Richard Wyands

Richard Wyands, a pianist whose chord voicings recall those of Red Garland, devoted the greater part of his career to sideman duties. He began performing in neighborhood venues at age 16, earned a degree from San Francisco State College, and accumulated experience across the San Francisco Bay area. Early on, Wyands appeared as a sideman for several Fantasy sessions and accompanied Ella Fitzgerald in 1956 plus Carmen McRae. After relocating to New York in 1958, he worked with Roy Haynes, Charles Mingus in 1959, Gigi Gryce's quintet, Oliver Nelson, Etta Jones, Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis, Gene Ammons, and additional artists. His extended partnership with Kenny Burrell included intensive touring from 1964 to 1977, and he performed with further leading musicians such as Freddie Hubbard, Zoot Sims, Frank Foster, the Illinois Jacquet Big Band, Benny Carter, Ernie Andrews, and Milt Hinton. Though Wyands directed his own trios, he recorded only sparingly as a leader, releasing a 1978 date for Storyville and later dates for DIW in 1992 and Criss Cross in 1995.