Home » Jazz Articles » Album Review » Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet: Bien Bien!

Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet: Bien Bien!

By Woodrow Wilkins
October 19, 2009
View read count

Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet: Bien Bien!

"Well, well" is one English translation for Bien Bein!, by the Wayne Wallace Latin Jazz Quintet. "Good, good" is another. Either is appropriate for this collection of nine songs.

Wallace, a trombonist, composer and arranger, has been named "Talent Deserving Wider Recognition" in the Down Beat Critics' Poll, and has shared the stage with a range of performers including

Ray Charles

piano and vocals
1930 - 2004

" data-original-title="" title="">Ray Charles, Celine Dion,

Carlos Santana

guitar
b.1947

" data-original-title="" title="">Carlos Santana and

John Lee Hooker

guitar
1917 - 2001

" data-original-title="" title="">John Lee Hooker. Pianist Murray Low, bassist David Belove, percussionist Michael Spiro and drummer Paul van Wageningen make up the rest of the quintet. All five sing, and the ensemble is joined at times by additional trombonists and vocalists.

The title song is straightforward Latin style with additional trombones blending for the melody. Low's piano solo reinforces the mood, that life is good, while Spiro and van Wageningen show their chops during a sequence that sets up Wallace's solo. Belove's bass line is vivid.

"Mojito Café," a tribute to

Cal Tjader

vibraphone
1925 - 1982

" data-original-title="" title="">Cal Tjader and

Armando Peraza

congas
b.1924

" data-original-title="" title="">Armando Peraza, is Wallace's reminiscent look at the 1970s North Beach jazz scene in San Francisco. Several styles of jazz could be heard in clubs on a regular basis, and this song is a freely expressive piece that would be right at home in one of those venues. Although Wallace is the lead performer, the song showcases the tight connection of Lowe, Spiro and van Wageningen, the drummer locking in on the cymbals during Low's solo. With an assist from Belove, the trio cranks it up a notch before Wallace rejoins. Toward the end, the vocalists engage in a call-and-response with the trombone.

Wallace composed three of the songs in this set. The covers include some variations of Latin jazz by

Duke Ellington

piano
1899 - 1974

" data-original-title="" title="">Duke Ellington,

Eddie Harris

saxophone, tenor
1934 - 1996

" data-original-title="" title="">Eddie Harris and

Sonny Rollins

saxophone
b.1930

" data-original-title="" title="">Sonny Rollins. Original or interpretive, the band is solid throughout.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Bien Bien; Freedom Jazz Dance (Baile de Libertad); Mojito Caf

Personnel

Wayne Wallace

trombone

Wayne Wallace: trombone, vocals; Murray Low: piano, vocals; Michael Spiro: percussion, vocals; David Belove: bass, vocals; Paul van Wageningen: trap drums, vocals; Julian Priester: trombone; Dave Martell: trombone; Kenny Washington, vocals; Orlando Torriente: vocals.

Album information

Title: Bien Bien! | Year Released: 2009 | Record Label: Patois Records

PREVIOUS / NEXT

The State of Classical Music 2009: A...
< Previous

Take Five With Sylvia Brooks
Next >

Support All About Jazz

All About Jazz has been a pillar of jazz since 1995, championing it as an art form and, more importantly, supporting the musicians who make it. Our enduring commitment has made "AAJ" one of the most culturally important websites of its kind, read by hundreds of thousands of fans, musicians and industry figures every month.

Go Ad Free!

To maintain our platform while developing new means to foster jazz discovery and connectivity, we need your help. You can become a sustaining member for as little as $20 and in return, we'll immediately hide those pesky ads plus provide access to future articles for a full year. This winning combination vastly improves your AAJ experience and allow us to vigorously build on the pioneering work we first started in 1995. So enjoy an ad-free AAJ experience and help us remain a positive beacon for jazz by making a donation today.