Morris "Moe" Wechsler (October 15, 1920 - February 18, 2016) was an American barrel house and jazz pianist.
Moe came from a Jewish family and after a stint in the army worked with the big bands, earning his reputation as one of the top keyboard players. He played from the mid-1940s with Ella Fitzgerald and in1947 with the Mills Blue Rhythm Band. During the 50’s he worked with Bernie Man, Leo Anthony, Billy Butterfield , Billy Byers, Benny Goodman, Andy Kirk, Hank D'Amico, Jack Teagarden, Bobby Byrne, Quincy Jones, Don Redman the Creed Taylor Orchestra and the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra.
As a session musician (partly as a member of Ralph Burns' orchestra) he accompanied the vocalists Chris Connor, Beverly Kenney, Maxine Sullivan, Varetta Dillard, Lavern Baker, Lee Wiley and Solomon Burke at record sessions. In 1956 he recorded under the name of Baldy Wynn with Gus Hoo And His Dixie Stompers for RCA. At the end of the 1950s, recordings were made under his own name for Roulette Records (Barrelhouse and Honky Tonk Piano), mostly Tin Pan Alley and ragtime numbers such as Maple Leaf Rag, Ida, Sweet as Apple Cider, I Wonder Who's Kissing Her Now and Somebody Stole My Gal.
Moe went from session to session each day to sight-read whatever chart was put in front of him. He could play all the different styles of music that was required for his clients.He was certainly a crusty curmudgeon, quick with an opinion, barking his response when he became irritated, but this quality was somehow acceptable as a balance for his huge talent. Sharing a meal with Moe was an adventure. No one ate faster, probably as a result of the survival training he had learned on the road when the band was given only a few minutes at a bus stop to gulp down some food. Need a piano player? Call Moe. Can’t remember the original key of some standard? Ask Moe. Moe’s mind was an encyclopaedia of the music business, and he could recall everything he ever played.
In the early 1960s he recorded with Rex Stewart ( Just for Kicks ) and as a member of various New York studio orchestras (including under the direction of Leroy Holmes, Don Costa, Urbie Green, Richard Maltby, Doc Severinsen, Hal Mooney and Enoch Light). He also played with Gene Krupa and Warren Covington. 1963 RCA released his album "Crazy Finger" Moe and His Ragtimers: Old Songs Are the Good Songs Played on Honky Tonk Piano, then in 1964 another piano duo album with Bernie Leighton as well as Milt Hinton (bass) and Osie Johnson (Drums). He can be seen as accompanist for Dave Lambert in the documentary Audition at RCA (1964).
In the field of jazz he was involved in 60 recording sessions between 1945 and 1965. As a studio musician he worked with Sylvia Copeland ( Soon It's Gonna Rain ), The Chordettes ( Mr. Sandman ), Claus Ogerman , Hugo Montenegro , Gene Pitney & Ginny Arnell ( Faithful Our Love , 1959) and Frank Sinatra (Watertown ) and Esther Phillips.
Moe’s love of sports was particularly maniacal. He had season tickets at Yankee Stadium – two seats – for the New York Giants during their heyday in the 50s and 60s, and he defended their sometimes poor play with a passion. One day, coming home after a session, he noticed that the car next to him was being driven by Frank Gifford, the great Giants running back. Moe got so excited that he followed the car all the way to Frank’s home in Connecticut. When asked why, his answer was pure Moe: “Hey, it was Frank Gifford, man. Frank Gifford!”
 |
| Moe with Dave Lambert in session |
When studio work dried up, Moe spent his last years in Florida, far from the music world he loved. To pass the time, he still played the piano. After his wife Margaret died, he didn’t play as much, instead passing his days listening to albums, many of which he had played on, and others whose music he just admired. Moe passed away in Boynton Beach, FloridaFeb. 18, 2016 at the age of 95 years.
(Edited from Wikipedia & Steve Karmen @local802afm.org)
D.A. Pennebaker's film Audition at RCA (also known as Lambert & Co.),is a 15-minute minidocumentary made in the summer of 1964 that features Dave Lambert and his new group of vocalese singers. Here are a few names that appear in the film. David Lucas, Leslie Dorsey, Sarah Boatner and Mary Vonnie—emerge from Dave's car. In the recording studio, they were backed by Moe Wechsler on piano, George Duvivier on bass and Gary Chester on drums. Probably the only footage of Moe on film (unless I’m mistaken)