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.[3]

Two at the Top
Studio album by
Released1983
RecordedJune 8 & 9, 1983
StudioVan Gelder Studio Englewood Cliffs, NJ
GenreJazz
Length138:39 CD reissue with additional tracks and bonus disc
LabelUptown
UP 27.14
ProducerMark Feldman MD., Robert E. Sunenblick MD.
Frank Wess chronology
Flute Juice
(1981)
Two at the Top
(1983)
Two for the Blues
(1984)
Johnny Coles chronology
New Morning
(1982)
Two at the Top
(1983)

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [3]
Tom HullB+ (  )[4]

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".[3] On All About Jazz Marc Myers called it "a powerfully superb jazz album".[5]

Track listing

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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

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References

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  1. ^ Jazzlists: Uptown Records discography accessed May 8, 2018
  2. ^ Johnny Coles discography accessed May 9, 2018
  3. ^ a b c Dryden, Ken. Frank Wess / Johnny Coles: Two at the Top – Review at AllMusic. Retrieved May 9, 2018.
  4. ^ Hull, Tom (December 2013). "Recycled Goods (#115)". A Consumer Guide to the Trailing Edge. Tom Hull. Retrieved June 20, 2020.
  5. ^ Myers, M. All About Jazz Review accessed May 9, 2018