Frank Wess still doing it at 87.

[Hardbopjazz]

I caught the band Generations on Friday at the Jazz Standard. Although Frank is moving kind of slow, he can still blow the tenor real well. It's great to see him still able to give the audience some great music.

Did anyone else catch this band?

[ValerieB]

blessings to Frank! haven't seen/heard him since the last NY IAJE mtg. when he received the NEA award.

[Hardbopjazz]

Well, he'll be playing again on July 15 at the Jazz Mobile at Grant's Tomb.

[fasstrack]

I got to play with Frank maybe 4 or 5 times, in sitting-in situations, in the last decade. I'm very lucky, b/c to experience a master first-hand, and to play unison melodies with him, wow!

The thing that strikes me about Frank, and the other octogenarians out here now and playing great, is the utter smoothness. Frank has this creaminess in his sound and utter assurance in the way he deals notes off. It's more than control, it's ownership. I can hear his influences like Byas and others, but it's the mastery of control and the ease with which he executes beautiful ideas, things he's played hundreds of times but just slants a little this time. He's so relaxed. That's how to do it, and what I wanna be when I grow up. He's a national treasure.

Edited July 13, 2009 by fasstrack