Oakland, CA, native
Richard Wyands
has played piano and arranged for a number of jazz legends since the '50s, but curiously remained under-recorded as a leader. On this 1999 session for
Criss Cross
,
Wyands
mainly sticks to standards from the likes of
Cole Porter
Billy Strayhorn
Sammy Cahn
, and others. This is the third date where
utilized drummer
Kenny Washington
and bassist
Peter Washington
, who easily adapt to whatever form is presented, gliding from ballads to bebop to bossa nova. This disc contains one original
piece,
"Half and Half,"
written when the pianist was a member the
Gigi Gryce
quintet in the '50s but not commercially recorded until this session. ~ Al Campbell