Recordings from the late 70s from the duo of Art Ensemble of Chicago drummer Phillip Wilson and trumpeter Olu Dara, an intimate and intelligently reserved session that includes a 3 part tribute to Lester Bowie, originally released on Hat Hut records.
Out of Stock
Quantity in Basket: None
Log In to use our Wish List
Shipping Weight: 3.00 units
Sample The Album:
Phillip Wilson-percussion
Olu Dara-trumpet, serpent
Click an artist name above to see in-stock items for that artist.
UPC: B07424KXM6
Label: Corbett vs. Dempsey
Catalog ID: CvsDCD027
Squidco Product Code: 22029
Format: CD
Condition: New
Released: 2016
Country: USA
Packaging: Cardboard Gatefold
Recorded in Paris by Jef Gilson, tracks 1-3 in November, 1977, tracks 4-11 on May 10, 1978. Originally issued on vinyl LP on the Hat Hut label in 1979 as catalog code Q.
"In November 1977 and May 1978, months before drummer Phillip Wilson recorded his great LP Duet with trumpeter Lester Bowie for the Improvising Artists label, Wilson hit the studio for Esoteric, a recording of solos and duets with cornetist Olu Dara. Wilson (1941-1992) was one of the key percussionists in creative music, the Art Ensemble of Chicago's early trapsman, one third of the fusion band Full Moon, and an all around fount of invention and sensitivity. In addition to his work in the jazz and improvised music realms, he was a member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band and did session work for Stax Records in the '70s.
The little known LP Esoteric, which was issued on Hat Hut Records as their twelfth release, finds Wilson in an extremely intimate mode, sometimes exploring the sonority of his kit, sometimes extrapolating on a beat, and on several tracks working with his comrade Olu Dara, one of the great figures of the loft era and a wonderfully polymath musician. Together they conjure more than an avant garde drum and bugle corps, Wilson's decisive touch and Dara's exploratory voice stretching all the way out on three dedications to Mr. Bowie.
A rare taste of what the masterful Wilson does in the driver's seat, Esoteric has been remastered from the original tapes and features Klaus Baumgartner's original cover design on this, its first ever reissue, nearly forty years since it was waxed."-Corbett Vs. Dempsey

The Squid's Ear!
Artist Biographies
• Show Bio for Phillip Wilson "Phillip Sanford Wilson (September 8, 1941 - March 25, 1992) was an American blues and jazz drummer, a founding member of the Art Ensemble of Chicago, and a member of the Paul Butterfield Blues Band. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, United States, Phillip Wilson was a third generation musician. His grandfather, Ira Kimball, was a percussionist playing on the riverboats that traveled down the Mississippi from St Louis to New Orleans. His recording debut was with Sam Lazar, noted for having one of the first interracial bands in the St. Louis area. After moving to Chicago, Illinois, he became a member of the Association for the Advancement of Creative Musicians AACM and performed with the Art Ensemble of Chicago. He joined up with the Paul Butterfield Blues Band in 1967 at a time when the band membership changed greatly, including an added horn section. He recorded three albums with the group. Wilson's song "Love March", written with Gene Dinwiddie, was performed at Woodstock and released in 1970 on the live album from the festival. Wilson, along with Dinwiddie and fellow former Butterfield Band member Buzz Feiten, formed the jazz-rock band Full Moon in the early 1970s. They recorded a self-titled album which is considered one of the finest early examples of jazz fusion. Wilson was part of the loft jazz scene in 1970s New York, worked as a session musician for Stax Records in Memphis and with Jimi Hendrix at the Cafe Au Go Go and Generation Club in 1968, and recorded with The Last Poets, Fontella Bass, Olu Dara, David Murray, Anthony Braxton, Carla Bley and many others. During the 1980s, he worked extensively with Lester Bowie. In 1985, he and Bill Laswell co-produced the album Down by Law under the group name Deadline. Near the end of his life, he was actively pursuing his music career and had been performing regularly at Manhattan's Lower East Side hot spot Deanna's. Wilson was stalked and murdered in New York City on March 25, 1992. As a result of the America's Most Wanted television program, Marvin Slater was arrested and later convicted, in 1997 for premeditated murder, and sentenced to 33 1/3 years in state prison. The motive for this murder was not revealed during the trial and is still unknown." ^ Hide Bio for Phillip Wilson
3/4/2026
Have a better biography or biography source? Please Contact Us so that we can update this biography.
Track Listing:
1. Lester B I 8:35
2. Lester B II 3:22
3. Lester B III 2:20
4. Double Click 3:51
5. The Chad 2:13
6. Caul Call! The Eso 4:28
7. The March And Ragtime 4:00
8. Elephant Bossa 1:07
9. Olu 1 3:37
10. Olu 2 3:14
11. Lost And Brash 2:56
Improvised Music
Jazz
Free Improvisation
Duo Recordings
Chicago Jazz & Improvisation
Search for other titles on the label:
Corbett vs. Dempsey.


































![Swell, Steve / Ellen Christi: Songs From the Poetry Box [Book + CD]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/37252.jpg)



![Weathers, Andrew: Attempts: a collection of text and graphic scores [BOOK]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/37251.jpg)














![Aries House Zaes: Network Friction [VINYL]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/37242.jpg)
![Bailey, Derek / Han Bennink / Evan Parker: Topographie Parisienne (Dunois, April 2nd, 3d & 4th, 1981) [4 CDs]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/37246.jpg)
![Lindorff-Ellery, Evan: Light Sound Falling [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/37043.jpg)

![Lindorff-Ellery, Evan / Naomi Juniper: Studio, Creek [CASSETTE W/ DOWNLOAD]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/37044.jpg)




![Koyoltzintli and Friends: Wild Fire Clay Percussion Group [CASSETTE W/ DOWNLOAD]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/37045.jpg)








![Hearsay (Allen Moore, Ishmael Ali, Bill Harris): Glossolalia [CASSETTE]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/34531.jpg)







![Coleman, Rodger: Journey to Brno [CASSETTE + DOWNLOAD]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/37175.jpg)



![Allbee, Liz: Breath Vessels [VINYL]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/37012.jpg)






![Belorukov, Ilia / Alex Riva: Wrestling For Futility [CASSETTE w/DOWNLOAD]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/36994.jpg)


![Genthon, Anouck / Lionel Marchetti: Suite Blanche [2 CDs]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/36642.jpg)
![Toeplitz, Kasper T.: Erosions Programmees [CD + BOOKLET]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/36639.jpg)
![Gate, The : Almost Live [CASSETTE + MAGAZINE]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/36836.jpg)







![Feldman, Morton / GBSR Duo w/ Taylor MacLennan: Trios [6 CD BOX SET]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/37020.jpg)
![Frey, Jurg : Composer, Alone [3 CDs]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/36927.jpg)








![Frey, Jurg with ensemble]h[iatus: Je Laisse A La Nuit Son Poids D](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/36988.jpg)




![Pisaro-Liu, Michael: Within (2) / Appearance (2) [2 CDs]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/36831.jpg)










![Musicworks Magazine: #151 Summer 25 [MAGAZINE + CD]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/36559.jpg)

![Zorn, John: The Song of Songs [CD + CD BOOK]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/36923.jpg)

![Coultrain: Mundus [COLORED VINYL]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/33056.jpg)
![Hprizm: Signs Remixed [COLORED VINYL]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/30635.jpg)
![Halls Of the Machine: All Tribal Dignitaries [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOAD]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/36134.jpg)



![Koenjihyakkei: Live at Club Goodman [2 CDs]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/36111.jpg)

![Sorry For Laughing (G. Whitlow / M. Bates / Dave-Id / E. Ka-Spel): Rain Flowers [2 CDS]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35985.jpg)

![Rolando, Tommaso / Andy Moor : Biscotti [CASSETTE w/ DOWNLOADS]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/36106.jpg)


![Electric Bird Noise / Derek Roddy: 8-10-22 [CD EP]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/35970.jpg)








![Elephant9 : Mythical River [VINYL]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/34624.jpg)



![Coley, Byron: Dating Tips for Touring Bands [VINYL]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/17906.jpg)

![Lost Kisses: My Life is Sad & Funny [DVD]](https://www.teuthida.com/productImages/misc4/lostKissesDVD.jpg)