Bien, Bien!
Jazz
| Oct 2009
Reviews
Fo
Reviewed 2009-10-10
Reviewed 2009-10-10
WAYNE WALLACE LATIN JAZZ QUINTET: ¡Bien Bien!
Patois, 2009
LATIN JAZZ – This crack Bay Area ensemble turns out a solid mix of styles, blending Puerto Rican and Cuban rhythms, and also playing straight-ahead jazz as seen through a Latin lens. The band is less interested here in pyrotechnics than in joyous creative expression over steady grooves. Wallace is warm and vibrant on trombone, and the ensemble moves as one. 4&7 have extra trombones, and #2 has great vocal work. This is one of Wallace’s best discs to date.
* * * * | All good. Fo’s Picks: 2, 4, 5, 8, 9
1. 6:40 – relaxed, balmy groove: flowing piano solo, buttery trombone. Nice.
2. 5:14 – neat duo vocals here, and the famous twisty melody fits beautifully
3. 6:39 – midtempo, an old-school, swaying “tropical night” sound, glides along
4. 6:33 – warm and catchy; 3 trombones weave thru multiple rhythmic phases
5. 7:02 – sweet & lazy Ellington ballad: muted trombone chews it like taffy
6. 5:50 – the cha-cha-cha beat takes it easy, but trombone goes to town
7. 6:09 – tripping rhythm: 3 trombone solos each cast a different light on it
8. 4:54 – happy sound, bright with a chugging groove, perky piano & drums
9. 6:06 – deep intro, intriguing groove painted in dusky tones; strong trombone
[ Fo ] 10/10/09
Patois, 2009
LATIN JAZZ – This crack Bay Area ensemble turns out a solid mix of styles, blending Puerto Rican and Cuban rhythms, and also playing straight-ahead jazz as seen through a Latin lens. The band is less interested here in pyrotechnics than in joyous creative expression over steady grooves. Wallace is warm and vibrant on trombone, and the ensemble moves as one. 4&7 have extra trombones, and #2 has great vocal work. This is one of Wallace’s best discs to date.
* * * * | All good. Fo’s Picks: 2, 4, 5, 8, 9
1. 6:40 – relaxed, balmy groove: flowing piano solo, buttery trombone. Nice.
2. 5:14 – neat duo vocals here, and the famous twisty melody fits beautifully
3. 6:39 – midtempo, an old-school, swaying “tropical night” sound, glides along
4. 6:33 – warm and catchy; 3 trombones weave thru multiple rhythmic phases
5. 7:02 – sweet & lazy Ellington ballad: muted trombone chews it like taffy
6. 5:50 – the cha-cha-cha beat takes it easy, but trombone goes to town
7. 6:09 – tripping rhythm: 3 trombone solos each cast a different light on it
8. 4:54 – happy sound, bright with a chugging groove, perky piano & drums
9. 6:06 – deep intro, intriguing groove painted in dusky tones; strong trombone
[ Fo ] 10/10/09
Recent airplay
Solid
Jump, Jive, & Jazz — Sep 16, 2014
Bien Bien!
Jazz Iz and Den Som — Sep 30, 2012
Building Bridges, Freedom Jazz Dance (Baile De Libertad)
Friday Jazz Hour — Jul 30, 2010
Going Up!
Music Casserole — Dec 05, 2009
Solid
No Cover, No Minimum — Dec 04, 2009
Freedom Jazz Dance (Baile De Libertad)
No Cover, No Minimum, No Shoving! — Nov 27, 2009
Charting
2009-10-11 — 2009-12-13
Jazz
| Week Ending | Airplays |
|---|---|
| Dec 6 | 2 |
| Nov 29 | 2 |
| Nov 22 | 3 |
| Nov 15 | 2 |
| Nov 8 | 1 |
| Nov 1 | 1 |
| Oct 25 | 2 |
| Oct 18 | 4 |
Track listing
| 1. | Bien Bien! | ||
| 2. | Freedom Jazz Dance (Baile De Libertad) | ||
| 3. | Mojito Cafe | ||
| 4. | Building Bridges | ||
| 5. | In A Sentimental Mood | ||
| 6. | Playa Negra | ||
| 7. | Going Up! | ||
| 8. | Solid | ||
| 9. | Africa |