Bennie Wallace

Bennie Wallace (born November 18, 1946) is an American post bop, swing music and jazz tenor saxophonist and composer born in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Biography

He began playing in local clubs with the encouragement of East Ridge, Tennessee High School band director and drummer Chet Hedgecoth and professional reed player Billy Usselton, who appeared as a guest at a stage band festival and heard Wallace with the East Ridge High School Swing Band. After studying clarinet at the University of Tennessee, Wallace settled in New York in 1971 with the encouragement of Monty Alexander, who hired him and recommended him to the American Federation of Musicians local, which virtually guaranteed his entry. Wallace played with Barry Harris, Buddy Rich, Dannie Richmond. His debut recording was done with Flip Phillips and Scott Hamilton in 1977.^[1] He has cited Sonny Rollins and Coleman Hawkins among many major saxophone influences. He recorded on the revived Blue Note label in 1985; the original label provided much of the key music of his formative years, and the eclectic cast on the album Twilight Time reflects the mix of musical styles he encountered in the local club scene of Chattanooga, such as the Blue Room, the AmVets Club and Katie's Four O'Clock Club. Country & western, western swing, and rock & roll all required familiarity with key signatures and repertoire favored by "pickers" (guitarists). Wallace toured and recorded with trombonist Ray Anderson (musician), whose technical skills allowed both musicians to explore a broad repertoire not always associated with jazz music. He has provided original music for Ron Shelton's films Blaze and White Men Can't Jump.

Discography

As leader

• 1978: The Fourteen Bar Blues (Enja) with Eddie Gómez, Eddie Moore
• 1978: Live at the Public Theater (Enja) with Eddie Gomez and Dannie Richmond^[2]
• 1980: The Free Will (Enja) with Tommy Flanagan, Dannie Richmond
• 1981: Bennie Wallace Plays Monk (Enja) with Jimmy Knepper, Eddie Gomez, Dannie Richmond
• 1981: The Bennie Wallace Trio and Chick Corea: Mystic Bridge (Enja) with Eddie Gomez and Dannie Richmond
• 1982: Big Jim's Tango (Enja) with Dave Holland, Elvin Jones
• 1984: Sweeping Through the City (Enja) with John Scofield, Ray Anderson, Mike Richmond, Dennis Irvin, Tom Whaley
• 1985: Twilight Time (Blue Note) with Ray Anderson, Dr. John, Jack DeJohnette, Bob Cranshaw, Eddie Gomez, Stevie Ray Vaughan, John Scofield, Chris Parker
• 1986: Brilliant Corners (Denon) with Yosuke Yamashita, Jay Anderson, Jeff Hershfield
• 1987: The Art of the Saxophone (Denon) with Oliver Lake, Jerry Bergonzi, Lew Tabackin, Harold Ashby, John Scofield, Eddie Gomez, Dannie Richmond
• 1987: Bordertown (Blue Note) with Ray Anderson, Dr. John, Eddie Gomez, John Scofield, Herlin Riley, Jay Anderson a.o.
• 1992: White Men Can't Jump original soundtrack (EMI) with Aretha Franklin
• 1993: The Old Songs (Sledgehammer Blues^[3]) with Lou Levy, Bill Huntington, Alvin Queen
• 1993: The Talk of the Town (Enja) with Jerry Hahn, Bill Huntington, Alvin Queen
• 1998: Someone to Watch over Me (Enja) with Mulgrew Miller, Peter Washington, Yoron Israel
• 1998: Bennie Wallace (Beyond the Bluebird) (Sledgehammer Blues^[4]) with Tommy Flanagan, Eddie Gomez, Alvin Queen
• 1999: In Berlin with George Cables, Peter Washington, Herlin Riley
• 2001: Moodsville with Mulgrew Miller, Peter Washington, Lewis Nash
• 2003: Nearness of You (Enja) with Kenny Barron, Eddie Gomez
• 2004: Disorder at the Border – Live at Jazzfest Berlin (Enja) Octet with Jay Anderson, Jesse Davis, Terell Strafford, Brad Leali, Adam Schroeder, Donald Vega, Donton Boller, Alvin Queen

As sideman

• 1978: Franco Ambrosetti: Close Encounter (Enja) with George Gruntz, Mike Richmond, Bob Moses (musician)
• 1978: The George Gruntz Concert Jazz Band (MPS) also part of: George Gruntz' The MPS Years (1971-80)
• 1987: Mose Allison: Ever Since the World Ended (Blue Note, 1987)
• 1999: Eric Watson: Full Metal Quartet (Owl, 1999-2000)

References