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Frank Wess

fl, ts, sax, 1922-2013 US, Kansas City, Missouri
Musician / Composer / Arranger of Jazz
A.k.a. Frank Wellington Wess

Saxophonist, flautist, arranger and composer. Born: 4th January 1922 Kansas City, Missouri, USA. Died: 30th October 2013 Manhattan, New York. Member of Billy Eckstine's orchestra from 1946 to 1947, Eddie Haywood's orchestra in 1947 and Lucky Millinder's orchestra in 1948. Worked with Bullmoose Jackson from 1948 to 1949, Count Basie from 1953 to 1964, where he formed a famous pairing, billed as "The Two Franks", with fellow saxophonist Frank Foster and Clark Terry's Big Band from 1967 to 1970. Has also done a lot of session work, Broadway shows, jingles and played in the bands for TV shows Saturday Night Live and The David Frost Show (1969-72). Made a National Endowment for the Arts jazz master in 2007.

     
Instruments
  • Flute
  • Tenor sax
  • Saxophone
  • Alto sax
Genres
  • Jazz
  • Pop
  • Blues
Plays With
Bennie Green And His Orchestra
Billy Eckstine And His Orchestra
Clark Terry Big Band
Count Basie And The Kansas City Seven
Count Basie Orchestra
Dameronia
Eddie Heywood And His Orchestra
Howard McGhee Sextet
Joe Newman & His Band
Joe Newman And The Count's Men
Joe Newman Quintet
Joe Newman Sextet
Leonard Feather's East Coast Stars
Lucky Millinder And His Orchestra
New York Jazz Quartet
Oliver Nelson And His Orchestra
Osie Johnson Quintet
Paul Meyers Quartet
Per Husby Orchestra
Quincy Jones And His Orchestra
The Benny Carter All-Star Sax Ensemble
The Count's Men
The Ernie Wilkins Orchestra
The Frank Wess - Harry Edison Orchestra
The Frank Wess Orchestra
The Frank Wess Quartet
The Frank Wess Quintet
The Frank Wess Septet
The Frank Wess Sextet
The Golden Horns
The Jazz Composer's Orchestra
The Joe Newman Septet
The Philip Morris Superband
The Prestige All Stars
The Urbie Green Octet
Tony Scott And His Orchestra
Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra
The Carnegie Hall Jazz Band
Members Of The Count Basie Orchestra
The Billy Taylor Orchestra
N.Y. Latin All Stars
The Basie Saxophone Section
Manny Albam Big Band
The Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All Star Big Band
The John Lewis Group
The Leiber-Stoller Big Band
Jimmy McGriff Big Band
Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band
Joe Newman And The Boys In The Band
Osie Johnson's All-Stars
The Basie-ites
Paris-barcelona Swing Connection
Libby York
Flutology
and the Count´s Men
The Bob Wilber All-Stars
Swing Summit
Thad Jones Ensemble*
Ernie Wilkins & The All Stars Band
Al Defemio
The Dave Glasser Clark Terry Barry Harris Project
Popular Tracks   
Moonlight in Vermont on Hip Harp by Dorothy Ashby & Frank Wess
Dancing in the Dark on Hip Harp by Dorothy Ashby & Frank Wess
There's a Small Hotel on Hip Harp by Dorothy Ashby & Frank Wess
Pawky on Hip Harp by Dorothy Ashby & Frank Wess
Stardust on Milestones of a Jazz Legend - Sarah Vaughan, Vol. 6 by Sarah Vaughan
Jollity on Hip Harp by Dorothy Ashby & Frank Wess
Charmaine on Hip Harp by Dorothy Ashby & Frank Wess
Back Talk on Hip Harp by Dorothy Ashby & Frank Wess
You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To on In A Minor Groove by Dorothy Ashby & Frank Wess
Autumn In Rome on In A Minor Groove by Dorothy Ashby & Frank Wess

Track list and 30sec audio provided by


Band Members
Discography



Title Artist Year Type
Magic 201Frank Wess2013Album
Seven Classic AlbumsFrank Wess2013Compil.
Magic 101Frank Wess2013Album
Two At The TopFrank Wess, Johnny Coles2012Album
Paul Meyers QuartetPaul Meyers Quartet Featuring Frank Wess With Special Guest Andy Bey2009Album
Once Is Not EnoughFrank Wess2009Album
Hank & Frank IIHank Jones, Frank Wess2009Album
Plays The Music Of Ivring Berlin (Except One)The John Bunch Trio With Guest Frank Wess2008Album
Opus De JazzMilt Jackson, Frank Wess, Kenny Clarke, Hank Jones, Eddie Jones2008Album
The Long RoadFrank Wess2000Compil.
Without A DoubtFrank Vignola / Frank Wess / Mark Egan / Joe Ascione2000Album
OlioThad Jones - Frank Wess - Teddy Charles - Mal Waldron - Doug Watkins - Elvin Jones1996Album
Big Band BasieClark Terry, Frank Wess, Bob Lark, DePaul University Jazz Ensemble1995Album
Your Story - The Music Of Bill EvansThe Howard Alden Trio With Special Guest Frank Wess1994Album
Tryin' To Make My Blues Turn GreenFrank Wess1994Album
Going WessFrank Wess1993Album
Opus In SwingFrank Wess1992Album
Opus De FunkJunior Mance & Frank Wess1992Album
Live At The 1990 Concord Jazz Festival; Second SetFrank Wess, Marshall Royal, Rick Wilkins, Pete Minger, Gerald Wiggins, Lynn Seaton, Harold Jones1991Album
Live At The Concord Jazz Festival Third SetErnestine Anderson, Ed Bickert, Gene Harris, Harold Jones, Marshall Royal, Lynn Seaton, Frank Wess1991Album
Swing SummitHarry Edison · Buddy Tate · Frank Wess · Hugh Lawson · Ray Drummond · Bobby Durham1990Album
Giants Of The Tenor SaxColeman Hawkins / Frank Wess1988Compil.
Wishing Peace From "Liberty Suite"Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra Featuring Lew Tabackin and Frank Wess1986Album
Flutin' The Bird ... Bird Lives!Herbie Mann, Bobby Jaspar, Seldon Powell, Frank Wess1986Album
Frankly SpeakingFrank Foster, Frank Wess1985Album
Opus De BluesFrank Wess1984Album
Estrellas Del JazzCount Basie, Frank Foster, Joe Newman, Frank Wess, Charlie Parker, Dan Terry, Billie Holiday1984Compil.
Wess of the MoonFrank Wess1984Album
I Hear Ya Talkin'Frank Wess1984Album
Two For The BluesFrank Foster + Frank Wess1984Album
Two At The TopFrank Wess / Johnny Coles1983Album
After HoursThad Jones, Kenny Burrell, Frank Wess, Mal Waldron, Paul Chambers, Art Taylor, Teddy Charles, Doug Watkins, Elvin Jones1982Compil.
Flute JuiceFrank Wess1981Album
The Trombone AlbumCurtis Fuller, J.J. Johnson, Frank Rosolino, J. Billy VerPlanck, Frank Wess1980Compil.
2 Franks PleaseFrank Foster And Frank Wess1980Compil.
Monday StrollKenny Burrell With Frank Wess1978Album
The Tenor Sax: Coleman Hawkins & Frank WessColeman Hawkins & Frank Wess1973Compil.
Flute Of The LoomFrank Wess1973Album
Wess To MemphisFrank Wess1971Album
The DealersMal Waldron With John Coltrane / Jackie McLean / Paul Quinichette / Frank Wess1965Album
The Award WinnerFrank Wess1964Album
Little MeFrank Wess1963Single
Yo Ho! Poor You, Little MeFrank Wess1963Album
Southern ComfortFrank Wess1962Album
Jive At FiveJoe Newman Quintet Featuring Frank Wess1960Album
Bags & FlutesMilt Jackson With Frank Wess & Bobby Jaspar1959Single
In A Minor GrooveDorothy Ashby And Frank Wess1958Album
The Spirit Of Charlie ParkerFrank Wess - Bobby Jaspar - Seldon Powell1958Album
Hip HarpDorothy Ashby with Frank Wess1958Album
Things Ain't What They Used To BeFrank Wess - John Coltrane - Paul Quinichette1958Single
OlioThad Jones - Frank Wess - Teddy Charles - Mal Waldron - Doug Watkins - Elvin Jones1958Single
Wheelin' & Dealin'Frank Wess, John Coltrane, Paul Quinichette, Mal Waldron, Doug Watkins, Art Taylor, The Prestige All Stars1957Album
After HoursThad Jones / Kenny Burrell / Frank Wess / Mal Waldron / Paul Chambers / Art Taylor1957Album
OlioThad Jones - Frank Wess - Teddy Charles - Mal Waldron - Doug Watkins - Elvin Jones, The Prestige All Stars1957Album
Jazz For PlayboysFrank Wess, Kenny Burrell, Joe Newman, Freddie Green, Eddie Jones, Ed Thigpen, Gus Johnson1957Album
Lo-Fi / You'll DoFrank Wess1956Single
North, South, East.....WessFrank Wess, Frank Foster, Henry Coker, Benny Powell, Kenny Burrell, Eddie Jones, Kenny Clarke1956Album
TrombonesFrank Wess, Henry Coker, Bill Hughes, Jimmy Cleveland, Benny Powell1956Album
Opus In SwingFrank Wess, Kenny Burrell, Freddie Green, Eddie Jones, Kenny Clarke1956Album
East Wind / Kansas City SideFrank Wess1956Single
Doin' The Thing / Blue's In A Cold Water FlatFrank Wess1955Single
Opus De JazzMilt Jackson, Frank Wess, Kenny Clarke, Hank Jones, Eddie Jones1955Single
Opus De JazzMilt Jackson, Frank Wess, Kenny Clarke, Hank Jones, Eddie Jones1955Album
Flutes & ReedsErnie Wilkins / Frank Wess / Jerome Richardson / Hank Jones / Eddie Jones / Kenny Clarke1955Album
Soul DayEddie Holman / Frank Wess / James BrownSingle
The Fabulous Thad Jones Vol. 1Thad Jones, Frank Wess, Charles Mingus, Hank Jones, Kenny ClarkeSingle
Midget Rod / I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is OverMilt Jackson & Frank WessSingle
Southern Comfort Part 1 + 2Frank WessSingle
Cold MinerFrank WessSingle
Ghana / Sweet And LovelyMilt Jackson & Frank WessSingle
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Acknowledgements
To all the music fans that are contributing on Discogs, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Thanks to Franz Flückiger for providing Storygram used to visualize band membership.
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