Reviewed: 2019-08-11
Genre: Jazz
FCCs: none
Review: Trombonist Wallace’s latest release features a dazzling set of new compositions and classic jazz standards (and even one impressive mashup) on which Wallace uses the expanded sonic palette of an orchestra to highlight the strengths of his core conjunto. Undergirding it all is an effortlessly instructive survey of Latin rhythms, from the familiar to the arcane,
If You Like: Arturo O’Farrill, Luis Bonilla, Willie Colon
Track Review (favorites denoted by *):
***1/ Vamanos Pa’I Monte (6:56) – drums/percussion start> uptempo jam> piano solo> trombone solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
*2/ Take 5 (5:38) – percussion starts> uptempo jam> sax solo> trombone solo mixed with chanting> uptempo jam> jam with chanting to fade
3/ All The Things You Are (6:18) – strings start> midtempo jam> trombone solo> midtempo jam slows briefly, then swings back up> uptempo jam> slow fade
4/ So Softly (7:54) – cymbals start> drum solo> midtempo jam> piano solo> uptempo jam> slow fade
*5/ The Rhythm Of Invention (8:42) – percussion starts with male rap poem> uptempo jam> trombone solo> uptempo jam with rap poem over the top> wild trombone solo> crescendo> uptempo jam> fade
6/ In A Mist (4:52) – piano starts> midtempo jam> trombone solo> midtempo jam with strings> piano solo> trombone solo> midtempo jam> quick fade
*7/ El Arroyo (5:26) – drums/horns start> midtempo jam> trombone solo> midtempo jam> piano solo> midtempo jam> quick stop> pause> midtempo jam> quick stop
**8/ Se Me Cayo El Veinte (6:02) – horns start hesitatingly> uptempo jam> trombone solo> percussion solo> uptempo jam> percussion solo> uptempo jam> quick stop
9/ Atardecer Matancero (5:19) – horns start> slow jam>so piano solo swings uptempo> uptempo jam> fade
***10/ Mi Descarga (4:36) – drums start> uptempo rocking jam> trombone solo> piano solo>bass solo> uptempo jam with chorus singing> percussion solo> uptempo jam> crescendo end