Garrett Wheeler, Metro Silicon Valley January 2-8, 2008
AVAILABLE AT FINE ONLINE RETAILERS SUCH AS AMAZON.
CLICK HERE.
Drummer Wally Schnalle applies his facile jazz-rock chops to slamming funk-fusion fare like “Everybody’s Got One,” “Betty Jo B” and the title track. The dynamic, tempo-shifting “Traffic Update” is a nod to Weather Report while the quirky “Gimme a Break (Everybody Does)” simultaneously showcases Schnalle’s second-line groove and his swing factor. This tight quintet includes powerhouse saxophonist Charles Mcneal and accomplished guitarist Jeff Massanari. Fans of Mike Clark and Dave Weckl will dig this.
| Allmusic.com Review | by Alex Henderson |
| An Article from the Seattle Times 2/20/09 | by Andy Gilbert |
Get ready for some in-your-face jazz
Wally Schnalle isn't the kind of drummer who makes apologies for his
instrument.
A hard-hitting player whose music flows from the seminal jazz/rock fusion of the early 1970s, the San Francisco Bay Area-based drummer delivers something of a manifesto with his latest album "Louder Than Your TV" (Retlaw Records).
A bracing, polyrhythmic session featuring some of the Bay Area's finest improvisers, the CD is intended to grab audiences by the ears and compel attention. Schnalle makes his Seattle debut on Saturday at Egan's Ballard Jam House and plays Bellingham's American Museum of Radio and Electricity on Sunday as part of the Jazz Project concert series.
"TVs and video screens take up so much of our life, something has to get in our face to get our attention," says Schnalle, whose surname rhymes with his first name. "One goal is to use time signatures almost like chord changes.
This is a groove project, but I keep a jazz mentality, and turn every gig into an adventure."
While fusion fell out of fashion in the early 1980s, Schnalle came of age when trap set masters like Billy Cobham, Jack DeJohnette and Tony Williams played a central role in expanding jazz's rhythmic palette. "Those players pursued multiple directions," Schnalle says. "Originally fusion was about fusing all these different forms, rather than the bombastic approach that some people think it became in the 1980s."
Schnalle's quintet reflects his far-ranging musical interests. Murray Low is one of the West Coast's most sought after Latin jazz pianists (he performed in Seattle with singer Kat Parra last month at Bake's Place). Electric bassist Jason Muscat is an expert at unusual time signatures, and guitarist Jeff Massanari is a scorching player equally versed in blues and bebop. The band's secret weapon is saxophonist Charles McNeal, a supremely versatile player who's been on the road recently with James Brown's former hornmen Fred Wesley and Pee Wee Ellis, holding down the chair famously filled by Maceo Parker. "Charles is such an exciting, soulful soloist," Schnalle says. "He's got a huge sound that reminds me of Arthur Blythe. And Jeff is a great straight-ahead player. We both graduated high school in 1975, and we shared the same set of musical interests from an early age. He can play bebop and Mahavishu tunes."
When he's not playing drums, Schnalle can often be found transcribing solos by players like Max Roach, Mitch Mitchell, Joe Morello and Billy Cobham as a contributor to the magazine Traps and music editor of the magazine Drum!
He's also a dedicated educator who's using his first tour through the Pacific Northwest as an opportunity to offer some clinics. Jud Sherwood, the veteran drummer who founded and books the Jazz Project, doesn't play much fusion himself, but he hooked up several of his students with Schnalle for lessons before Sunday's gig.
"Part of my programming goal is to present a very eclectic mix," Sherwood says. "What's important is that they're great players. I'm not that concerned about what style people are playing."
Other Wally Schnalle Releases
Click to purchase @ Amazon, or Click Here for itunes .
Observations By Wise And Powerful People
"Lightning fast licks, sleight-of-hand stickwork or pummeling power displays--Wally Schnalle is capable of doing all those things and more. What sets him apart from the pack, however, is his unerring musicality, his ability to make his drums speak in multiple tongues--fluently. Most importantly, he is committed to musical growth." Nicky Baxter, The Metro, San Jose California
"Schnalle grooves with grit and grace…..Schnalle's quartet is awesome." Chuck Berg ,JazzTimes
"Fierce modern jazz chops.."Adam Budofsky , Modern Drummer
"Schnalle is a serious force on drums. He plays with terrific energy and the kind of controlled abandon needed to propel his hard-driving compositions." Joel Roberts, AllAboutJazz.com
"Schnalle’s playing is powerfully fluid throughout, while at the same time he provides a gritty focus that grounds some of the spacier electronic moments." Stephan Latessa, AllAboutJazz.com
"One of the few drummers that can drive around all sides of the beat." The Davis Enterprise, Davis, California
"Schnalle is a powerful drummer who can get in tight behind a soloist and enhance without getting in the way." Robert Tate, JazzNow
"this is major league jazz played with verve, dedication and a whole lot of talent." Dick Bogle, The Skanner, Seattle/Portland
"A solid bet for contemporary jazzbos that need a fresh new kick." Midwest Record Recap
"That Place is a stylistically diverse work that takes the listeners far beyond post-bop on 11 original compositions that mark another major step in the evolution of an artist." JazzWest.com
"Sultry and seductive, these percussion based tunes are sly and tricky." Babysue, Atlanta
"There's a palpable chemistry between the musicians in these sessions that makes for a remarkable listening experience." Wayne Saroyan, The Oakland Tribune
Endorsements
