|
by Alex Henderson
Jazz/Latin music expert Jesse "Chuy" Varela opens the informative liner notes that he wrote for Wayne Wallace's Dedication with a very honest and candid statement: "Jazz is not for everyone. It's not exclusive or elitist, but unfortunately, it only speaks to a small percentage of the mass music market who grasp its improvisational vocabulary and spirituality." Varela goes on to say that "what keeps jazz alive is dedication," and in fact, Wallace's spirit of dedication comes through quite clearly on this 2006 date (a solid big band-oriented effort that is full of memorable ensemble work). The Bay Area trombonist wears different hats equally well on Dedication; he shines as both a soloist and a bandleader/arranger, and those arrangements are often as relevant to Latin jazz as they are to post-bop. The material chosen for Dedication can usually be divided into one of two main categories: (1) Wallace originals or, (2) songs that have a direct or indirect connection to the seminal John Coltrane. The exception to that rule is flutist Andrea Brachfeld's "Pat's Song"; everything else on Dedication falls into one of those two categories. The relevant-to-Coltrane performances include Latin-flavored arrangements of two Coltrane pieces ("Mr. Day" and "Spiritual") as well as acoustic pianist McCoy Tyner's "Some Day." Tyner was in Trane's employ in the early to mid-'60s, and he didn't record "Some Day" until his Song of the New World album in 1973 (six years after Trane died). Regardless, the Trane connection is certainly here because the saxophone giant continued to influence Tyner's writing long after his death. Most of the time, Latin means Afro-Cuban on Dedication; Wallace's good-natured "Nena," however, is more Brazilian-minded. Wallace's dedication to jazz -- both post-bop and Afro-Cuban jazz -- serves him well on this pleasing, well executed CD.
John Santos—Timbales, Guiro
Paul Van Wageningen—Trap Drums
Babatunde Lea—Congas, Trap drums, Shekere
David Belove—Bass
Frank Martin—Piano
Andrea Brachfeld—Flute, Piccolo
Mary Fettig—Soprano Sax, Bass Clarinet
Masaru Koga—Alto Sax, Flute, Alto Flute, Shakuhachi
Hafez Modirzadeh—Tenor Sax, Soprano Sax, Ney
Louis Fasman—Trumpet
Jeff Cressman—Trombone
Wayne Wallace—Trombone
John Worley—Trumpet, Flugelhorn
|
