The Jazz Real Book

Steve Wilson is one of the most respected alto saxophonists and multi-instrumentalists in modern jazz, known for his warm tone, lyrical phrasing, and deep command of the bebop and post-bop traditions. Emerging from Virginia, Wilson gained early recognition after moving to New York in the late 1980s. He has performed and recorded with an impressive range of artists including Chick Corea, Dave Holland, Christian McBride, and Maria Schneider. Wilson’s playing balances technical precision with expressive melodic clarity, drawing from the lineage of masters like Johnny Hodges, Charlie Parker, Sonny Stitt and Cannonball Adderley while maintaining a contemporary voice. In addition to leading his own acclaimed recordings, he is a dedicated educator, serving on the faculty at The Juilliard School and mentoring a new generation of jazz musicians.

Herbie Hancock-Speak Like A Child (Blue Note Records) 
Released Summer of 1968 
Speak Like a Child is one of the more lyrical and introspective recordings in the catalog of Herbie Hancock. Released on Blue Note Records in 1968, the album reflects Hancock’s growing interest in subtle orchestration and melodic simplicity following the more harmonically dense work of his earlier recordings. Rather than a traditional trumpet-sax frontline, Hancock chose the unusual combination of flugelhorn, bass trombone, and alto flute, creating a warm, floating ensemble sound. The music emphasizes spacious melodies, gentle rhythms, and impressionistic harmonies. Pieces like the title track and “Riot” highlight Hancock’s gift for understated composition and ensemble color. Featuring musicians such as Thad Jones, Micky Roker and Ron Carter, the album stands as one of Hancock’s most delicate and emotionally resonant Blue Note recordings. (S5-EP15)

“Footprints,” composed by Wayne Shorter, first appeared on Adam’s Apple (1966) but became widely known through its performance on Miles Smiles by Miles Davis. The piece is a haunting minor blues that blends traditional structure with modern harmonic color. Often played in C minor, the tune uses a distinctive bass ostinato that outlines a 12-bar blues form while introducing subtle modal movement. On Miles Smiles, the rhythm section—Herbie Hancock, Ron Carter, and Tony Williams—reshapes the groove into a loose 6/8 feel that shifts fluidly between swing and Afro-Cuban influences.
Released in 1967, Miles Smiles is one of the defining recordings of the Miles Davis Second Great Quintet. Featuring Davis, Shorter, Hancock, Carter, and Williams, the album reflects a move toward greater rhythmic freedom, interactive improvisation, and abstract harmony. Rather than strict chord-scale improvisation, the group emphasizes collective interplay, making Miles Smiles a landmark of post-bop innovation.

“Follow Your Heart” and John McLaughlin (118)
“Follow Your Heart” is a reflective composition by guitarist John McLaughlin that appears on his 1971 album My Goal's Beyond. The piece reveals a quieter and more introspective side of McLaughlin, arriving just before the explosive fusion period that would define the Mahavishnu Orchestra. Rather than emphasizing speed or dense harmonic movement, the tune focuses on mood, space, and rhythmic subtlety. 
The composition is notable for its unusual 11/8 meter, which gives the melody a floating, slightly asymmetrical feel. The phrasing rarely lands squarely on beat one, creating a sense of suspension that reinforces the meditative character of the piece. Harmonically the music is simple, allowing the rhythm and melody to carry the emotional weight. “Follow Your Heart” reflects the spiritual and contemplative direction McLaughlin was exploring in the early 1970s.
John McLaughlin
Joe Farrell
The Jazz Real Book Playlist Vol.2

German-born bassist and composer Martin Wind has built an extensive résumé as both a sideman and bandleader, performing with artists such as Buddy DeFranco, Pat Metheny, and Clark Terry. With more than twenty recordings as a leader or co-leader, Wind has remained an active presence on the international jazz scene. His newest release, September (2026, Laika Records), features his Gravity Trio with tenor saxophonist Peter Weniger and drummer Jonas Burgwinkel, expanding on the chordless trio concept first heard on their earlier album Gravity (2023). The new project also includes guest appearances from multi-reedist Scott Robinson. The trio’s open instrumentation allows Wind to approach harmony through counterpoint and interaction rather than fixed chord structures. Release concerts for September include performances at Smalls Jazz Club in New York, the Puffin Cultural Forum in Teaneck, and the historic Deer Head Inn in Pennsylvania.