Richard Wyands

Richard Francis Wyands (born July 2, 1928) is an American jazz pianist, composer, and arranger, best known as a side-man.

Wyands was born in Oakland, California on July 2, 1928. He began playing in his teens in San Francisco, but later moved to New York City. At school and college he played piano and drums. He began playing professionally in 1944. Count Basie was an early influence on Wyands' style.

In the early 1950s Wyands was part of Vernon Alley's group that was the house band at the Black Hawk club in San Francisco. In this role, the pianist was part of the rhythm section that accompanied visiting soloists. The year after leaving this role in 1954, Wyands was an intermission performer at another San Francisco club, before becoming music director for vocalist Ella Fitzgerald during a 3-month period in 1956.

For ten months around 1957 he was accompanist to pop singers in a club in Ottawa, Canada. Following this, he toured with vocalist Carmen McRae for three months, and arrived in New York with her in 1958. In New York, he played with Roy Haynes, Charles Mingus (1959), Jerome Richardson (1959), and Gigi Gryce. In the 1960s Wyands was a member of Illinois Jacquet's band.

Wyands worked with guitarist Kenny Burrell from 1965 to 1974.

As leader

• Then, Here and Now (Storyville, 1978))
• The Arrival (DIW-611, 1992)
• Reunited (CrissCross 1105, 1995)
• Get out of Town (Steeplechase SCCD 31401, 1996)
• Half and Half (CrissCross 1185,1999)
• As Long as There's Music (Savant SCD 2031, 2000)
• Lady of the Lavender Mist (Venus TKCV 35038, 2002)

As sideman

With Gene Ammons

• Nice an' Cool (Moodsville, 1961)
• Jug (Prestige, 1961)
• Soul Summit Vol. 2 (Prestige, 1961 [1962])
• Late Hour Special (Prestige, 1961 [1964])
• Velvet Soul (Prestige, 1961 [1964])

With Kenny Burrell

• The Tender Gender (Cadet, 1966)
• A Generation Ago Today (Verve, 1967)
• Night Song (Verve, 1969)
• God Bless the Child (CTI, 1971)
• 'Round Midnight (Fantasy, 1972)
• Up the Street, 'Round the Corner, Down the Block (Fantasy, 1974)
• Stormy Monday (Fantasy, 1974 [1978])

With Eddie "Lockjaw" Davis

• Trane Whistle (Prestige, 1960)

With Frank Foster

• Manhattan Fever (Blue Note, 1968)

With Gigi Gryce

• Saying Somethin'! (New Jazz, 1960)
• The Hap'nin's (New Jazz, 1960)
• The Rat Race Blues (New Jazz, 1960)
• Reminiscin' (Mercury, 1960)
• Doin' the Gigi (Uptown, 2011)

With Roy Haynes

• Just Us (New Jazz, 1960)

With Freddie Hubbard

• First Light (CTI, 1971)

With Willis Jackson

• Really Groovin' (Prestige, 1961)
• In My Solitude (Moodsville, 1961)

With Etta Jones

• Don't Go to Strangers (Prestige, 1960)
• Something Nice (Prestige, 1961)

With Roland Kirk

• We Free Kings (Mercury, 1961)

With Charles Mingus

• Jazz Portraits: Mingus in Wonderland (United Artists, 1959)

With Oliver Nelson

• Screamin' the Blues (New Jazz NJ8243, 1960)
• Straight Ahead (Prestige, 1961)

With Richard Williams

• New Horn in Town (Candid, 1960)