Description

Urban Reel is an instrumental album by the American session musician, composer and producer Fletch Wiley of Sonlight fame (the early ’70s backup band of Andrae Crouch, which morphed into Koinonia in the beginning of the ’80s), independently released on Visual Music Group in 1992. The album was recorded by Brian Tankersley, Jeff Deverter, and Steve Dady at Rivendell Recorders in Pasadena, Texas; and at Weddington Studios in North Hollywood, California; and was produced by Fletch Wiley and Brian Green. Mixed by Randy Adams at Future Audio, Dallas, Texas. Featuring members of Koinonia.

Wiley was one of the first Christian artists to step away from inspirational instrumental music to perform legitimate jazz and rock, influencing artists from Seawind to Koinonia. Fletch last captured the public’s attention about five years back with his ‘Art of Praise‘ releases. Wiley is currently scouring the globe in hopes of adding the best jazz-oriented Christian musicians to his new label’s roster; he could hardly have picked a better debut artist than himself. Fletch slides easily from trumpet to flute to flügelhorn, as he moves through a program that balances brisk, upbeat numbers like «Dance Tuit», Sly Stone’s «Stand» and «Samba for Kate», with contemplative ballads, such as «Thinking of You», «Heart of Love» and the standard «When I Fall In Love Again». Among the studio greats along for the ride are Bill Maxwell, whose drumming is, as always, superb; percussionist Alex Acuna, who never fails to be inventive, and rhythm anchor Abe Laboriel, who offsets Wiley’s solos with fluid bass runs. [Bruce A. Brown, CCM June 1992]

I first came across Fletch Wiley some years ago when a friend gave me the 1979 album ‘Spirit Of Elijah‘. I was immediately impressed by the American’s superlative instrumental playing and the quality of the arrangements. Also apparent was a spiritual dimension to the music even though the album was virtually all instrumental. Mr Wiley’s latest work, ‘Urban Reel’, is a further development of his interest in “prophetic instrumental music”; music which carries God’s voice to its listeners. It is a brilliantly executed collection of up tempo jazz/rock numbers and beautiful ballads, all featuring Wiley’s cool trumpet, flugel or flute. Backing him up is a team comprising the cream of American Christian musicians. My own favourite tracks are «Heart Of Love», which to me really communicate God’s love, and «Dance Tuit», for 30 seconds of sheer bliss in Bill Tillman’s sublime sax break. My only disappointment was that we didn’t hear any more of this exquisite musician on other tracks. If anything, I believe Fletch Wiley could go further in his exploration of prophetic instrumental music. He certainly has a terrific gift, and his music has the potential to communicate God’s word in a very powerful way. [Steve Smith , Cross Rhythms, June 1993]

> iTunes (https://music.apple.com/us/album/urban-reel/1496750752)

CD tracklist:

01. Thinking Of You – 4:35
02. Dance Tuit – 6:20
03. Heart Of Love – 5:50
04. It’s About Time – 4:30
05. Stand – 4:05
06. Samba For Kate – 3:12
07. Mr. Snappy – 4:40
08. When I Fall In Love – 5:03
09. Urban Reel – 6:30
10. Vashon Summer – 4:05

CREDITS. Produced and arranged by Brian Green and Fletch Wiley. Recorded at Rivendell Recorders and Weddington Studios. Engineered by Brian Tanklersey, Jeff Deverter, and Steve Dady. Mixed at Future Audio by Randy Adams. Mastered at Mastermix by Hank Williams. Art Direction and Design by Leon Alvarado. Illustration by Randy Rodgers. Photography by Mary Herrmann.

Musicians: Fletch Wiley (Trumpet, Flute, Flugelhorn), Bill Tillman (Saxophone), Brian Green (Keyboards), Bud Guin (Guitar on track 5), Dwight Sills (Guitar), Abraham Laboriel (Bass), Bill Maxwell (Drums), Alex Acuña (Percussion).