Because of the abundance of studio jobs for TV and movies for musicians, LA was a hotbed for musicians. How can you beat steady work, no travel and great weather?
The plethora of pianists during the 50s-70s was an embarrassment of riches, with the likes of Pete Jolly, Lou Levy, Victor Feldman and as presented here, Gerald Wiggins filling in the rhythm section at the local clubs like The Lighthouse, Concerts By The Sea or Donte’s. This two disc set has Wiggins in trio sessions with bassist Gene Wright (of Dave Brubeck fame) or Joe Comfort, with drummers Bill Richmond, Jackie Mills or Bill Douglass on drums. The music is uniformly classy, swinging and exciting.
Wiggins also had a good touch with the pen, as the February, 1956 session features his originals like the bopping “Criss Cross” and fervent “Gerald’s Train”. He throws a handful of originals in with the rest of the sessions, such as the clever “A Fifth For Frank” which includes Jackie Milss on congas. He is elegant on “Laura”, delicate on the more obscure “The Man That Got Away” and clever on a sly read of the more arcane “Merry Old Oldsmobile” and “Ma, She’s Making Eyes At Me”. But that is actually the joy of Wiggins, as most pianists in the lounge would try out a few ringers every now and then just to perk up the people in their naugahyde booths. LA lounge lizard at his best.