- Vince Wallace (click to listen) Biography
Wallace was born in Port Townsend, WA in 1939.
At 22 months he moved with his mother to California.
After spending a little time in the San Joaquin Valley,
he ended up settling in Oakland.
His earliest recordings were on the Black Jack Wayne
label in 1953. He recorded alongside Screamin Mel
Dorsey and Chuck Wayne and the Heartbeats, as well
asrecording his own original instrumental, “Funky.” He
performed regularly at this time at the Country and
Western halls and go go bars of Niles, California. At this time he was
playing alongside Rose Maddox, Johnny Cash, and the Black Brothers.
As he developed, he became more sought after at all hours jazz joints
where he sat in with Dolphy, Chambers, Mingus, Poindexter, Blakey and
Smiley Winters. Jimbo's Bop City in San Francisco was the best place
around, where every night after 2 a.m. another legend of the jazz would
come through the door.
In 1958 Vince moved to Southern California where he picked up work
with Paul Bley and Marvin Rainwater. He headed a now legendary
Sunday jam session at The Cascades Club in Belmont Shores, from
which came the emergence of Kent Glenn, Mark Proctor, Gene Stone,
and Warren Gale.
In 1966 Vince moved back to the Bay Area where he found work with alto
legend Norman Williams at the Juke Box on Haight St. in San Francisco.
Through 1970 Vince recorded three albums with Little John, a fusion rock
band on Epic records.
After another move back to southern California, Vince experienced some
of his widest recognition. Featured performances a Dante's were often
reviewed favorable by Gerald Wilson, who spoke of the passion in
Vince's playing. This led to an eventual run at the Studio Cafe, and the
release of two of Vince's solo albums on Amp Records.
The 1980's saw Vince back in the Bay Area, where he worked
sporadically until establishing a Sunday night session at Schooner
Tavern in San Francisco. This ran well through most of the 1990's and
led to Vince's San Francisco Bay Guardian Award for Best Jam Session
in 1995.
The new millenium saw a surge in interest in Vince's music. Vince started
working at the Bulldog Coffee Shop in Oakland every Sunday in July,
2001. Here he was reunited with Bishop Norman Williams, Prince Lasha,
Jim Grantham, Steve Heckman, Fred Randolph, Chuck Thomposon,
Chris Amberger, Terry Rodriguez, and John Gilmore to name a few.
Vince began working on his memoirs and started a website, www.
vincewallace.com. He played casual gigs until the Bulldog closed and he
moved over to the Coffee Shop SR-71 in 2004. In May, 2004, he started
a Friday night run at Cafe Van Kleef that has been thrilling packed
houses every Friday sinse. He has appeared on KCSM 91.1 F.M. several
times, taken part in a panel discussion of jazz and the Beats, recorded a
new album with Larry Vuckovich, and reestablished himself as one of the
most sought after saxophonists around. The next few years look very
good for jazz and Vince Wallace, and the thrill of his music will
undoubtably be spread throughout the world via his website www.
vincewallace.com. ~By Jerry Karp -All About Jazz
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Jazz ~
Latin Jazz
Latin Jazz
| 3909 Grand Avenue Oakland CA 94610 (510) 658-2373 Tuesday-Thursday & Sunday 5pm to 10:30 Friday & Saturday 5pm to 12am |
Latin-influenced jazz is characterized by Latin dance rhythms combined with
jazz melodies and chord progressions. Latin influences began to enter
mainstream American popular music inthe 1930's. During the 1950's
and1960's these influences became particularly strong, with Latin dances such
as the mambo, cha-cha-cha, samba, and bossa nova becoming extremely
popular in the United States. Other Latin dances such as the salsa and
merengue continue to be an influence today.
jazz melodies and chord progressions. Latin influences began to enter
mainstream American popular music inthe 1930's. During the 1950's
and1960's these influences became particularly strong, with Latin dances such
as the mambo, cha-cha-cha, samba, and bossa nova becoming extremely
popular in the United States. Other Latin dances such as the salsa and
merengue continue to be an influence today.
Latin music has its own unique sound. Eighth notes
are played straight, not swung as in other style of
jazz, but syncopation is still common. A wide
variety of Latin percussion instruments also flavor
the music. Congas are Afro-Cuban in origin, played
with the palms of the hands and with the fingers.
Bongos are also Afro-Cuban, but are higher-pitched
and thinner in tone quality than congas. Other
common instruments include timbales, claves, and
cowbells
are played straight, not swung as in other style of
jazz, but syncopation is still common. A wide
variety of Latin percussion instruments also flavor
the music. Congas are Afro-Cuban in origin, played
with the palms of the hands and with the fingers.
Bongos are also Afro-Cuban, but are higher-pitched
and thinner in tone quality than congas. Other
common instruments include timbales, claves, and
cowbells
3909 Grand Avenue Oakland CA 94610 (510)658-2373 contact@latazadecafe.com
| Straight ahead & Latin JAZZ |
| SUNDAY, April 20th Twenty three year old, Mexican- American, Napa Valley Trumpeter, Berklee College of Music Alumnus ’06, ROBERT GASTELUM Robert has been writing original music since the age of eleven. He will be performing some of his latest compositions from his album, “Outset,” and some new material as well. Accompanying him in his band is a group of world-class musicians. In 2002, he was chosen as one of thirty-four students from across the nation to be a part of the prestigious Grammy High School Jazz Ensembles Program. www.robertgastelum.com |
| 6pm, Sunday, April 20th a Hybrid of styles; funk ,blues, & Latin Jazz |