A00039 - Frank Wess, Basie Band Saxophonist and Flutist

Frank Wellington Wess (January 4, 1922 – October 30, 2013) was an American jazz saxophonist and flautist. 

Wess was born in Kansas City, Missouri, the son of a school principal father and a schoolteacher mother. He began with classical music training and played in Oklahoma in high school. He later switched to jazz upon moving to Washington, D. C., and by nineteen was working with Big Bands. His career was interrupted during World War II although he did play with a military band during the period. After leaving the military, he joined Billy Eckstine's orchestra.  He returned to Washington, D. C. a few years afterwards and received a degree in flute at the city's Modern School Of Music. From 1953 on, he joined Count Basie's band, playing flute and tenor sax. He reverted to alto sax in the late 1950s, and left Basie's band in 1964. From 1959 to 1964 he won Down Beat's critic poll for flute.

He was a member of Clark Terry's big band from 1967 into the 1970s and played in the New York Jazz Quartet (with Roland Hanna).  He also did a variety of work for TV. In 1968 Wess contributed to the landmark album The Jazz Composer's Orchestra. 

In the 1980s and 1990s, Wess worked with Kenny Barron, Rufus Reid, Buck Clayton, Benny Carter, Billy Taylor, Harry Edison, Mel Torme, Ernestine Anderson, Louie Bellson, John Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, Dick Hyman, Jane Jarvis, Frank Vignola and was a featured member of the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra.   In the 2000s, Wess released two albums with Hank Jones. In 2007, Wess was named an NEA Jazz Master by the United States National Endowment for the Arts.  

Frank Wess died from a heart attack related to kidney failure on October 30, 2013.