ROB WAGNER TRIO
Rob Wagner Trio
Valid
VR-1009


I had the pleasure of accompanying my wife on business trip to New Orleans a few weeks ago. I dont know about you all out there in WWW-land, but when I visit another city, I always try to sample the local cuisine and the local music. Since we were there in the middle of the week (and during Tropical Storm Allison, as a matter of fact), there wasnt anything going on, modern jazz-wise, at the local clubs. We missed a performance by the Johnny Vidacovich Trio by one evening, and if we had stayed through the weekend, it would have been a different story entirely. So my only recourse was to hunt down CDs by local jazz artists in the pouring rain.

I bought a few local CDs some by artists who werent directly affiliated with either Galactic or Astral Project (no mean feat, that!) - and though they were for the most part quite good, Rob Wagners debut CD is, frankly, world-class. Wagner is best known for his work with the New Orleans Klezmer Allstars, a group that also features Stanton Moore, the drummer for Galactic. On his debut as a leader, Wagners playing exudes confidence and spirit. He has something of the blustery, seemingly nonchalant mastery of artists such as Booker Ervin, Clifford Jordan, Sonny Rollins, and Yusef Lateef. Though thoroughly modern, Wagner is not afraid to play simply in the manner of Gene Ammons and Arnett Cobb, he just lets the blues flow at times ("Maybe"). He goes outside a little (on "Ten Tin Tom Time," for example), but hes not doing "outside" music per se on this disc. Unlike a lot of young (Wagner is in his early 30s thats young in my book) saxophonists, Wagners balladeering is every bit as strong as his playing on the up-tempo barn-burners. Wagner also plays the soprano and tenor simultaneously. His dual horn work is much more like George Braiths than Rahsaans though here he uses the technique mostly to provide contrast, color, and to emphasize the shape of a composition or solo.

Jim Singleton (who also plays in Astral Project) is a veteran New Orleans bassist who plays as well as anyone in New York City. Wagner gives him plenty of solo space, and he almost steals the show. ODay is similarly skilled never inappropriately busy, he crisply pushes the music along with zest and a keen sense for dynamics (the latter is particularly essential when playing in a sax bass drums trio!). Wagners compositions constitute the entire CD. His tunes are very strong for the most part, and though none of them bowled me over with innovation and originality, I found several of them ("Tricking You," "Maybe," "Ten Tom Tim Time" and "Hawaiian Song," in particular) quite appealing. Hummable, even.

Though you may not have heard much about Rob Wagner or his trio, let me assure you that theyve got more going on than any number of major label jazz artists. The Rob Wagner Trio plays exuberant, undiluted, post bop / pre-free tenor bass drums trio jazz, and this CD is a very strong and very mature debut. Heartily recommended, with or without a fried oyster poboy on the side.

Available through www.validrecords.com, or validrecords@yahoo.com
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--Dave Wayne


Track Listing: 1. Tricking You; 2. All Right; 3. Ten Tin Tom Time; 4. Maybe; 5. At Least Patrice; 6. Groovy Gravy; 7. Alebela; 8. Detrainin; 9. Hawaiian Song


Personnel: Wagner, tenor and soprano saxophones; Jim Singleton, acoustic bass; Kevin ODay, drums