Kenny Wheeler II: Sideman

Jurgen Friedrich Quartet with Kenny Wheeler - Baghira
From Summerflood: CTI Records [Buy]

John Abercrombie Trio with Kenny Wheeler - Little Booker
From Open Land: ECM 1683 [Buy]

I've just spent another whole weekend in the studio, recording the band's new album. Once again, it's been a demanding (and sometimes frustrating) experience. I have incredible respect and awe for those professional musicians who can step into someone else's band at short notice and make a meaningful contribution.

Here's Kenny Wheeler working as a sideman, both recorded in 1998, in Germany for an American label, and the other recorded in New York for a German label!

Kenny Wheeler Quartet, Jazzclub Lustenau, Austria, May 2001

The German pianist Jurgen Friedrich's quartet features Claudius Volk (s), Volker Heinze (b) and the young Irish drummer Darren Beckett.

Little Booker displays Wheeler playing in an unsual trumpet-organ quartet, with John Abercrombie (g), Dan Wall (organ) and Adam Nussbaum (d).