ENDEIT
Frank Wess
Photo: Tom Marcello Webster, New York, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Saxophonists · 1922–2013

Frank Wess

American saxophonist, flutist, composer and arranger

Born
4 January 1922
Kansas City
Died
30 October 2013
Manhattan
Country
United States
Active
1932–
Record labels
Concord Records, Chiaroscuro Records, Commodore Records
Discography
23 albums

Biography

Frank Wess was a jazz musician who played saxophone, flute and Western concert flute. Frank Wess was born on 4 January 1922 in Kansas City and died on 30 October 2013 in Manhattan. The music is usually filed under jazz. Record labels: Concord Records, Chiaroscuro Records and Commodore Records. The discography here lists 23 albums, from “North, South, East... Wess” (1956) to “Magic 201” (2014). Honours include NEA Jazz Masters.

Frank Wellington Wess (January 4, 1922 – October 30, 2013) was an American jazz saxophonist and flautist. He was renowned for his extensive solo work; however, he was also remembered for his time playing with Count Basie's band during the early 1950s into the early 1960s. Critic Scott Yanow described him as one of the premier proteges of Lester Young, and a leading jazz flautist of his era—using the latter instrument to bring new colors to Basie's music.

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Discography

Studio and live albums

North, South, East... Wess 1956
Opus In Swing 1956
The Spirit of Charlie Parker 1958
Wheelin’ & Dealin’ 1958
Yo Ho! Poor You, Little Me 1963
Flute of the Loom 1973
Flute Juice 1981
I Hear Ya Talkin' 1984
The Flute Mastery Of Frank Wess 1988
Jazz Is Busting Out All Over 1992
Jazz for Playboys 1992
Trombones and Flute 1992
Going Wess 1993
Tryin’ to Make My Blues Turn Green 1994
Your Story-The Music of Bill Evans 1994
The Frank Wess Quartet 2004
WESS POINT - THE COMMODORE RECORDINGS 2007
Once Is Not Enough 2009
Southern Comfort 2012
Magic 101 2013
Magic 201 2014
Paris Barcelona Swing Connection
Two at the Top

Also plays on

Albums where Frank Wess is credited as a sideman

1959 The Birth of a Band — Quincy Jones alto saxophone, woodwind, flute
1959 The Genius of Ray Charles — Ray Charles flute, saxophone
1959 Welcome to the Club — Nat King Cole alto saxophone
1961 Genius + Soul = Jazz — Ray Charles alto saxophone
1961 First Time! The Count Meets the Duke — Duke Ellington and Count Basie reeds, flute, tenor saxophone
1961 I’ve Grown Accustomed to Her Face — Tony Bennett, Al Tornello alto saxophone
1963 Ella and Basie! — Ella Fitzgerald & The Count Basie Orchestra flute
1964 It Might as Well Be Swing — Frank Sinatra, Count Basie And His Orchestra reeds
1965 A Man and His Music — Frank Sinatra reeds
1984 L.A. Is My Lady — Frank Sinatra with Quincy Jones and His Orchestra alto saxophone
1989 Four Symphonic Works by Duke Ellington — Duke Ellington alto saxophone
2006 Ray Sings, Basie Swings — Ray Charles + Count Basie Orchestra flute, saxophone

Awards

Frequently asked questions

What instrument did Frank Wess play?

Frank Wess is known for playing saxophone, flute and Western concert flute.

When and where was Frank Wess born?

Frank Wess was born 4 January 1922 in Kansas City.

What are Frank Wess's best-known albums?

Albums in our database include North, South, East... Wess (1956), Opus In Swing (1956), The Spirit of Charlie Parker (1958), Wheelin’ & Dealin’ (1958) and Yo Ho! Poor You, Little Me (1963).

External links

Data compiled from open sources; see the source links below. Spotted an error? Let us know.