Search - Frank Wess :: Surprise Surprise

Very good live set

dcjazzfan | Washington DC | 12/22/1999

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The first disc on this set is an excellent live set. There is a great deal of variety, with Wess switching between flute and tenor sax on the quartet numbers. Additionally, Frank Foster joins Wess for two numbers, one with a two-tenor front line and another with a tenor-and-flute front line. Wess and Foster both play very well, and the rest of the band is also good. I particularly enjoyed the contribution of bassist Lynn Seaton.The second disc is not quite as good, placing more emphasis on two-tenor front lines and big-name guest stars (Foster again, Jimmy Heath, and Flip Philips). While each track is good, there is less variety in the set as a whole. The decreased emphasis on Wess's flute (one of his great strengths) also weakens this disc. Disc 2 remains a good disc; however, it is a little more ordinary than disc 1."

A tenor history lesson

A. K. L. | Steilacoom, WA USA | 09/02/2002

(4 out of 5 stars)

"For someone like me who plays the tenor and loves its classics, this is a delightful history lesson. It should be called 'The Joy of Tenor Sax.' Led by Frank Wess, who clearly grooves on live performance, whether on his flute or on tenor, this double CD features (count'em!) not one but four historic tenor giants: Wess, Jimmy Heath (on two cuts), Frank Foster (on three) and the eldest of all, Flip Phillips (on one). The rest of the cuts are all Wess, with a first-rate trio led by the great George Cables on piano. Its all recorded on a cruise ship in front of an appreciative audience which makes you feel like part of the jazz family. Remember, these discs are made in the mid 90's and these men were playing with Basie or Jazz at the Philharmonic in the late '40's! Talk about masters! The feeling is warm, the improvisations are stretched out and richly conceived, the rhythm section is superb. I picked this up cheap and probably wouldn't have bought it otherwise. Now knowing what its all about, I'd recommend it even at full price to any student of jazz history or tenor madness. This session has become one of the joyful surprises in my collection."