Frank Wess Nonet – Once is Not Enough – Labeth Music

by | Apr 20, 2009 | Jazz CD Reviews | 0 comments

Frank Wess Nonet – Once is Not Enough – Labeth Music  LMCD 001, 62:45, ****1/2:

(Frank Wess, tenor sax and flute: Frank Greene, trumpet; Terell Stafford; Steve Turre, Trombone; Ted Nash, alto sax and flute; Scott Robinson, baritone and bass saxophone, flute; Gerald Clayton, piano; Peter Washington, bass; Winard Harper, drums.
With special guests, Michael Weiss, piano; and Rufus Reid, bass on quartet readings of Dementia My Darling and Lush Life)

Frank Wess is old school in a good way. Virtually one of the last Basie sidemen from the 50s and 60s, Wess is still going strong at age 87 and as he is approaching his nonagenarian years, it is appropriate to tackle a nonet for the first time in his famed career-another sign that Wess is still creative and up for some adventure. Known in his Basie years for his flute and tenor playing as well as for his share of Basie charts, Frank has assembled a top tier group of musicians, each either a bandleader on their own or as a first call sideman for recordings. On Once is Not Enough, Wess presents six original compositions and three standards. Special guests, Weiss and Reid whittle down  the nonet for the original ballad, Dementia My Darling, and the gorgeous rendition of Bill Strayhorn’s classic, Lush Life.

Once is Not Enough opens the CD with Wess’ tenor in a relaxed swinging groove and Scott Robinson has solo honors on Bari sax. Robinson is known for playing virtually any saxophone and later he trots out the seldom heard (and always remembered) bass sax on another Wess’ original, Backfire. Sara’s Song follows and over half the nonet gets solo space on this minor blues.

Dennis Mackrel arranged four of the tracks, and on You Made a Good Move the six horn blend state the theme and bring back the Basie magic. No wonder Frank Wess has the “Magic” moniker to his generation of jazz veterans.

Dementia My Darling, dedicated to Frank’s granddaughter, the first of the two quartet tracks featuring guests, Michael Weiss and Rufus Reid, shows Frank’s warm, impeccable tone and ballad mastery. The emotion just flows from his tenor. The other quartet number, Lush Life, needs no explanation for its class, and Wess makes us happy to hear it again.

Special mention must be made of the standard, Sweet and Lovely, for the opportunity to hear three flute solos by Wess, Nash, and Robinson. It brings to mind the flute groups that Wess co-leads with Holly Hofmann.

Labeth Music appears to be a new label. What a coup to land the legendary Frank Wess in a rare nonet setting to introduce their label to the jazz community. Once is Not Enough is an understatement. I hope they bring back Wess ASAP for another recording. Once Wess turns 90, it will be time for a tentet…

TrackList:
Once is Not Enough, Sara’s Song, You Made a Good Move, Dementia My Darling, Sweet and lovely, Backfire, Lush Life, Fly Me to the Moon (In Other Words), Tryin’ to Make My Blues Turn Green

– Jeff Krow

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