Two at the Top explained

Two at the Top
Type:	Studio
Artist:	Frank Wess and Johnny Coles
Cover:	Two at the Top.jpg
Released:	1983
Recorded:	June 8 & 9, 1983
Studio:	Van Gelder Studio Englewood Cliffs, NJ
Genre:	Jazz
Length:	138:39 CD reissue with additional tracks and bonus disc
Label:	Uptown
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

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.^{[1] [2]} 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

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". On All About Jazz Marc Myers called it "a powerfully superb jazz album".^[3]

Track listing

Disc One:

1. "Whistle Stop" (Kenny Dorham) – 6:03
2. "Morning Star" (Rodgers Grant) – 5:38
3. "Celia" (Bud Powell) – 5:04
4. "Nica's Tempo" (Gigi Gryce) – 6:42
5. "Minority" (Gryce) – 5:49
6. "Ill Wind" (Harold Arlen, Ted Koehler) – 6:36
7. "Stablemates" (Benny Golson) – 6:12
8. "An Oscar for Oscar" (Dorham) – 4:21
9. "A Blue Time" (Tadd Dameron) – 6:53 Additional track on CD release
10. "An Oscar for Oscar" [Take One] (Dorham) – 4:21 Additional track on CD release
11. "Stablemates" [Take One] (Golson) – 5:05 Additional track on CD release
12. "Minority" [Take One] (Gryce) – 5:10 Additional track on CD release
13. "Whistle Stop" [Take One] (Dorham) – 4:40 Additional track on CD release
14. "Morning Star" [Take One] (Grant) – 5:38 Additional track on CD release

Disc Two: Live at Yoshi's 1988

1. "One for Amos" (Sam Jones) – 14:37
2. "If You Can't Call, Don't Come [aka Don't Come, Don't Call]" (Frank Wess) – 9:25
3. "Morning Star" (Grant) – 9:03
4. "Minority" (Gryce) – 12:09
5. "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)

Notes and References

1. http://www.jazzlists.com/SJ_Label_Uptown.htm Jazzlists: Uptown Records discography
2. http://www.jazzdiscography.com/Leaders/ColesJohnny-ldr.php Johnny Coles discography
3. Myers, M. All About Jazz Review accessed May 9, 2018