Frank Wess (Saxophonist & Flutist)

Like fellow Jazz Master Jimmy Scott, Frank Wess cut his teeth on the road performing with big bands in the 40's and 50's. After a hopeful stint with Lionel Hampton's band fell through, Wess joined the horn section of Billy Eckstine's band. After a brief stint in the Army, Wess was recruited by bandleader Count Basie and from then enjoyed many years forming a musical bond with bandmates Fats Navarro, Thad Jones and Frank Foster.

Of all things honed in Basie's band, it was the need to swing - a quality Wess takes very seriously when playing and teaching jazz. "If you can't tap your foot or dance to it, you may as well be driving a cab," says Wess. "That's what it's all about. When I do clinics, I have the individual instruments play by themselves and I want them to make me dance-make me want to dance, you know. I don't want them to depend on the rhythm section or somebody else for that swing."

Listen to samples: http://www.vervemusicgroup.com/artist.aspx?ob=per&src=prd&aid=3580

NEA Jazz Masters 2007

This year's class of Jazz Masters covers the global spectrum of the jazz community. The IAJE Conference invites the NEA Jazz Masters to attend the conference and connect with the educators and students they have so greatly influenced. Here's a brief look as this year's Jazz Masters:

2007 Fellowships Recipients

• Toshiko Akiyoshi - Bandleader
• Curtis Fuller - Solo Instrumentalist (Trombone)
• Ramsey Lewis - Pianist
• Dan Morgenstern - A.B. Spellman NEA Jazz Masters Award for Jazz Advocacy
• Jimmy Scott - Vocalist
• Frank Wess - Solo Instrumentalist (Flute)
• Phil Woods - Composer-Arranger

Photo credits: Ray Barretto - photo by Jean-Jacques Pussiau; Tony Bennett - photo courtesy of Sony BMG Music Entertainment; Bob Brookmeyer- photo by Wolfgang Gonaus; Chick Corea - photo by Pino Ninfa; Buddy DeFranco - photo by Denny Lester; Freddie Hubbard - photo by Jimmy Katz; John Levy - photo by Leroy Hamilton.