Jonathan Wilson – Dear Friend

SHADES OF PINK FLOYD and Neil Young (Pink Young? Neil Floyd?) in this epic jam from born-again Laurel Canyon headfreak Jonathan Wilson, whose Gentle Spirit album we dug so heartily in 2011. At 7.19 it’s an indulgence, but for the listener as much as the artist, with psychic group vibes ebbing and flowing and a warm fuzzy sound like altocumulus and cirrostratus getting together with some mandies and ’ludes.

Then at 3.10, JW lets loose with his funky woman tone and doesn’t care where his guitar takes him, even unto that place called jazz-rock.

It’s a rich and woozy taster of Wilson’s second album, Fanfare, due on October 14 through Bella Union in the UK/Europe and Downtown in the US. Made in Los Angeles, it features musical spots by Graham Nash, David Crosby, Jackson Browne, Josh Tillman (aka Father John Misty), Wilco’s Patrick Sansone, Dawes' Taylor Goldsmith and Mike Campbell and Benmont Tench from Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers. Roy Harper co-writes several songs.

“There are an awful lot of wizards on this album,” says Wilson. “Wizards of all ages and life experiences. All these amazing voices and musicians. There is a high degree of musical prowess and pedigree here. Cross-generational musical sharing and passing down traditions is very important to me and something that must continue. This is the way you keep the Fanfares blowing, this is how you keep the energies interacting."