The Wilson/Lee/Bentley trio is a fully co-operative group formed by three veterans of the Vancouver creative music scene, Tony Wilson on guitar, Peggy Lee on cello and Jon Bentley on saxophones. Each musician has brought his/her compositional material to create Escondido Dreams and each performs a variety of functions within the group, from soloistic to accompaniment, melodic to colouristic and/or harmonic. This trio runs the gamut on their debut release from the more spacious and reflective episodes to their driving rhythms, soaring melodies and fierce improvisations in which they pack the punch of a large ensemble.

Vancouver's Coastal Jazz and Blues hails him as "unquestionably one of the most original guitar stylists on the Canadian scene”. Down Beat Magazine entitles him as "...a talismanic West Coast figure." Tony Wilson has studied with many acclaimed jazz musicians including Dave Holland, John Abercrombie, Kevin Eubanks and Steve Coleman and has shared the stage with well know international artists such as William Parker, Gerry Hemingway, Han Bennink, Toby Delius, Benoit Delbecq & Eric Boeren.

Vancouver-based cellist Peggy Lee plays the field between jazz and new music, currently receiving international recognition as one of Vancouver's finest improvisers. Upon arriving in Vancouver in 1989, Peggy Lee has participated in numerous creative projects. She is a member of Talking Pictures and Standing Wave, a new music ensemble dedicated to performing new written works by Canadian composers. Other performance collaborations include work with keyboardist Wayne Horvitz, trumpeter Dave Douglas, guitarist Nels Cline (Wilco) and guitarist Bill Frisell.

Jon Bentley (saxophone) is a versatile musician, performing and recording in many genres of music both as a leader and a sideman. He has recorded and performed in concerts with musicians such as Kenny Wheeler, Seamus Blake, Dave Douglas, Mark Helias, Brad Turner, Oliver Lake and The Temptations. Bentley has released two albums as a leader: “Jon Bentley Quintet: Motions” and “Diversions: American Prophecy”.

Press:

"...a gorgeous release." - Panpot.ca

"...the album drips with relentless energy..." - Gaz-Eta

"...a career highlight for guitarist Wilson and cellist Lee." - Eye Weekly

"...rich in stylistic range." - textura.org

"...a distinct sound that will appeal to fans of both free-improv and the ever-growing contemporary third-stream scene." - Left Hip Magazine

"...a refreshing dose of exciting rist-taking." - La Scena Musicale

Album Review: All About Jazz
Album Review: Left Hip Magazine
Album Review: Paris Transatlantic Magazine
Album Review: textura.org
Mini-Album Review: Gaz-Eta
Album Review: Eye Weekly (Scroll down a bit!)

Links:

unitywaves.com
myspace.com/tonywilsonmusic