Frank Wess Nonet - Once Is Not Enough (2008)

Known for his big-band or small ensemble recordings, Frank Wess uses a nine-piece band for the first time in his long, storied career to make easy going swinging jazz in the tradition of his former boss, Count Basie. The masterful tenor saxophonist, arranger, and most notably, composer, has assembled an impressive group, featuring trombonist Steve Turre, saxophonists Scott Robinson, and Ted Nash, trumpeters Terell Stafford and Frank Greene, and the dynamite rhythm section of drummer Winard Harper, bassist Peter Washington, and especially impressive young pianist Gerald Cannon. Together they play original music and standards with the Basie stamp firmly embossed. The tart, compact, internalized sound of Wess on the big horn is a factor in contrasting the otherwise sweet sounds. His world-class flute playing is also featured in spurts, though a "hook 'em horns" gesture on the cover photo as he holds his silver wind instrument might lead you to believe it's featured on the date -- it is not. Wess is clearly the leader and frontman, playing basic main stem melodies and solos on the title selection, "Sara's Song" and "You Made A Good Move," all relaxed swingers arranged by drummer Dennis Mackrel (who does not perform on the date) that are fairly concise, have space for another select soloist, and vary to certain degrees in either united effect, or stratifying the horns. "Backfire" is the wailer, upbeat bop at its finest, rambling a bit but focused, based on the changes of "I Got Rhythm," and featuring a surprise coda based on the title. The standards include Scott Robinson's uniquely charted intro tacked on "Fly Me to the Moon," or the flute of Wess stepping forward on a modified "Sweet & Lovely" with the horns backing him up. Pianist Cannon is one to be heard closely on this recording, as he is capable of all melodic, emotional, or rhythmic duties and responsibilities required. He's also quite original at such a young age -- perhaps the next Kenny Barron? Two tracks feature Wess in only a quartet setting with a different rhythm section including Harper, pianist Michael Weiss, andd bassist Rufus Reid, including a lengthy version of the overwrought, somber "Lush Life," just about the saddest tune ever, wrapped in thin silver tin foil, ultimately fragile, with Wess on tenor, and observant, lovelorn piano interventions. The obligatory Basie-type tune "Tryin' to Make My Blues Turn Green" ends the set in a shuffling along and out style. This is a good effort, not as great as others Wess has made over the years, but the high-level musicianship is a constant reminder that he's very much in the mainstream jazz ballpark, and still has a valid perspective many years after this music was out of trendy and trumped up electronic induced vogue. If you are a fan of Frank Wess, this recording will please you to no end. ~ by Michael G. Nastos, AMG. 

Labeth Music, 101, 2009
Recorded 10th June, 2008 at Nola Recording Studios, New York 

Musicians:
Frank Wess - Tenor Saxophone, Flute, Arranger (#5,7)
Frank Greene, Terell Stafford - Trumpet
Steve Turre - Trombone
Ted Nash - Alto Saxophone, Flute
Scott Robinson - Baritone & Bass Saxes, Flute, Arranger (#8)
Gerald Clayton - Piano (#1-3,5,6,8,9)
Michael Weiss - Piano (#4,7)
Peter Washington - Bass (#1-3,5,6,8,9)
Rufus Reid - Bass (#4,7)
Winard Harper - Drums 

Tracks:
1. Once Is Not Enough {Frank Wess} (5:39)
2. Sara's Song {Frank Wess} (8:22)
3. You Made A Good Move {Frank Wess} (7:37)
4. Dementia, My Darling {Frank Wess} (6:59)
5. Sweet And Lovely {Gus Arnheim, Harry Tobias, Jules Lemare} (5:46)
6. Backfire {Frank Wess} (9:11)
7. Lush Life {Billy Strayhorn} (9:40)
8. Fly Me To The Moon [In Other Words] {Bart Howard} (2:50)
9. Tryin' To Make My Blues Turn Green {Frank Wess} (6:37) 

Total Time: 62:44 

Credits:
Producer - Frank Wess
Engineer - Bill Moss, Jim Czak
Photography - Ed Berger
Design - Michele Kane
Art Direction - Wayne Simmons

Patrick Cornelius - While We're Still Young (2016)

An alumnus of Berklee School of Music, saxophonist Patrick Cornelius has now released his sixth album containing a very fine suite of his own compositions, inspired by the poetry of A.A. Milne, the British children's author of When We Were Very Young. A brief horn introduction, reminiscent of the slow movement in Dvorak's Symphony No. 9 opens "Sand Between The Toes," rapidly ensued by a lively full ensemble section, and solos by Gerald Clayton on piano, Patrick Cornelius on alto sax, Nick Vayenas on trombone and Miles Okazaki on guitar, before returning to a robust ensemble finale. "Water Lilies" is redolent of a Kenny Wheeler tune with the initial melody played by Jason Palmer on trumpet, then taken-up by the ensemble. Palmer and Patrick Cornelius on soprano saxophone both produce excellent solos. "Jonathan Jo" is a feisty number with the ensemble sounding like a cross between the medium-sized bands of Charles Mingus and George Russell. The groove here, along with an incisive riff, sticks to the memory banks like glue. "The Invaders," by contrast, is sedately Ellingtonian, the melody led by the reeds followed by the ensemble and an appropriately mellifluous bass clarinet solo by John Ellis. The short and bop-infused "Lines and Squares" leads into an engaging guitar solo from Mike Okazaki whose amplified archtop guitar evinces a satisfyingly intriguing acoustic tone which is followed by breezy interplay between the brass. "Vespers," the longest piece at nearly eleven minutes, begins serenely with Okazaki's engaging guitar work soloing over piano, bass and drums, then moving into an ensemble section featuring solos from trumpet and alto sax and resolving with some frenetic ensemble blowing and finally more delicate guitar. Special mention should also be made of Alban Low whose delightful artwork tastefully adorns the six-panel digipak CD, respectfully channeling the Ernest Howard Shepard illustrations which, amongst many others, famously embellished A.A. Milne's most renowned book, Winnie the Pooh. This album was written with the aid of a commission from Chamber Music America and a grant from the Doris Duke Foundation, but crucially this work shouldn't just be labelled "chamber jazz" since it's very much more than that. Like its elegant cover, it's actually a work of art. ~ Roger Farbey, AAJ. 

Whirlwind Recordings, WR4682, 2016
Recorded 14th December, 2013, Avatar Studios, New York City 

Musicians:
Patrick Cornelius - Alto & Soprano Saxophones, Flute, Arranger
Jason Palmer - Trumpet
Nick Vayenas - Trombone
John Ellis - Tenor Saxophone, Bass Clarinet
Gerald Clayton - Piano
Miles Okazaki - Guitar
Peter Slavov Jr. - Bass
Kendrick Scott - Drums 

Tracks:
1. Sand Between The Toes (9:22)
2. Water Lilies (9:43)
3. Jonathan Joe (7:11)
4. Invaders (7:49)
5. Lines And Squares (2:47)
6. Vespers (10:39) 

All Compositions by Patrick Cornelius 

Total Time: 47:37

Credits:
Producer - Patrick Cornelius, Kyle Saulnier
Executive-Producer - Michael Janisch
​Engineering,​ M​ixing & M​astering - Tyler McDiarmid, New York City
Album Art & Design - Alban Low