Spike Wilner Trio Contrafactus with Special Guest George Garzone to Release The Children & The Warlock on April 25, 2025, via Cellar Music Group
Cellar Music Group is proud to announce the April 25, 2025 release of The Children & The Warlock, the latest offering from pianist Spike Wilner and his Trio Contrafactus, featuring bassist Paul Gill and drummer Anthony Pinciotti, with special guest saxophonist George Garzone.
The Children & The Warlock is a heartfelt tribute to Wilner’s late mentor, pianist and composer Harry Whitaker. A revered yet underappreciated figure in jazz history, Whitaker was known for his deeply expressive playing and unwavering commitment to improvisation in its purest form. As Wilner describes, Whitaker played “only in the moment,” a philosophy that became the foundation of this album’s concept. “Prepare nothing but what you have already brought with you, then play,” Wilner says, echoing his mentor’s ethos.
At the heart of the recording is the collaboration between Wilner and sax titan Garzone, whose fearless, unrestrained approach to improvisation made him the ideal choice for this project. “I always felt George strongly when I heard him perform at Smalls,” Wilner recalls. “My intuition told me he was the perfect person for a Harry Whitaker tribute.” Their chemistry, combined with the synergy of Gill and Pinciotti, results in a session that is both deeply personal and strikingly adventurous.
The album features compositions by Whitaker, Wilner, Garzone, as well as John Coltrane and Fred Lacy. The centerpiece is Whitaker’s haunting composition “The Child & The Warlock,” which serves as a metaphor for the group dynamic: Wilner, Gill, and Pinciotti embodying the “children” and Garzone taking on the role of the “warlock,” guiding them through the unknown. Another notable track, “Moment to Moment”, is a freely improvised piece that pays homage to the name of Harry’s band, capturing his “one perfect jazz moment to another” spirit.
This recording also serves as a posthumous tribute to drummer Anthony Pinciotti, who passed away suddenly following the session. “This may be his final recording, and it is certainly a testament to his creativity and genius,” Wilner reflects.
Perhaps Wilner sums up the central message of The Children & The Warlock best. “Jazz music can be the very best that mankind can offer—an uninhibited view of the open soul, for all to share and grow from.”
- Hey, Open Up! (5:53) (George Garzone)
- The Child and the Warlock (11:33) (Harry Whitaker)
- Benediction (3:21) (Spike Wilner/George Garzone)
- Miles’ Mode (5:41) (John Coltrane)
- Theme for Ernie (8:24) (Fred Lacy)
- Moment to Moment (For Harry Whitaker) (9:58) (Spike Wilner/George Garzone)
- Re-Solution (3:26) (Spike Wilner/George Garzone)
- from https://lydialiebman.com