“Pianist Skip Wilkins goes from soulful, gut-bucket mode to rich ballads to angular modern jazz on this tasteful set of original tunes,” states the review.
The Skip Wilkins Quintet will perform a free concert 8 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 19 at the Williams Center for the Arts. They also will perform 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 1 at the Deer Head Inn, 5 Main St., Delaware Water Gap, Pa. There is a $12 entrance fee. For reservations call the inn at (570) 424-2000.
An excerpt of the review follows:
The opening “It Was Bound to Happen” is the session’s earthiest cut, with tenor saxophonist Paul Kendall keening and guitarist Tom Kozic in full wail over the two-chord vamp that’s included here.
Wilkins, who teaches music at Lafayette College in Easton, shows a yen for bop structure on the horn-heavy “Take the Fourth.” His solo on “Stephanie’s Song” is silky supper-club stuff, while “No Parking” tends toward the fast-twitch neurotic before it segues into a softer groove.
The session with bassist Tony Marino and drummer Gary Rissmiller is understated and generally full of pleasant smoky moments.