Record labels historically intertwine with their local music scenes, bringing the best local talent to a larger world stage. Motown employed Detroit’s top jazz musicians to support their artists. Over the course of time, this group of studio musicians became known as The Funk Brothers and changed the shape of modern popular music. Fania Records consistently brought New York’s top Latin musicians into the studio, creating different mixtures of musicians. They resultantly charged the salsa revolution, bringing Latin dance music into popular culture. Stax Records took a small number of musicians from the local scene and provided an alternative to Motown. The resultant Memphis Soul sound tapped into the same popular market, but stood apart through its specific defining characteristics. Many examples exist of the partnership between influential labels and local music scenes – the unique characteristics of local musicians develop an identifiable personality.
Wayne Wallace’s Patois Records holds a musical vision perfectly complimented by the San Francisco Bay Area’s active music scene. The label strives to promote jazz that stretches a listener’s pre-conceived notions and spotlights the importance of fresh improvisational voices. The Latin Jazz settings found on the Patois recordings certainly meet these goals; they provide a sense of authenticity to Cuban and Brazilian styles while integrating influences from multiple world cultures. Wallace’s years of experience in top Bay Area Latin groups such as the Machete Ensemble, Conjunto Cespedes, and the Pete Escovedo Orchestra has built strong relationships with musicians that share this vision. Pianist Murray Low, flautist John Calloway, percussionist Michael Spiro, drummer Paul van Wageningen, and bassist David Belove are just a small group of musicians that regularly contribute to Patois recordings. The label’s ambitious vision combined with the unified experience of their musicians brings a distinguishable sound and flavor to their work.
Patois Records currently maintains a small artist rooster, all centered around Latin Jazz with a world flavor. Wallace distributes his own recordings through the label, including two releases from 2007, The Reckless Search for Beauty and Dedication
. His strong skills as a trombonist are only rivaled by his extraordinary voice as a composer and arranger; his recordings are always brimming with musicality, life, and inventive approaches. Vocalist Kat Parra released Birds in Flight
on Patios Records in 2007 and her follow-up album, Azucar de Amor, will be available in March. Parra’s repertoire includes jazz standards and original compositions in Cuban, Brazilian, and Peruvian styles; she expands her reach with explorations of Sephardic song from Spain. Vocalist Alexa Weber Morales began her career as a Patois artist in 2007 with her high quality album Vagabundeo/Wanderings
. Morales balances a powerful vocal personality with strong songwriting skills and a pop sensibility. All three musicians bring finely shaped artistic visions into Patois Record’s creative atmosphere, fronting the label with personality and style.
The combination of a strong roster, a defined vision, and a powerful supporting cast leaves Patois Records with a bright future. Every album consistently prioritizes quality and invention. The settings change regularly – a high-energy salsa song may precede a Middle Eastern take on a jazz standard – but the musicians always provide inspired and professional performances. Despite the challenging mix of musical approaches, the local musicians that support the recordings shine with a distinctive sound. They serve as the foundation that allows the Patois artists to rise from musicians with ideas into important artists with meaningful statements. With several years of recordings ahead, Patois Records holds the possibility to serve as a landmark label that documents the Bay Area Latin sound for future generations.
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This weekend, all three Patois Records artists will be featured in a showcase event at The Improv in San Jose, California. Wayne Wallace, Kat Parra, and Alexa Weber Morales will be performing material from their past recordings as well as previewing new material. They will be supported by some of the Bay Area’s finest musicians – Murray Low on piano, Masaru Koga on woodwinds, David Belove on bass, Paul van Wageningen on drums, Michael Spiro on percussion, and David Chaidez on vocals. This should be an exciting afternoon of music – if you’re in the South Bay Area this Sunday, don’t miss it!
Patois Records Showcase
Sunday 3/2/08
WHERE: The Improv
62 S. Second Street
San Jose, CA
TIME: 3:00 p.m.
TICKETS: $20
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