Magic 201

Jazz | Feb 2014

Reviews

Fo
Reviewed 2014-03-06
FRANK WESS: Magic 201
IPO, 2014

CLASSIC JAZZ – One of the final recordings (from 2011) of sax/flute master Wess, a veteran of the Count Basie band who passed away last October. As on “Magic 101,” released last year, this set is heavy on ballads and easy-swinging blues, and focuses almost entirely on tenor sax (only #4 features flute). It’s all lovely stuff, and a fitting send-off.

Fo’s Picks: 1, 3, 5, 6, 7

1. 5:10 – midtempo swinging stroll; sax has a happy lilt, everyone gets a taste
2. 6:29 – sweet guitar sets up a moaning ballad, sax is nicely bluesy
3. 3:56 – solo sax into aching ballad… sophisticated and just beautiful
4. 4:57 – solo flute ballad: haunting intro, becomes lighter, optimistic
5. 7:02 – after-hours saloon ballad, just sax & piano… pour me another, Sam.
6. 8:43 – straight-up, laid-back blues: sax pours it out, guitar/piano mop it up
7. 9:24 – another gorgeous late-nite ballad, love the classic sax sound here
8. 5:41 – walking bass sets up an easy stroll, nothin’ fancy, just nice & steady

[ Fo ] – 28 February 2014

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Charting

2014-02-21 — 2014-04-25 Jazz
Week EndingAirplays
Apr 27 1
Apr 20 1
Apr 13 1
Apr 6 3
Mar 30 2
Mar 23 2
Mar 16 3
Mar 2 1

Track listing

1. It Could Happen To You
2. A Cottage For Sale
3. After Paris
4. The Summer Knows
5. Embraceable You
6. Blues For Ruby
7. If You Can't Call, Don't Come
8. If It's The Last Thing I Do