If Only You Knew (2010)

Dan Wilensky’s 2010 release, If You Only Knew, features pianist Bob Himmelberger (Charlie Rouse, Nelson Riddle), bassist Dean Johnson (Gerry Mulligan, Bill Frisell), and drummer Scott Neumann (Dave Liebman, Maria Schneider). The CD includes 9 original compositions by Wilensky, plus new versions of “Tea For Two,” and Horace Silver’s “Peace.”

“Were we to consider If You Only Knew academically, it would be a master class on composition, interpretation, performance, practice and repertoire selection.” –All About Jazz (March, 2011)

Due to a busy schedule as a sideman, studio musician, composer and author, this is Wilensky’s first record as a leader since 1997. “I woke up one morning this spring, and knew that it was time to get back to recording my own music. The new songs started to flow, and the band clicked right away. Bob, Dean and Scott play with command, sensitivity and heart, which made this project a joy from start to finish.” The result is jazz that doesn’t rely on thousands of notes per square inch. Wilensky delivers with his signature sound, strong melodic sense, and seductive compositions.

On the music: “I’ve been writing music since I was 12. In fact I wrote one tune from the CD, ‘In Our Time,’ when I was 17. But a lot of my material was work-for-hire stuff, or wasn’t recorded properly. Most of the new material for this record was written during the month after I played several gigs with my quartet; I couldn’t stop hearing new music in my mind. As a composer, you hope for these periods of heightened awareness. The only words that came to mind were ‘Finally. Thank you.'”

“If You Only Knew” was recorded August August 11 and 12, 2010 at Bennett Studios in Engelwood, New Jersey by ace engineer Dave Kowalski.