Gerald Wiggins was a spectacularly tasteful jazz pianist. Born in New York in 1922, he came up at a time when to work steadily at clubs required a dramatic, singular sound that put people in seats night after night. If you were a trio pianist, this usually meant the ability to swing hard and play hair-raising runs and exciting block chords. Among the modernist pianists I'd put in this category in the mid-1950s are George Shearing, Ellis Larkins, Ahmad Jamal, Marian McPartland, Milt Buckner (when he wasn't on tour with Lionel Hampton), Joe Bushkin and Billy Taylor. Each one had the thrill factor. [Photo above of Gerald Wiggins]
If you're unfamiliar with Wiggins, Fresh Sound has just released Gerald Wiggins: Classic Trio Sessions 1956-1957. The two-CD set includes the albums Relax and Enjoy It!, Wiggin' With Wig, Reminiscin' With Wig as well as five tracks from a 1956 compilation album and four from his 1957 TV performance on Stars of Jazz. His trio during this period varied slightly but featured Gene Wright on bass and Bill Richmond on drums and Joe Comfort on bass with Jackie Mills or Bill Douglass on drums.
Wiggins's trios were tight and had a delightful way of capturing your attention and holding it with a lyrical lounge feel. Much of this had to do with the lucid interchanges between his left and right hands. Rather than just run bass lines with his left hand, his left was able to play off the right with enormous agility and independence, creating the sensation that two people were playing the keyboard. The result, as you'll hear, was pure magic.
Gerald Wiggins died in 2008.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Gerald Wiggins: Classic Trio Sessions 1956-1957 (Fresh Sound) here. The booklet's liner notes by Jordi Pujol are excellent.
JazzWax clips: Here's Criss Cross from the compilation...
My Heart Stood Still from Relax and Enjoy It!...
And here's They Didn't Believe Me from Reminiscin' With Wig...
