...an artist who will likely continue to amaze us for a long time—without too much artifice, but with precision—and who here earns a place among our "Essential" albums for having taken us on a journey into a world that left us deeply moved.
A rich blending of Jazz, Afro-Latin, and West African musical inspirations are at the heart of drummer Andy Wheelock's melodic and joyfully dancing compositions on this debut recording of his WHEE3Trio. While using the timbre and pentatonic offerings of the wooden xylophone-like Ghanaian Gyil as a composing tool, Wheelock pictured the inventive voice of guitarist Gilad Hekselman as the perfect addition to pianist Walter Gorra, bassist Gonzalo Teppa, and Wheelock's own drums & percussion to orchestrate the sweeping landscapes of "Finn," the intricate dance of "Your Poor Mother," or the Afro Pop-tinged street party that is "Empire." Full of joy, lift and rhythmic surprises, WHEE3Trio's debut is sure to enthuse and inspire.
Track Listing:
1 Empire 4:50
2 Well Luck Indeed 6:33
3 Dash to Dash 6:55
4 Two5 - Two3 7:46
5 Kewo 5:56
6 Blossom 2:36
7 Your Poor Mother 6:36
8 Finn 7:17
9 I'm Not Afraid 3:08
10 In the Wheelhouse 8:39
Music by Andy Wheelock, except (2) by Gonzalo Teppa
Performers:
Andy Wheelock - drums & percussion
Gonzalo Teppa - bass
Walter Gorra - piano
Special guest:
Gilad Hekselman - guitar
Production Info:
Produced by Andy Wheelock
Recorded, mixed & mastered by Colin Bricker
at Mighty Fine Productions, Denver, CO
Recorded on February 24 - 25, 2024
Band photo by Marlon Rissato
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
Reviews of WHEE3Trio: In the Wheelhouse
Paris-Move (Thierry De Clemensat)
"A MUST / INDISPENSABLE!" We are happy to present the first album from our new partner, the jazz label Origin Records / OA2 Records, created by musicians and for musicians. We are even more excited as this Seattle-based jazz label is known for its quality and is full of exciting projects, one more captivating than the other. Andy Wheelock is a drum ...
Jazz Weekly (George W Harris)
Drummer and percussionist Andy Wheelock brings his trio of Walter Gorra/p and Gonzalo Teppa/b together with guest guitarist Gilad Heksleman for a collection of fervent originals. Wheelock likes to play with tricky groves, opening things up with a snappy intro to the Latin "Empire" with some tactile delicacies with Teppa, while he changes directions ...
All About Jazz (Dan McClenaghan)
The first minute of an imminent immersion into the sound of In the Wheelhouse, by drummer Andy Wheelock and the Whee3trio, is "rhythm, rhythm, rhythm." The second impression is "Africa." This is not surprising given that Wheelock took a good deal of his inspiration for this effort via his study of the Ghanaian gyil, a type of xylophone. He speaks o ...
