Bennie Wallace is unlike any tenor saxophonist, often alternating between a soulful, fat tone (which is very similar to
Ben Webster's approach) and sudden unpredictable jumps (no doubt inspired by alto saxophonist
Eric Dolphy). Joined by an outstanding rhythm section consisting of pianist
Mulgrew Miller, bassist Peter Washington, and drummer
Lewis Nash,
Wallace explores favorites from the swing and bop eras, with his bandmates providing a solid anchor underneath his flights. Two gems from the pen of
Billy Strayhorn, the rhapsodic "My Little Brown Book" and the fragile ballad "A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing," stand in a class by themselves with
Wallace's fresh interpretations. Both theLatin-flavored arrangement of "Love for Sale" and
Dizzy Gillespie's "Con Alma" pack a powerful punch, while "Milestones" (the earlier one which
Miles Davis recorded for Savoy, though it was actually composed by John Lewis) takes a far more adventurous route than typically heard. This excellent session demonstrates a mature artist with a very distinct sound, which should be the ultimate goal of every jazz musician. One minor shortcoming of this release is the label's puzzling failure to list either the songs or the supporting musicians on the outside of the package. This highly recommended CD is one of
Bennie Wallace's best sessions of his long, very fruitful career. ~ Ken Dryden