YOU CALL THIS A LIVING: WAG RECORDS
This is Wayne's first solo CD, not his first recording by a long chalk and certainly not his first appearance in a quality big band. To quote Arturo Sandoval in his contribution to the notes " you make us look good". What he means is, that with Wayne in your band you are a long way to sounding exceptional. This is why this most talented musician is persona grata in some of the best bands around. Few recordings from the Coast take the chance of missing him out. My own first experience of his work was within the bands of Bob Florence and George Graham.
The CD has nine tracks, one nonet, two tentets and the rest big band. The arrangers are Tom Kubis, Gordon Goodwin, Bill Liston and Nick Lane. The personnel includes Pete Christleib, Andy Martin, Tom Kubis, Eric Marienthal and Peter Erskine.
Although you are bound to be impressed by this lineup, the stellar performance by Wayne Bergeron is the clincher. His soloing is a joyful mix of lyricism and fire making full use of the natural range of the instrument. Where you start to take notice on another level, is when he reaches for impossibly high notes. This is perfection, his sound is pure, his accuracy is 100%. Best of all is the total absence of straining and stretching and hoping. This is not machismo, the transition between the normal and the extreme is seamless, the sound is big, strong and apparently effortless. If you see him in performance, that is the way it seems too. What a gifted musician! The constant straining for high notes with less than perfect results may appeal to some but I am sure that once you experience the Bergeron sound your ears will seek that quality forever more.
The music by the way, will in any case appeal to those who have enjoyed the work of Tom Kubis and anyone of the quality small big bands about, straight ahead jazz to the fore, another reason to enjoy! I will have copies in the UK soon.