Frank Wess wasn’t born in Washington, D.C. but he spent some very important time in the district, on and off from 1935 to 1953, ending when he joined the Count Basie band. The interviews and oral histories that contain his vivid recollections of the Washington jazz scene are invaluable primary sources.
To celebrate the centennial anniversary of Wess’s birth, Noal Cohen has compiled a detailed discography of Wess that focuses exclusively on the many recordings where he is prominently featured (Basie and other big bands not included). Even with this constraint, there are nearly 75 sessions between 1954 and 2013 that are described in minute detail. There are also pages with information on his many compositions and his sideman appearances.