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Wess, Frank

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Saxophonist and flutist. Born 1922 in Kansas City, Missouri; died 2013.

Wess was raised in Oklahoma, beginning to play alto saxophone at age 10. His family moved to Washington in 1935. His father was principal of a school and his mother was a music teacher. In Washington, Wess studied music theory with Henry Grant and played with Billy Taylor and other local musicians. He was graduated from Dunbar High School in 1937 and attended Howard University (1937-1938). Wess worked in the orchestras of Bill Baldwin and Tommy Myles and was a member of the Howard Theater band before he enlisted in the U.S. Army, serving from 1941 to 1945, primarily in North Africa, where he toured in support of Josephine Baker.

Following his discharge, Wess worked in the big band of Billy Eckstine (1946-1947). He returned to Washington and continued his musical studies at the Modern School of Music (1949-1953) where he focused on flute. After being courted by Count Basie for several years, he joined the Basie Orchestra in August 1953 and remained until 1964. Even early during his tenure, Wess was influential in recommending new musicians and helped to shape the sound of the band.

Bibliography

Himes, Geoffrey. “Billy Taylor’s Jazz.” Washington Post, May 26, 1994.
Joyce, Mike. “Frank Wess’ Romantic Reeds.” Washington Post, September 26, 1987.
Panken, Ted. “A 2002 Downbeat Profile of Frank Wess for His 90th Birthday.” Today Is The Question: Ted Panken on Music, Politics and the Arts (blog), January 5, 2012. https://tedpanken.wordpress.com/2012/01/05/a-2002-downbeat-profile-of-frank-wess-for-his-90th-birthday/.
Reney, Tom. “Frank Wess In the Tradition.” New England Public Radio, January 4, 2017. https://digital.nepr.net/music/2017/01/04/frank-wess-tradition/.
Schudel, Matt. “Frank Wess, Jazz Saxophonist with the Count Basie Orchestra, Dies at 91.” Washington Post, November 3, 2013.
Schudel, Matt. “A Sax Man Plays an Encore in the Key of D.C.” Washington Post, November 21, 2008.
Schudel, Matt. “Kennedy Center Highlights the District’s Jazz Roots.” Washington Post, November 21, 2008.
Wess, Frank. Smithsonian Jazz Oral History Program NEA Jazz Master interview. Interview by Molly Murphy, January 10, 2010. Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. http://www.smithsonianjazz.org/documents/oral_histories/Frank_Wess_Interview_Transcription.pdf.
Wess, Frank. Jazz Oral History Program Interview. Interview by William A. Brower, January 14, 2003. Archives Center, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution.

Wiki Tags: 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, 2000s, 2010s

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