Tuesday, September 26, 2017

Frank Wess - Seven Classic Albums II.

Monday Stroll:
Although the original LP was reissued under guitarist Kenny Burrell's name, it was originally led by Frank Wess, who is heard doubling on flute and tenor. With the assistance of Burrell, rhythm guitarist Freddie Green, bassist Eddie Jones and either Kenny Clarke or Gus Johnson on drums, Wess is in excellent form on a set very reminiscent (not too surprisingly considering the personnel) of the Count Basie band. Wess contributed four of the songs, Burrell brought in "Southern Exposure" and the quintet also plays "Over the Rainbow" and the obscure "Woolafunt's Lament." This is a fine straightahead date, with Wess's flute taking solo honors. - by Scott Yanow, AMG

Just as Kenny Burrell began his highly prolific career recording for Blue Note and the Prestige label in 1957, he managed to put out this successful and basic model of light, gentle swinging as he teamed up with multi reeds virtuoso Frank Wess to create this special, breezy stroke of camaraderie. What would become his only solo album for the Savoy label, Monday Stroll would highly showcase a nice blend of flute and guitar artistry backed with a rhythm section providing the chirpy support that made it a refreshing success as the quintet play with fluidity where Wess doubles on flute and the occasional tenor saxophone while master drummer Kenny Clarke and a local Detroit bassist gradually sits in rather well in unique style. Featuring mostly great original compositions penned by Wess and Burrell, the music gets off on a straight “up” tone on the title track as it proceeds with merriment on other extended numbers like Wess’ relaxed ballad East Wind, West Side, Southern Exposure, the standard classic Over The Rainbow, as well as the final track Kansas City Style. Although Monday Stroll was released under Burrell’s name, it was headed by Wess for whom he got equal billing—he would even play tenor saxophone on Woolafunt’s Holiday, where Burrell demonstrates the mutually intuitive responsiveness that he and Wess had). Also added to the chemistry are guitarist Freddie Green on rhythm guitar and fellow session drummer is featured on two tracks, as this band bring us the mellow magic that made an instant success, which will maintain it’s high point with unforgettable results. - by RH, Amazon.com

After Hours:
A leaderless sextet jams on four of pianist Mal Waldron's originals. The performances range from eight to 12 minutes apiece. The all-star lineup -- trumpeter Thad Jones, Frank Wess on tenor and flute, guitarist Kenny Burrell, Waldron, bassist Paul Chambers, and drummer Art Taylor -- is in fine form on the straight-ahead material. Bop fans will want to pick this up. - by Scott Yanow, AMG

Artist: Frank Wess
Album: Seven Classic Albums (Disc 2)
Year: 1956-1957 (Savoy Records, Prestige Records)
Label: Real Gone Jazz (Digitally Remastered, 2013)
Runtime: 63:57

Tracks:
Monday Stroll (1957)
1.  Monday Stroll (Frank Wess) 4:22
2.  East Wind (Kenny Burrell) 5:14
3.  Wess Side (Frank Wess) 5:02
4.  Southern Exposure (Kenny Burrell) 6:50
5.  Woolafunts Lament (Frank Wess) 7:06
6.  Over the Rainbow (Harold Arlen / E.Y. "Yip" Harburg) 6:01
7.  Kansas City Life (Frank Wess) 8:31
After Hours (1957)
1.  Steamin' (Mal Waldron) 9:28
2.  Blue Jelly (Mal Waldron) 11:26

Personnel:
Frank Wess (Tenor Saxophone, Alto Saxophone, Flute)
Kenny Burrell (Guitar)
Eddie Jones (Double Bass) - 1-7
Freddie Green (Rhythm Guitar) - 1-7
Gus Johnson (Drums) - 1,5
Kenny Clarke (Drums) - 2-4,6,7
Mal Waldron (Piano) - 8-9
Thad Jones (Trumpet) - 8-9
Paul Chambers (Double Bass) - 8-9
Art Taylor (Drums) - 8-9

Monday, September 11, 2017

Frank Wess - Seven Classic Albums I.

Jazz for Playboys:
This CD reissue has three songs apiece from two similar sessions. One half of the set features Frank Wess (doubling on flute and tenor) accompanied by both Kenny Burrell and Freddy Green on guitars, bassist Eddie Jones and drummer Gus Johnson; the other three titles add trumpeter Joe Newman and have Ed Thigpen in Johnson's place. The music is essentially cool-toned swing/bop very much in a Count Basie vein and is easily recommended to straightahead jazz fans despite the so-so packaging and LP-length playing time.- by Scott Yanow, AMG

Trombones & Flute:
One of my favorite small-group jazz albums of the mid-1950s is Frank Wess's Trombones & Flute. The album, recorded for Savoy in July 1956, paired Wess on flute with four trombonists—Jimmy Cleveland, Henry Coker, Benny Powell and Bill Hughes. They were backed by Ronnell Bright (p), Freddie Green (g), Eddie Jones (b) and Kenny Clarke (d). The swinging, lyrical arrangements were by Frank Foster.At the time, Wess, Foster, Coker, Powell, Hughes, Green and Jones were all members of Count Basie's New Testament band while Ronnell Bright would periodically sub for Basie into the 1980s. In 1956, to hold his band together at the dawn of the 12-inch LP era, Basie let his musicians make extra money recording as leaders during the band's down time. What we hear on this album is Foster setting Wess aloft on flute while unrolling a thick rubbery trombone cushion underneath. In effect, these are Basie arrangements in miniature. Two of the songs are Foster originals—Lo-Fi and You'll Do—while Wanting You and Don't Blame Me are standards, and Crackerjack is by Coker. The creative album was conceived and produced by Ozzie Cadena (above) and recorded at Rudy Van Gelder's studio in Hackensack, N.J., which happened to be his parents' house. Wess was one of the first musicians to play jazz flute, and his sense of swing on the instrument here is intoxicating. The addition of Green was a nice touch, since he not only adds dimensional time-keeping but also a Basie flavor. What's more, we get to hear sensational trombones as a section and as individual soloists.
And Ronnell is flawless as an accompanist and soloist—providing tasteful chords and provocative punctuation. - Jazz.FM

Artist: Frank Wess
Album: Seven Classic Albums (Disc 1)
Year: 1956-1957 (Savoy Records)
Label: Real Gone Jazz (Digitally Remastered, 2013)
Runtime: 67:02

Tracks:
Jazz for Playboys (1957)
1.  Playboy (Ernie Wilkins) 5:27
2.  Miss Blues (Joe Newman) 9:40
3.  Baubles, Bangles and Beads (George Forrest / Robert Wright) 4:16
4.  Low Life (Johnny Mandel) 5:02
5.  Pin Up (Frank Wess) 4:07
6.  Blues For A Playmate (Kenny Burrell) 11:00
Trombones & Flute (1956)
7.  Lo-Fi (Frank Foster) 9:14
8.  Wanting You (Oscar Hammerstein II / Sigmund Romberg) 4:28
9.  Don't Blame Me (Dorothy Fields / Jimmy McHugh) 3:23
10.  Cracker Jack (Henry Coker) 9:59
11.  You'll Do (Frank Foster) 5:23

Personnel:
Frank Wess (Tenor Saxophone, Flute)
Eddie Jones (Double Bass)
Freddie Green (Rhythm Guitar, Guitar)
Kenny Burrell (Guitar) - 1-6
Joe Newman (Trumpet) - 1,2,4
Ed Thigpen (Drums) - 1,2,4
Gus Johnson (Drums) - 3,5,6
Kenny Clarke (Drums) - 7-11
Ronnell Bright (Piano) - 7-11
Benny Powell (Trombone) - 7-11
Bill Hughes (Trombone) - 7-11
Henry Coker (Trombone) - 7-11
Jimmy Cleveland (Trombone) - 7-11

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