Way Out Wess
I had the drive of a lifetime a couple of days ago with non other than Frank Wess. I always get excited when I have an excuse to go to Seattle. It means I get a chance to check out Tower Records, Buds Jazz Records and The Elliot Bay Book Store. I escaped with only minor scars as I purchased Bird and Diz, Live @ Townhall, 1945. What a find!! Gavin Walker turned me onto this and its a must have for any serious jazz fan. The sound starts off a little weak but as the set progresses so does the sound. Bird is in fine form and you get to hear a great solo by tenor man, Don Byas who was asked to show up becuase they didn't know if Bird would show up. He did and he played his ass off especially on Gillesipie's HOT HOUSE, I also picked up a great Jeff Tain Watts cd called 'Detained' Live At The Blue note which features some great playing by him as well as tenor saxist Marcus Strickland and alto saxophonist Kenny Garrett. Pianist Dave Kikoski sounds wonderful as well. I also got a brand new CD from trumpeter Brian Lynch called Con Clave featuring his latin band. I was lucky enough to sit in on the session in Brooklyn last year and was eagerly awaiting its release. In my humble opinion it is Lynch's best cd yet!!
Okay, the drive. Frank is a wonderful man and at 83 years old its safe to say he has pretty much seen it all. He told me that he had heard that Linton Garner passed on and that he played with Linton in Billy Eckstine's band in 1946. He then went on to tell all kinds of amazing stories about all the people that played in that band; Bird, Diz, Gene Ammons, Miles, Fats Navarro, Dexter Gordon. Many of the players came from Earl Hines' band that folded.
Wess had all kinds of great stories to tell, I only wish I had a tape recorder!! He played so beautifully last night. A beautiful rendition of 'My Funny Valentine' which I'm listening to right now (he let me record the nights) and he ripped through 'Just One Of Those Things' and 'Lester Leaps In' on tenor. YOu would expect an 83 year old man to lose a step or to but thats not the case with Frank. He tore it up at every turn.
I can't wait for tonight.
Okay, the drive. Frank is a wonderful man and at 83 years old its safe to say he has pretty much seen it all. He told me that he had heard that Linton Garner passed on and that he played with Linton in Billy Eckstine's band in 1946. He then went on to tell all kinds of amazing stories about all the people that played in that band; Bird, Diz, Gene Ammons, Miles, Fats Navarro, Dexter Gordon. Many of the players came from Earl Hines' band that folded.
Wess had all kinds of great stories to tell, I only wish I had a tape recorder!! He played so beautifully last night. A beautiful rendition of 'My Funny Valentine' which I'm listening to right now (he let me record the nights) and he ripped through 'Just One Of Those Things' and 'Lester Leaps In' on tenor. YOu would expect an 83 year old man to lose a step or to but thats not the case with Frank. He tore it up at every turn.
I can't wait for tonight.
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