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Intuition (1994)
By Ralph Burnett
Best known to pop and jazz fusion fans as the lead singer
of the classic and innovative Seventies band Seawind, Pauline Wilson is back with a debut solo release on Noteworthy. Intuition,
an outstanding collection of adult contemporary vocal performances, features some of today's brightest instrumental stars
including saxophonists Michael Paulo and Brandon Fields; bassists Abraham Laboriel and Freddie Washington; keyboardists Yutaka
(who produced) and Patrice Rushen and percussionist Paulinho Da Costa.
"The most important issue for me was
writing and choosing tunes that I really wanted to sing," says Wilson. "I really wanted it to be my own baby, showing
through Intuition, that I am a woman with something to say. As one of the titles suggests, I'm back in love with singing.
Fans of Seawind got used to me as a soul and fusion artist, but here I'm trying to break out of that image and into a
very adult contemporary mode."
Born and raised just outside Hilo, Hawaii, Wilson spent time at Central Washington
State College before joining the successful Hawaiian group Seawind. Since Seawind, Wilson has relocated to the Los Angeles
area to pursue a studio career. She has sung on numerous TV and film soundtracks and TV and radio commercials. Her album contributions
include recordings by Jim Messina, Michael Columier, Bruce Hornsby, Brenda Russell, Kevyn Lettau, the Yellowjackets, Celine
Dion and the Crusaders. She also performed a duet with George Benson on the 1979 album, In Harmony, which earned her a Grammy
award. Before this, she toured with Boz Scaggs.
It was probably touring and recording as a featured vocalist with
GRP recording artist Yutaka from 1988 thru 1992, that the desire and details of a solo career became clear. With the confidence
and experience that Pauline Wilson projects through her debut Intuition, Seawind fans and new fans alike will enjoy this eminent
talent for a long time to come.
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