ArtistInfo
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
Genres
Plays With
Popular Tracks 
Stardust on Milestones of a Jazz Legend - Sarah Vaughan, Vol. 6 by Sarah Vaughan You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To on In A Minor Groove by Dorothy Ashby & Frank Wess Yesterdays on In A Minor Groove by Dorothy Ashby & Frank Wess Autumn In Rome on In A Minor Groove by Dorothy Ashby & Frank Wess Rascality on In A Minor Groove by Dorothy Ashby & Frank Wess Taboo on In A Minor Groove by Dorothy Ashby & Frank Wess Bohemia After Dark on In A Minor Groove by Dorothy Ashby & Frank Wess Rockin' Chair on Stardust: The Music Of Hoagy Carmichael by Bill Charlap Blue Orchids on Stardust: The Music Of Hoagy Carmichael by Bill Charlap Alone Together on In A Minor Groove by Dorothy Ashby & Frank WessTrack list and 30sec audio provided by 
Band Members
Discography
| Title | Artist | Year | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magic 201 | Frank Wess | 2013 | Album |
| Seven Classic Albums | Frank Wess | 2013 | Compil. |
| Magic 101 | Frank Wess | 2013 | Album |
| Two At The Top | Frank Wess, Johnny Coles | 2012 | Album |
| Paul Meyers Quartet | Paul Meyers Quartet Featuring Frank Wess With Special Guest Andy Bey | 2009 | Album |
| Once Is Not Enough | Frank Wess | 2009 | Album |
| Hank & Frank II | Hank Jones, Frank Wess | 2009 | Album |
| Plays The Music Of Ivring Berlin (Except One) | The John Bunch Trio With Guest Frank Wess | 2008 | Album |
| Opus De Jazz | Milt Jackson, Frank Wess, Kenny Clarke, Hank Jones, Eddie Jones | 2008 | Album |
| The Long Road | Frank Wess | 2000 | Compil. |
| Without A Doubt | Frank Vignola / Frank Wess / Mark Egan / Joe Ascione | 2000 | Album |
| Olio | Thad Jones - Frank Wess - Teddy Charles - Mal Waldron - Doug Watkins - Elvin Jones | 1996 | Album |
| Big Band Basie | Clark Terry, Frank Wess, Bob Lark, DePaul University Jazz Ensemble | 1995 | Album |
| Your Story - The Music Of Bill Evans | The Howard Alden Trio With Special Guest Frank Wess | 1994 | Album |
| Tryin' To Make My Blues Turn Green | Frank Wess | 1994 | Album |
| Going Wess | Frank Wess | 1993 | Album |
| Opus In Swing | Frank Wess | 1992 | Album |
| Opus De Funk | Junior Mance & Frank Wess | 1992 | Album |
| Live At The 1990 Concord Jazz Festival; Second Set | Frank Wess, Marshall Royal, Rick Wilkins, Pete Minger, Gerald Wiggins, Lynn Seaton, Harold Jones | 1991 | Album |
| Live At The Concord Jazz Festival Third Set | Ernestine Anderson, Ed Bickert, Gene Harris, Harold Jones, Marshall Royal, Lynn Seaton, Frank Wess | 1991 | Album |
| Swing Summit | Harry Edison · Buddy Tate · Frank Wess · Hugh Lawson · Ray Drummond · Bobby Durham | 1990 | Album |
| Giants Of The Tenor Sax | Coleman Hawkins / Frank Wess | 1988 | Compil. |
| Wishing Peace From "Liberty Suite" | Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra Featuring Lew Tabackin and Frank Wess | 1986 | Album |
| Flutin' The Bird ... Bird Lives! | Herbie Mann, Bobby Jaspar, Seldon Powell, Frank Wess | 1986 | Album |
| Frankly Speaking | Frank Foster, Frank Wess | 1985 | Album |
| Opus De Blues | Frank Wess | 1984 | Album |
| Estrellas Del Jazz | Count Basie, Frank Foster, Joe Newman, Frank Wess, Charlie Parker, Dan Terry, Billie Holiday | 1984 | Compil. |
| Wess of the Moon | Frank Wess | 1984 | Album |
| I Hear Ya Talkin' | Frank Wess | 1984 | Album |
| Two For The Blues | Frank Foster + Frank Wess | 1984 | Album |
| Two At The Top | Frank Wess / Johnny Coles | 1983 | Album |
| After Hours | Thad Jones, Kenny Burrell, Frank Wess, Mal Waldron, Paul Chambers, Art Taylor, Teddy Charles, Doug Watkins, Elvin Jones | 1982 | Compil. |
| Flute Juice | Frank Wess | 1981 | Album |
| The Trombone Album | Curtis Fuller, J.J. Johnson, Frank Rosolino, J. Billy VerPlanck, Frank Wess | 1980 | Compil. |
| 2 Franks Please | Frank Foster And Frank Wess | 1980 | Compil. |
| Monday Stroll | Kenny Burrell With Frank Wess | 1978 | Album |
| The Tenor Sax: Coleman Hawkins & Frank Wess | Coleman Hawkins & Frank Wess | 1973 | Compil. |
| Flute Of The Loom | Frank Wess | 1973 | Album |
| Wess To Memphis | Frank Wess | 1971 | Album |
| The Dealers | Mal Waldron With John Coltrane / Jackie McLean / Paul Quinichette / Frank Wess | 1965 | Album |
| The Award Winner | Frank Wess | 1964 | Album |
| Little Me | Frank Wess | 1963 | Single |
| Yo Ho! Poor You, Little Me | Frank Wess | 1963 | Album |
| Southern Comfort | Frank Wess | 1962 | Album |
| Jive At Five | Joe Newman Quintet Featuring Frank Wess | 1960 | Album |
| Bags & Flutes | Milt Jackson With Frank Wess & Bobby Jaspar | 1959 | Single |
| In A Minor Groove | Dorothy Ashby And Frank Wess | 1958 | Album |
| The Spirit Of Charlie Parker | Frank Wess - Bobby Jaspar - Seldon Powell | 1958 | Album |
| Hip Harp | Dorothy Ashby with Frank Wess | 1958 | Album |
| Things Ain't What They Used To Be | Frank Wess - John Coltrane - Paul Quinichette | 1958 | Single |
| Olio | Thad Jones - Frank Wess - Teddy Charles - Mal Waldron - Doug Watkins - Elvin Jones | 1958 | Single |
| Wheelin' & Dealin' | Frank Wess, John Coltrane, Paul Quinichette, Mal Waldron, Doug Watkins, Art Taylor, The Prestige All Stars | 1957 | Album |
| After Hours | Thad Jones / Kenny Burrell / Frank Wess / Mal Waldron / Paul Chambers / Art Taylor | 1957 | Album |
| Olio | Thad Jones - Frank Wess - Teddy Charles - Mal Waldron - Doug Watkins - Elvin Jones, The Prestige All Stars | 1957 | Album |
| Jazz For Playboys | Frank Wess, Kenny Burrell, Joe Newman, Freddie Green, Eddie Jones, Ed Thigpen, Gus Johnson | 1957 | Album |
| Lo-Fi / You'll Do | Frank Wess | 1956 | Single |
| North, South, East.....Wess | Frank Wess, Frank Foster, Henry Coker, Benny Powell, Kenny Burrell, Eddie Jones, Kenny Clarke | 1956 | Album |
| Trombones | Frank Wess, Henry Coker, Bill Hughes, Jimmy Cleveland, Benny Powell | 1956 | Album |
| Opus In Swing | Frank Wess, Kenny Burrell, Freddie Green, Eddie Jones, Kenny Clarke | 1956 | Album |
| East Wind / Kansas City Side | Frank Wess | 1956 | Single |
| Doin' The Thing / Blue's In A Cold Water Flat | Frank Wess | 1955 | Single |
| Opus De Jazz | Milt Jackson, Frank Wess, Kenny Clarke, Hank Jones, Eddie Jones | 1955 | Single |
| Opus De Jazz | Milt Jackson, Frank Wess, Kenny Clarke, Hank Jones, Eddie Jones | 1955 | Album |
| Flutes & Reeds | Ernie Wilkins / Frank Wess / Jerome Richardson / Hank Jones / Eddie Jones / Kenny Clarke | 1955 | Album |
| Soul Day | Eddie Holman / Frank Wess / James Brown | Single | |
| The Fabulous Thad Jones Vol. 1 | Thad Jones, Frank Wess, Charles Mingus, Hank Jones, Kenny Clarke | Single | |
| Midget Rod / I'm Afraid The Masquerade Is Over | Milt Jackson & Frank Wess | Single | |
| Southern Comfort Part 1 + 2 | Frank Wess | Single | |
| Cold Miner | Frank Wess | Single | |
| Ghana / Sweet And Lovely | Milt Jackson & Frank Wess | Single |
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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.ArtistInfo for Mac, iPad, and iPhone
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