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Harmonic Language: Modal JAZZ Meets Spectral Ambiguity

Wilkins’ chord progressions avoid ii-V-I clichés. Instead, his lead sheets favor:

Moreover, Wilkins rarely includes written bass lines. His lead sheets assume that the bass will anchor the mode but avoid root movement. This creates a floating, non-linear pulse that distinguishes his music from the swing tradition, aligning it more with the works of composers like Henry Threadgill or Muhal Richard Abrams.

If you want a version tailored to Instagram, a program note, or a longer essay analyzing a specific tune (with examples), tell me which tune or platform and I’ll draft it.

Wilkins' use of lead sheets reflects a broader trend in jazz toward "New Standards" and gender/cultural justice, similar to the work seen in compilations like Terri Lyne Carrington’s 101 Lead Sheets by Women Composers