Two at the Top
{{Infobox album
| name = Two at the Top
| type = Studio
| artist = Frank Wess and Johnny Coles
| cover = Two at the Top.jpg
| alt =
| released = 1983
| recorded = June 8 & 9, 1983
| venue =
| studio = Van Gelder Studio Englewood Cliffs, NJ
| genre = Jazz
| length = 138:39 CD reissue with additional tracks and bonus disc
| label = Uptown
{{small|UP 27.14}}
| producer = Mark Feldman MD., Robert E. Sunenblick MD.
| chronology = Frank Wess
| prev_title = Flute Juice
| prev_year = 1981
| next_title = Two for the Blues
| next_year = 1984
| misc = {{Extra chronology
| artist = Johnny Coles
| type = Studio album
| prev_title = New Morning
| prev_year = 1982
| title = Two at the Top
| year = 1983
| next_title =
| next_year =
}}
}}
Two at the Top is an album by saxophonist/flautist Frank Wess and flugelhornist Johnny Coles, recorded and released on the Uptown label in 1983.[http://www.jazzlists.com/SJ_Label_Uptown.htm Jazzlists: Uptown Records discography] accessed May 8, 2018[http://www.jazzdiscography.com/Leaders/ColesJohnny-ldr.php Johnny Coles discography] accessed May 9, 2018 The original album was rereleased on CD in 2012 along with one additional number and five alternate takes and a bonus live disc recorded in 1988.
Reception
{{Album ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
|rev2 = Tom Hull
|rev2Score = B+ ({{Rating-Christgau|hm2}}){{cite web|last=Hull|first=Tom|author-link=Tom Hull (critic)|date=December 2013|url=http://www.tomhull.com/ocston/arch/cg/cg13-12.php|title=Recycled Goods (#115)|work=A Consumer Guide to the Trailing Edge|publisher=Tom Hull|accessdate=June 20, 2020}}
}}
The AllMusic review by Ken Dryden said "Two at the Top is one of the label's finest releases, a session pairing Frank Wess and the unjustly neglected Johnny Coles, accompanied by a potent rhythm section Highly recommended".{{AllMusic|first=Ken |last=Dryden |class=album |id=mw0000906548 |title= Frank Wess / Johnny Coles: Two at the Top – Review |accessdate=May 9, 2018}} On All About Jazz Marc Myers called it "a powerfully superb jazz album".Myers, M. [https://news.allaboutjazz.com/frank-wess-and-johnny-coles.php All About Jazz Review] accessed May 9, 2018
Track listing
Disc One:
- "Whistle Stop" (Kenny Dorham) – 6:03
- "Morning Star" (Rodgers Grant) – 5:38
- "Celia" (Bud Powell) – 5:04
- "Nica's Tempo" (Gigi Gryce) – 6:42
- "Minority" (Gryce) – 5:49
- "Ill Wind" (Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler) – 6:36
- "Stablemates" (Benny Golson) – 6:12
- "An Oscar for Oscar" (Dorham) – 4:21
- "A Blue Time" (Tadd Dameron) – 6:53 Additional track on CD release
- "An Oscar for Oscar" [Take One] (Dorham) – 4:21 Additional track on CD release
- "Stablemates" [Take One] (Golson) – 5:05 Additional track on CD release
- "Minority" [Take One] (Gryce) – 5:10 Additional track on CD release
- "Whistle Stop" [Take One] (Dorham) – 4:40 Additional track on CD release
- "Morning Star" [Take One] (Grant) – 5:38 Additional track on CD release
Disc Two: Live at Yoshi's 1988
- "One for Amos" (Sam Jones) – 14:37
- "If You Can't Call, Don't Come [aka Don't Come, Don't Call]" (Frank Wess) – 9:25
- "Morning Star" (Grant) – 9:03
- "Minority" (Gryce) – 12:09
- "Blues for David" (Charles "Buddy" Montgomery) – 15:03
- Recorded at Yoshi's, Oakland, CA on January 15, 1988
Personnel
- Frank Wess – alto saxophone, tenor saxophone, flute
- Johnny Coles – flugelhorn
- Kenny Barron (Disc One), Smith Dobson (Disc Two) – piano
- Reggie Johnson (Disc One), Larry Grenadier (Disc Two) – double bass
- Kenny Washington (Disc One), Donald 'Duck' Bailey (Disc Two) – drums
- Don Sickler – arranger (Disc One)
References
{{reflist}}
{{Frank Wess}}
{{Kenny Barron}}
{{Authority control}}