Willie Wilson has been called the "forgotton trombonist".  He recorded only once, and then died.  Fortunately, this one recording is still in print, demonstrating the timelessness of this session. 

This recording has never been released under Willie Wilson's name, even though this was Willie's session. His death shortly after this recording, and other factors delayed the release of this recording for several years.  It was first released as:

• "Minor Mishap" by Freddie Hubbard
• It has recently been released under Duke Pearson's name as "Dedication".
• A few tracks appear on "The Original Jazz Masters Series Vol. II". This session was recorded in the early 60's. Wilson died in 1963.  Musicians on the track include:  

  Freddie Hubbard, Trumpet, 
  Willie Wilson, Trombone 
  Pepper Adams, Baritone Sax 
  Thomas Howard, Bass 
  Duke Pearson, Piano 
  Lex Humphries, Drums 

The only information that I have found about Wilson is some rather brief information in liner notes, and one reference in Down Beat magazine article where it mentions that he replaced Curtis Fuller in the Benny Golson Jazztet for a brief period. 

Wilson was also a member of the Dizzy Gillespie big band, but never recorded with the band.

Willie's recorded solos are superb. Wayne Andre said to me that he thought that, "...Willie's playing was terrific."  Had he lived he surely would have received wide recognition. 

I consider his solos on the tracks "Time After Time", "The Nearness of You" and "Blues for Alvina" to be among the best trombone solos of all time. His playing is in a bluesy JJ/Fuller vein but with his own unique voice.  I first came across Willie's playing on a track on the Jazz Masters boxed set. The credits listed this track as Hubbard's. Upon further reading I found out that it was a Willie Wilson recording session. 

According to liner notes from "Minor Mishap", "This record date was originally made for the Jazzline label for release under Willie Wilson's name. Possibly the company had plans to develop Wilson as a name artist but sadly he died in1963." (Alun Morgan)

I'm not sure who else Willie Wilson played with. I have asked several knowledgeable people in the jazz world, including Dan Morgenstern, director, Jazz Archives Rutgers, who searched his archives and came up empty-handed.  If anyone has information about this fine "forgotten trombonist" please email me.