A colorful, propulsive drummer, Shadow Wilson worked with many major bands during his career. He was both a sensitive and exciting stylist, and could provide rhythmically dynamic and softly sympathetic accompaniment using sticks or brushes.

He began playing with Lucky Millinder in 1939, then worked with Benny Carter, Tiny Bradshaw, Lionel Hampton, Earl Hines, Count Basie, and Woody Herman. Wilson later worked in the combos of Illinois Jacquet, Erroll Garner, and Thelonious Monk, and played with Ella Fitzgerald. He worked frequently with Sonny Stitt in the '50s, and recorded with Basie, Joe Newman, Monk and Lee Konitz.

Wilson didn't record any albums as a leader, but can be heard on CD reissues by Basie, Phil Woods and Gene Quill, Tadd Dameron and Monk.

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Though not a major influence in the same sense as Max Roach and Kenny Clarke, Shadow Wilson was nonetheless in considerable demand during the ’40s, and he fit in admirably with all the groups he played with during his relatively brief career.

Wilson was born in Yonkers, New York, in 1919 and began his career with Frank Fairfax. By 1939, he was working in bands led by Lucky Millinder and Jimmy Mundy. In 1940, he performed with Benny Carter and Tiny Bradshaw, and then moved on to the Earl Hines band. However, Wilson is best remembered for his tasteful work with the Count Basie band, with whom he played in 1944. Wilson spent two years with tenor saxophonist Illinois Jacquet, won the prestigious Esquire New Star Award in 1947, and then returned to the Basie band as a replacement for Papa Jo Jones.

According to jazz legend, upon Dave Tough’s departure from the Woody Herman band in ’48, the musicians took a vote to determine who would replace Tough. Shadow Wilson was elected; however, pleased with the Basie band, he refused the offer. Members of Herman’s band did eventually get their wish when Wilson joined up in ’49, once again proving his ability as a superb big band drummer as well as a highly competent small group player.

After leaving Herman, Wilson returned to Illinois Jacquet’s group in 1950 and again in ’54, with the years between spent with young piano sensation Erroll Garner.

Late in his career Wilson worked with Ella Fitzgerald, and was also acclaimed for his performances with Thelonious Monk in the ’50s.

Though Shadow Wilson died in 1959 at the age of forty, numerous examples of his recorded performances have been preserved.

Among those recordings are “Queer Street” with the Basie band, Jacquet Jumps, The Fabulous Fats Navarro with Tadd Dameron, and assorted recordings with Lester Young, Leo Parker, and Stan Getz.

Every Wilson performance clearly demonstrates the tasteful, unobtrusive playing of one of the jazz world’s true unsung heroes.