Craft Recordings is rolling out another wave of Original Jazz Classics (OJC) 180-gram vinyl reissues, and this time Wheelin’ and Dealin’ takes center stage. Set for release this August and September, the batch includes AAA-cut, analog-first sessions from jazz legends like Kenny Drew, Coltrane, Frank Wess, Paul Quinichette, and Kenny Burrell.
Sourced from the original tapes by Kevin Gray (with Ryan K. Smith handling Wheelin’ and Dealin’), pressed at RTI, and wrapped in tip-on jackets, these reissues aren’t just collectibles—they’re crafted to showcase every nuance, groove, and subtle swing that digital formats often flatten out.
This 1957 session feels like a late-night club set—loose, lively, and far from polished—and that’s exactly why it works. Frank Wess, already a standout with Count Basie and an early jazz flautist, locks in with a rising John Coltrane and the effortlessly smooth Paul Quinichette for a four-track blowout built on tension, contrast, and pure improvisational fire.
Mal Waldron adds sharp, cerebral counterpoint on piano, while Doug Watkins and Art Taylor keep the groove tight and relentless. There’s no studio gloss here—just the raw thrill of three tenor masters sparring in real time, and it packs a punch that sticks.
It resurfaced on New Jazz Records in 1964, and on a few reissues you might see it credited to “The Prestige All Stars”—Prestige’s lazy catch-all for any combo of contracted musicians. The CD reissue sweetens the deal with two alternate takes that didn’t make the original vinyl, giving listeners a peek behind the curtain at just how sharp—and occasionally reckless—these sessions could get.
Mal Waldron might be the most overlooked figure on Wheelin’ & Dealin’, but his story is as heavy as his playing. Born in 1925, he started working the New York scene in 1950 and quickly built a résumé that included Mingus, Coltrane, Jackie McLean, and Eric Dolphy.
By the late ’50s, Waldron was the house pianist at Prestige, anchoring dozens of sessions and even penning his most famous tune, “Soul Eyes,” for Coltrane. He was also Billie Holiday’s accompanist in her final years—a gig that says everything about his touch and sensitivity at the piano.
His career nearly ended in 1963 after a drug-related breakdown wiped his memory and forced him to relearn his craft from scratch. But Waldron clawed his way back, eventually settling in Europe and playing until his death in 2002. He may not have had the name recognition of Coltrane or Wess, but his cerebral, brooding style gives this session its backbone—proof that sometimes the quietest presence leaves the deepest mark.
Wheelin’ and Dealin’ isn’t some carefully sculpted studio masterpiece—it’s four cuts thrown down in 1958 with a crew of Prestige regulars who sound like they were more interested in sparring than polishing. Mal Waldron, the quiet architect of so many sessions from this era, sketched out the title tracks on the fly. Rudy Van Gelder rolled tape on multiple takes, and the extras later padded out reissues.
Holding the rhythm section steady are Doug Watkins on bass and Art Taylor on drums, while the front line—Frank Wess, John Coltrane, and Paul Quinichette—takes turns pushing, prodding, and occasionally stepping on each other’s toes. The result isn’t essential Coltrane by any stretch, but it’s a fascinating snapshot of Wess and Waldron showcasing their capabilities in ways that remind you why Prestige kept calling them back.
Sonically, Craft’s reissue is clean, clear, and carries a little edge, with stereo separation that makes the group interplay easy to follow. I don’t have an original pressing to stack it against, but this feels like a high-quality way to experience a lineup of heavy hitters. Too many cooks in the kitchen? Maybe. Still, as a document of mid-’50s Prestige energy—and as a showcase for Wess and Waldron—it earns its place on the shelf.
Where to buy: $38.98 at Amazon (available August 22, 2025)
Related Reading:
- Craft Recordings’ OJC Series Reissues Kenny Burrell, Sonny Criss, Coltrane & More
- Review: Here’s Lee Morgan – Craft Recordings’ OJC Reissue Revives A Hard Bop Rarity
- Review: Looking Ahead – Ken McIntyre & Eric Dolphy’s Boundary-Pushing OJC/Craft Recordings Reissue On 180g Vinyl
- Mal/2 & Eastern Sounds OJC Reissue Reviews: Craft Recordings Resurrects Two Jazz Staples For The Vinyl Faithful
Anton
August 19, 2025 at 9:45 pm
Well written but not convinced I need this one. Craft has so many great releases, one has to watch their dollars.