Frank Wess - North, South, East...Wess and No Count

2012 European CD release. There's no Count Basie here, but his spirit pervades these relaxed, swinging sessions, not least because five Basie alumni Frank Foster, Frank Wess, Benny Powell, Henry Coker and Eddie Jones splendidly lead the way. Aided by guitarist Kenny Burrell and drummer Kenny Clarke, with arrangements that offer plenty of space for soloists, this is a typically accomplished, unpretentious Basie-type small group blowing session. The piano-less rhythm section is buttressed by the solid bass of Eddie Jones and a cooking Kenny Clarke, while Kenny Burrell proves a fine comper and a down-home blues player.

1. Whatd Ya Say? (Cadena) 9:41
2. Dill Pickles (Foster) 6:05
3. Dancing on the Ceiling (Hart-Rodgers) 3:41
4. Hard Sock Dance (Wess) 7:35
5. Salvation (Foster) 3:46
6. Lazy Sal (Coker) 6:07
7. Stop Gap (Foster) 6:00
8. Excursion (Foster) 5:11
9. Casa De Marcel (Daniels-Foster) 6:30
10. Apron Strings (Foster) 3:53
11. Alternative (Foster) 8:55
12. Serenata (Anderson) 4:52

Album details
Original Sources:
Tracks #1-6, from the Savoy album "Frank Wess - North, South, East... Wess" (MG12072)
Tracks #7-12, from the Savoy album "Frank Foster - No 'Count" (MG12078)

Personnel on all tracks:
Benny Powell, Henry Coker (tb); Frank Wess (ts, fl); Frank Foster (ts); Kenny Burrell (g); Eddie Jones (b); and Kenny Clarke (d).
Arrangements by Frank Wess (#4,5 & 6); Frank Foster (#2,3,7,8,9,10,11 & 12), Wess-Foster (#1) and Daniels & Foster (# 9).
Recorded at Rudy Van Gelder Studio, in Hackesack, New Jersey, on March 5 (#2-4,7,11-12) and 7 (#1,5,6,8-10), 1956