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
Wyands 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
Wyands 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