Home » Jazz Musicians » Frank Wess
Frank Wess
Frank Wess (born January 4, 1922 in Kansas City) is an American jazz musician, who has played saxophone (both alto and tenor) and flute.
He began with classical music and played in Oklahoma. He later switched to jazz on moving to Washington, D. C. and by nineteen was working in the Big Bands. His career would be interrupted during World War II although he did play with a military band in the period. On returning from service he joined Billy Eckstine's orchestra.
He returned to DC a few years after this and received a degree in flute at the city's Modern School Of Music. From 1953 he joined Count Basie's band, playing flute and tenor sax. He reverted to alto sax in the late '50s, and left Basie's band in 1964. From 1959 to 1964 he won Down Beat's critic poll for flute. Since then he has done a variety of TV shows and telethons. He was a member of Clark Terry's big band from 1967 into the '70s and played in the New York Quartet (with Roland Hanna). In the '80s and '90s, he worked with Kenny Barron, Rufus Reid, Buck Clayton, Benny Carter, Billy Taylor, Harry Edison, Mel Tormé, Ernestine Anderson, Louie Bellson, John Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, Dick Hyman, Byron Stripling, Jane Jarvis, Frank Vignola and was a featured member of the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra.
In 2007 Wess was named an NEA Jazz Master by the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts.
Tags
Frank Wess: Magic 201
by Maurizio Zerbo
Maestro riconosciuto dell'arrangiamento per big band jazz, Frank Wess si distingueva altresì per le linee morbide e sinuose del suo sax tenore. In questa veste lo ritroviamo protagonista di questo CD, registrato due anni prima della sua scomparsa. Lo affianca un notevole quintetto che con classe e discrezione ripercorre un ammaliante filo della memoria, intriso di gioioso swing. L'eloquio di Wess quando rilegge le ballad con inimitabile tono colloquiale ritrova i palpiti della grande stagione del jazz. ...
Continue ReadingFrank Wess: Magic 201
by Jack Bowers
The cover of the late Frank Wess' final album, Magic 201, closely resembles that of its predecessor, Magic 101--so much so that a reviewer who didn't look closely enough might assume he'd been sent a second copy of the earlier album by mistake. (Oops!) Wess recorded Magic 201 in September 2011, two months after Magic 101 and less than four months before his ninetieth birthday. The format is roughly the same--emphasis on ballads and medium-tempo blues, Wess relying heavily on ...
Continue ReadingFrank Wess: Magic 201
by C. Michael Bailey
IPO Records has become the jazz destination for seasoned jazz veterans. Saxophonist James Moody (1925--2010) recorded his last two releases for the label: Moody 4A (2009) and Moody 4B (2010). Hard on Moody's heels is saxophonist Frank Wess (1922- -2013) who followed his Magic 101 (2013) with the predictable titled Magic 201. Pianist Kenny Barron and drummer Winard Harper hold over from the previous recording, augmented by bassist Rufus Reid and guitarist Russell Malone. Six standards and ...
Continue ReadingFrank Wess: Magic 201
by Karl Ackermann
Despite a career that spanned more than half of a century, Frank Wess was not a household name. The flautist/saxophonist spent the 1950s and 60s playing with some of the best known big bands in the U.S. including those of Billy Eckstine, Count Basie and Clark Terry. During that period he was primarily recognized as a flute virtuoso though he played both alto and tenor saxophone at that time as well. Wess shifted his attention more toward the saxophone later ...
Continue ReadingFrank Wess: Magic 201
by Dan Bilawsky
What a wonderful coda on an incredible life and career. Saxophonist/Flautist Frank Wess' final recordings--the critically acclaimed Magic 101 (IPO, 2013) and this follow-up, recorded two months after that album--speak to his brilliance and clarity as a melody maker and improviser. His wisdom and elegance come through in every note on both recordings. The titles of both albums rightly mark them as companion pieces and close relatives, so here's how they stack up side-by-side: Both albums favor ...
Continue ReadingFrank Wess: Magic 201
by Dan McClenaghan
Saxophonist Frank Wess was born in 1922. He played in Billy Ecstine's orchestra, after World War II interrupted his burgeoning career, and he played in Count Basie's band from 1953 to 1964. With those early experiences on his resume, the fact that he was a traditionalist in the mode of saxophonists Ben Webster, of Duke Ellington Orchestra fame, and Coleman Hawkins and Lester Young should come as no surprise. Following up his Magic 101 (IPO Recording, 2013), Wess, ...
Continue ReadingFrank Wess: Magic 101
by Hrayr Attarian
In 2007, saxophonist and flutist Frank Wess was named NEA Jazz Master, and Magic 101 amply demonstrates why. This mellow session covers six standards and a Wess original, with a candid and unadorned style that is nevertheless powerful in its apparent simplicity.Like a wise raconteur, the 89 year-old (at the time of the recording) icon embellishes the melodies with wit and erudition. His cool, big-toned tenor weaves flowing lines in muted color around the rhythm section's languid beats ...
Continue ReadingBackgrounder: Frank Wess's 'Trombones & Flute'
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Frank Wess was a powerhouse big-band tenor saxophonist and flutist and a lyrical player in small groups, especially those he led. One of my favorite ensemble albums by Wess is Trombones & Flute, which he recorded for Savoy in July 1956. The personnel featured a chunk of Count Basie's band, for which Wess played at the time. The lineup included Jimmy Cleveland, Henry Coker, Benny Powell and Bill Hughes (tb), Frank Wess (fl), Ronnell Bright (p), Freddie Green (g), Eddie ...
read more
Frank Wess + Kenny Burrell
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Some of the hippest small-group albums recorded in the mid-1950s were those by Frank Wess for Savoy. These include Flutes and Reeds (1955), Opus de Jazz (1955) led by Milt Jackson, North South East Wess (1956), Trombones & Flutes (1956), No Count led by Frank Foster, Jazz for Playboys (1957), Flute Suite and Jazz Is Busting Out All Over led by A.K. Salim, and Opus De Blues (1959). One of my favorites is Opus in Swing. Recorded in June 1956, ...
read more
From 'Rambo' to 'Lo-Fi'
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
In July 1956, Frank Wess recorded Trombones & Flute, a gorgeous album for Savoy featuring his swinging flute backed by four punchy trombones and a sterling rhythm section arranged by Frank Foster. I recently posted about the album here. One of the album's highlights is Lo-Fi, which is credited to Foster. But as reader Nate Larson points out, the song's main melody line appears to be a clone of Rambo, which was written by J.J. Johnson (above) and Count Basie ...
read more
Frank Wess: Trombones & Flute
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
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 gorgeous arrangements were by Frank Foster. At the time, Wess, Foster, Coker, Powell, Hughes, Green and Jones were all members of Count Basie's ...
read more
Frank Wess, 91, Saxophonist and Flutist With the Basie Band, Dies
Source:
Michael Ricci
Frank Wess, who helped popularize the flute as a jazz instrument in the 1950s and ’60s with the Count Basie Orchestra, where he was also a standout saxophone soloist, died on Wednesday in Manhattan. He was 91. The cause was a heart attack related to kidney failure, said his longtime companion, Sara Tsutsumi. Mr. Wess was not the first flutist in jazz. But his tonally rich and technically deft flute solos enjoyed an unusually prominent platform: the front row of ...
read more
Frank Wess dies at 91; key player in major jazz ensembles
Source:
Michael Ricci
Though the saxophonist never became as famous as other musicians of his time, he was a force in making the flute a jazz instrument. Long before jazz pianist Billy Taylor became world-famous, he planned in high school to switch to saxophone. But then he heard the new kid in school—Frank Wess—play the horn. “He's the reason I don't play the tenor saxophone," Taylor said in a 2008 Washington Post interview. “Even in his teens, he was really a remarkable player." ...
read more
Frank Wess, January 4, 1922 - October 30, 2013
Source:
Rifftides by Doug Ramsey
We have confirmation that Frank Wess died today. The flutist and saxophonist succumbed to kidney failure at 91. Wess played with undiminished spirit and creativity that kept him in the forefront of jazz soloists for decades after most of his contemporaries had retired or died. A professional from the age of 19, following service in World War Two Wess joined Billy Eckstine’s big band. After earning a conservatory degree in flute, he became a member of Count Basie’s reed section ...
read more
Frank Wess and Johnny Coles
Source:
JazzWax by Marc Myers
Taste is what separates great jazz musicians from average ones. Those who have taste consistently choose notes, tempos, timbres and voicings that seduce and satisfy attentive listeners. Taste also requires a conscious effort on the part of the artist to make smart decisions about songs. Tenor saxophonist Frank Wess has always had superb taste, and perhaps his most tasteful post-1960, non-Basie recording is Two at the Top (Uptown), with trumpeter Johnny Coles. Fortunately for us this album is back in ...
read more
All Nite Soul at Saint Peter's Church Tonight at 7pm!
Source:
Michael Ricci
From the desk of Fradley Garner Last Reminder: There are a few seats left for this Sunday, October 10, at 7:00 p.m., when over 80 musicians and many more fans meet at Saint Peter's Church, Manhattan, for the 40th annual All Nite Soul. This year's honoree is 88-year-old Frank Wess, an old-school tenor saxophonist and flutist with a forever fresh sound. One of the last Count Basie sidemen of the '50s and '60s, Frank's most recent album, Once is Not ...
read more
NEA Jazz Master, Saxophonist and Flutist Frank Wess to be Honored.
Source:
Two for the Show Media
The Jazz Ministry at Saint Peter's Church announces Frank Wess NEA Jazz Master, Saxophonist and Flutis Honoree at All Night Soul 2010, Sunday, October 10, 2010 at Saint Peter's Church, 619 Lexington (at 54th Street), New York City New York, NY—On this the 40th anniversary of All Nite Soul, the Jazz Ministry of Saint Peter's Church—the Jazz Church—is thrilled to honor National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Jazz Master, saxophonist and flutist Frank Wess. The event begins with Jazz Vespers ...
read more
Haruna Fukazawa
flutePhotos
Music
Similar
Charlie Parker
saxophone, alto
Dave Brubeck
piano
Count Basie
piano
Lester Young
saxophone
Stan Getz
saxophone, tenor
Art Pepper
saxophone, alto
Ben Webster
saxophone, tenor
Zoot Sims
saxophone, tenor
Jimmy Giuffre
clarinet
Tommy Flanagan
piano
Jackie McLean
saxophone, alto
Clark Terry
trumpet
George Shearing
piano
Milt Jackson
vibraphone
James Moody
woodwinds
Bob Brookmeyer
trombone
Frank Wess
Instrument: Saxophone, tenor
Born: January 4, 1922
Died: October 30, 2013
