Wayne Wallace and his dynamic Latin jazz ensemble Rhythm & Rhyme are a unique blend of percussion, strings, voices, and horns that exude excitement and passion over a wide variety of styles. There is no stopping this first-call trombonist, arranger, producer, and composer whose fluency in many musical languages has brought him to work with a staggering number of luminaries from across the musical spectrum, including Count Basie, Ray Charles, Joe Henderson, Tito Puente, Carlos Santana, Lionel Hampton; Earth, Wind & Fire; Sonny Rollins, Pearl Bailey, Aretha Franklin, Lena Horne, Pete Escovedo, McCoy Tyner, Stevie Wonder, Celine Dion, John Lee Hooker, and cellist Joan Jeanrenaud of the Kronos String Quartet. Wallace was recently hailed again in two categories of DownBeat magazine's Critics' Polls, both for his virtuosity as a trombonist and producer -- recognition that is quickly getting the word out about this San Francisco-born talent. Following hot on the heels of Rhythm & Rhyme's critically acclaimed CD, The Reckless Search for Beauty, Wallace's 2008 release The Nature of the Beat spent two weeks at #1 on Jazz Week's "World Top 50 Chart." The musically multi-lingual trombonist then returned with a recording entitled Infinity with his Latin Jazz Quintet that was met with similar critical and chart success. Wayne Wallace His recording, ¡Bien Bien!, is Wallace's fifth production on his label, Patois Records. Sparkling with the same signature energy that infuses all his work, Wallace's masterful compositions and arrangements always give the all-star cast he surrounds himself with a chance to cook. His performances offer a fascinating collection of originals, standards and Latin classics that explore the intersection of many threads of music from all ends of the globe. Wayne Wallace and Rhythm & Rhyme's enduring love of Afro-Cuban music and jazz will no doubt bring joy to your hearts and the unmistakable urge to dance to your feet. Among his many credits as composer and dozens of recordings both as a leader and sideman, Wallace has received numerous grants, including ones from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Zellerbach Foundation. He was given the 1993 Bay Area Theater Critics' Award for "Best Original Score in a Drama" for the musical Pecong, co-composed and arranged the music for the 1991 Theater Works world premiere of the musical Go Down Garvey, and had his music included in the 1997 hit movie Selena, in addition to various television programs. As one of the most prominent educators in the country, Wallace has taught Afro-Cuban music workshops worldwide, including West Germany and in Havana, Cuba at the National School of the Arts. He has taught performance and history courses at San Francisco and San Jose State Universities, Stanford University, Antioch College, among others. He is also a clinician in the Monterey Jazz Festival's Latin Jazz Program, performing and conducting workshops in middle schools and high schools throughout the Salinas Valley area. "His music sounds like ice-cold sparkling wine bubbling in our summer-hot New Year's Eve." - J.C. Celmer, Rádio Universidade FM - Rio Grande, Brazil "No matter what or where he plays, Wallace brings not just musicianship but also that rare quality of music as the means to uplift listeners' spirits to a higher level." - Larry Kelp, East Bay Express