Jack Waller Quartet Loves To Wail

Great jazz grows in unexpected places.

New York is still the center of the jazz universe, but as Gene Harris has proven, even Boise can be a home base for a first-class jazz career.

Now, out of Montana, comes the Jack Waller Quartet, featuring Chuck Florence on tenor sax. The quartet will play Hobart’s Friday and Saturday.

Waller, who lives in Bigfork, has been on the scene for 30 years, long enough to back such greats as Buddy DeFranco, Chet Baker, Milt Jackson, Herb Ellis, Joe Henderson and even the late Errol Garner.

His sidekick, the Detroit-born Chuck Florence, is younger but no less credentialed. His CD “Home on the Range,” featuring pianist Jaki Byard, was a surprise hit in 1994, making the Gavin Report’s list of most-played jazz records.

In addition to a full-time post in the Big Sky Mudflaps, Florence has played with Joe Williams, James Moody, Larry Coryell and Buddy DeFranco.

On the threshold of a burgeoning career a few years back, Florence did an about-face and abandoned Detroit for the Flathead Indian Reservation, where he became a teacher.

Now he lives just north of St. Ignatius.

“Has Florence found something special living on an Indian reservation?” asked one writer.

Geography aside, this group comes to play. Neither Waller nor Florence - nor their bandmates - are known as shrinking violets.

They swing hard and play hard. “Chuck Florence is not afraid to wail,” said Down Beat.

Joining Waller and Florence are bassist Clipper Anderson, who played behind Florence on “Home on the Range,” and pianist Jim Templeton.

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MEMO: This sidebar appeared with the story: The Jack Waller Quartet featuring Chuck Florence will perform from 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. on Friday and Saturday at Hobart’s Jazz Lounge, 110 E. Fourth. Admission is $4 ($3 for student with ID), available only at the door.