The Dave Glasser / Clark Terry / Barry Harris Project (feat. Frank Wess, Benny Powell, Roy Hargrove) - Uh! Oh! (2021 nagel heyer records)

Alto saxophonist/composer Glasser's project band is loaded with stars that shine brighter than his own, and this elevates his cachet to a very high level. Trumpet veteran Terry and peerless pianist Harris are joined by bassist Peter Washington and unsung drummer Curtis Boyd. Guests include trombonist Benny Powell, tenor saxophonist Frank Wess, and a pair of cameos from trumpeter Roy Hargrove. Glasser wrote eight of the 13 selections. There are several tracks that feature all four horn players, who swing effortlessly together on "The Intimacy of the Blues." Glasser leads as the rest nod in counter-harmonic agreement during Duke Ellington's "Blue Rose" and the "Foggy Day"-stylized Glasser original "FNH," and they collectively swing their posteriors off on "Jumpin' at the Woodside." 

The leader can bop with the best, wailing in deftly pronounced Phil Woods fashion for Thelonious Monk's "52nd Street Theme" with the witty ramblings of Harris, while the steaming, straight-ahead "Powell's Prance" pairs Glasser and Wess -- the alto being dominant -- with a short, mushy trombone solo and individual statements by Washington and Boyd. Hargrove's features with Glasser and the rhythm section are the darting unison, loose, and swinging line of the smartly titled "Bye-Yard" (assumedly for Jaki Byard) and Glasser's original ballad "Charise."

Terry's upfront shot on flügelhorn uses Glasser on the second line of the torch song "The Nearness of You," which doubles time on a counterpointed bridge. Glasser and Terry's muted trumpet trade and talk back riffs in great chit-chat banter with zeal and zest on the title cut, the funnest of swingers. Glasser's thinly veiled vibrato wavers on the sexy ballad "Tranquility" while his lilting legato is displayed to good measure during the quick samba "A Touch of Kin."

This is an excellent grouping of top-notch jazz musicians who have come together for the sole purpose of playing great music, and they succeed on nearly every count. It's also a great achievement for Glasser and another reminder of how wonderful Terry and Harris continue to be. Highly recommended. AllMusic Review by Michael G. Nastos

1. Uh! Oh! 07:12

2. Bye-Yard 04:45

3. A Touch of Kin 06:15

4. Intimacy of the Blues 06:06

5. Blue Rose 05:07

6. Charise 04:23

7. 52nd Street Theme 03:54

8. FNH 05:15

9. The Nearness of You 04:36

10. CT 05:29

11. Tranquillity 05:11

12. Powell's Prance 05:15

13. Jumpin' at the Woodside 03:03

Dave Glasser - alto sax

Clark Terry - trumpet, flugelhorn

Barry Harris - piano

Frank Wess - tenor sax

Benny Powell - trombone

Roy Hargrove - trumpet

Peter Washington - bass

Curtis Boyd - drums

Recorded June 1999 at Nola Recording Studios, New York City.

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Frank Vignola (feat. Frank Wess, Randy Sandke, Roland Hanna) - Off Broadway (March 2021 nagel heyer records)

Whoever decided to include veteran Frank Wess on some tracks deserves a good deal of credit for the success of this album. The Count Basie veteran tenor man has laid-back but commanding solos on such cuts as "It's All Right With Me" and Horace Silver's "Cookin' at the Continental," where he and another jazz veteran, Sir Roland Hanna, assume control of the track, making it an album highlight. This album is a generous 79-plus minutes of solid jazz and is recommended.

1. Funny How 05:24

2. Stars Fell on Alabama I (feat. Roland Hanna) 04:23

3. Off Broadway (feat. Frank Wess) 05:27

4. Limone's Blues (feat. Randy Sandke, Roland Hanna) 05:31

5. The Return (feat. Roland Hanna) 05:21

6. Stardust 05:15

7. Sing That (feat. Roland Hanna) 04:53

8. Cookin' at the Continental (feat. Frank Wess, Randy Sandke) 04:26

9. Never, Never (feat. Frank Wess) 04:54

10. Annie 05:18

11. In the Hills (feat. Randy Sandke) 04:06

12. Frankly Speaking 06:12

13. Stars Fell on Alabama II (feat. Roland Hanna) 04:02

14. It's All Right with Me (feat. Frank Wess) 10:01

15. What's Up 04:23

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Frank Wess - Whatever You Want (March 2021 nagel heyer records)

"Frank Wess hits his marks at any tempo ... his playing sounds clear as a bell, as well."

- npr music

"Frank Wess is one of the premier proteges of Lester Young, and a leading jazz flutist of his era — using the latter instrument to bring new colors to Basie's music."

- Scott Yannow

1. Dancing on the Ceiling 03:45

2. I Hear Ya Talkin' 04:12

3. June Is Bustin' Out All Over 03:11

4. But Beautiful 04:36

5. Hard Sock Dance 07:38

6. Gone with the Wind 05:46

7. Monday Stroll 04:21

8. What'd Ya Say 09:44

9. It's so Peaceful in the Country 04:00

10. Stop Gap 06:03

11. Dill Pickles 06:09

12. Liz 03:35

13. Opus Pocus 07:30

14. Salvation 03:50

15. I See Your Face Before Me 06:06

16. Lazy Sal 06:10

17. Stella by Starlight 05:11

18. Opus de Blues 11:00

19. Struttin' Down Broadway 05:38

20. Serenata 04:54

21. Rainy Afternoon 08:26

22. Excursion 05:13

23. Star Eyes 03:53

24. Boop-De-Doop 08:42

25. You Leave Me Breathless 06:30

Frank Wess - tenor sax, flute

Thad Jones - trumpet

Frank Foster - tenor sax, soprano sax

Henry Coker - trombone

Curtis Fuller - trombone

Milt Jackson - vibes

Kenny Burrell - guitar

Hank Jones - piano

Eddie Jones - bass

Kenny Clarke - drums

plus

Various Artists

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Butch Miles - Straight on Till Morning (February 2021 nagel heyer records)

 Butch Miles, the longtime drummer of the Count Basie Orchestra, leads a hard bop-oriented session on the Nagel Heyer CD Straight on Till Morning. Although Miles is most associated with modern swing, this set is a bit more up-to-date while swinging hard. Trumpeter Bob Ojeda arranged eight of the 11 selections and contributed six originals. Doug Lawrence takes some fine tenor solos, trombonist Bill Porter displays some inventive ideas, pianist Kenny Drew, Jr. plays some powerful improvisations, and Lynn Seaton's bowed bass solos are a highlight. Alex Saudargas guests on classical guitar during "Dreamsville" while Frank Wess is on one song. With Miles pushing everyone, this is a frequently exciting set full of subtle surprises, including a humorous boppish reworking of "When You Wish Upon a Star.“ AllMusic Review by Scott Yanow

1. Hangover Blues 03:45

2. Another Drum Thing 04:56

3. Frank's Blues 04:22

4. Cute 03:51

5. Dreamsville 07:18

6. When You Wish Upon a Star 06:45

7. A Flower Is a Lovesome Thing 08:14

8. Quick Fix 03:20

9. After Hours 05:51

10. Outside Inn 05:57

11. I'm Leavin' 04:09

Butch Miles - drums

Bob Ojeda - trumpet

Bill Porter - trombone

Doug Lawrence - tenor sax

Kenny Drew Jr. - piano

Lynn Seaton - bass

plus

Frank Wess - tenor sax, flute

Alex Saudargas - guitar

Recorded on January 3 and 4, 2003 at Pedernales Studio, Texas.

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