Calling Dexter

From the highest echelon of musicianship in Montreal, we have a real listening experience. Cameron Wallis cuts a powerful one- pass through this recording, and reminds us what real talent is. Unbroken and uncompromised. - Allan McLean Calling Dexter is Montreal Saxophonist Cameron Wallis' debut quartet recording. Cameron first arrived in Montreal in 1997, directly out of high school from Winnipeg, Manitoba. He earned the degree Master of Music in jazz performance at McGill University, and has gone on to become a highly regarded performer, composer, and arranger on the Canadian and International music scenes. Wallis is perhaps best known for his four year tenure as musical director and arranger for Toronto vocalist Sophie Milman. He wrote all the Milman arrangements and contributed the original Reste (Stay) to her 2007 release Make Someone Happy, which earned a JUNO award for Vocal Jazz Album of the Year. Recently Cameron has become an integral member of the Susie Arioli band, performing and arranging on her latest release All The Way, on Spectra Musique, and continues to perform and record with a wide variety of artists in all genres. A short list of collaborators includes Jean Leloup, Nikki Yanofsky, Marc Hervieux, Vic Vogel, and the Christine Jensen Jazz Orchestra. Cameron has toured the U.S., Canada, Europe, Israel, Russia, Mexico, and Asia, and has performed in some of the worlds most prestigious venues, including Blue Note Jazz Clubs in NYC and Japan, Toronto's Massey Hall, and the legendary Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. As co-founder of the group OneUpOneDown, Cameron has released two critically acclaimed CDs Preface (2005) and Straight to Plan B (2007). In 2010 he formed the wildly popular saxophone showcase band The Chateauguay Tenors which has gathered an international following through film maker Randy Cole's ongoing internet documentary Jazz, Period, and recently finished a sold out invitational concert series in Montreal that included Kind of Blue alumnus Jimmy Cobb and Baritone saxophone virtuoso Gary Smulyan. Calling Dexter is a hard swinging, straight ahead jazz album. The 10 tracks are a mix of 5 originals and 5 timeless standards. The concept for this album was to achieve an authentic sound reminiscent of classic albums by Dexter Gordon, Sonny Rollins, and Sonny Stitt. The arrangements cut straight to the point, and the music is melodic, swinging, and without filler. It was recorded live to tape and editing was avoided to achieve an inspired, honest, and authentic sound. The concert goer who hears this album will know exactly what to expect when they attend a live performance. Personnel Cameron Wallis - Soprano / Alto / Tenor / Baritone / C Melody Saxophones Andre White - Piano Alec Walkington - Bass Dave Laing - Drums.