Fred Wisdom

Fred Wisdom: Words of Wisdom

by Walter Kolosky
June 23, 2004

Vocalist-guitarist Fred Wisdom has put together a damn good jazz band. With himself on guitar, Jo Ruddick on piano, Percy Bassman on double bass, Jim Bashford on drums and Chris Bowden on alto sax, Wisdom’s unit sounds at times like a modern day Cool band that Miles and Evans would have dug. The group is aided and abetted by several impressive guest stars.

If Words of Wisdom was strictly instrumental, this would be a very good album. But Wisdom’s voice, ...