Pete Candoli
It
would seem that Pete Candoli has been biding his time in the wings all
these years. While Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard,
Miles Davis, etc. have long enjoyed broad public recognition; Pete has
finally attained the level of popular acceptance that the quality of his
talents as a jazz trumpeter deserves.
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Within
the Music World Pete Candoli is regarded as one of the most precise and
eloquent interpreters of jazz. He and his trumpet playing brother Conte
have what amounts to a cult following among aficionados.
A
trumpet player of major importance, Pete's association with top bands
reads like a "Who's Who" of jazz. He has been featured with Tommy
Dorsey, Glen Miller, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Les Brown, Count Basie,
Freddy Slack, Charlie Barnet, etc... in fact, he has played with over
27 of the top named bands.
Although Pete Candoli is best known for the jazz trumpet, his musical
background and experience is as varied as it can be. He is equally
expert with classical music and pop. He has conducted music seminars and
concerts at some (30) universities and colleges when he is not playing a
jazz festival, concert, or nightclub somewhere. To date he has worked
over (5000) record dates.
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He
has composed and arranged music and conducted for Judy Garland, Ella
Fitzgerald, and Peggy Lee among others. Having played first
trumpet for Igor Stravinsky’s “Ebony Concerto” written for the Woody
Herman Orchestra. Pete has received much acclaim for his
versatility as a solo trumpeter.
Pete
Candoli has won awards as outstanding trumpet player from Downbeat and
Metronome Magazines, the 20 most prestigious publications in the music
business. Pete also won the Esquire Magazine and the Look Magazine
Awards as one of the (7) all-time outstanding jazz trumpet players. The
(6) were Louis Armstrong, Bix Biederbeck, Harry James, Bunny Berigan,
Dizzy Gillespie and Bobby Hackert, there is more.
Pete
began playing lead and jazz for Sonny Dunham’s Orchestra in 1941,
followed by a long string of other name bands including Woody Herman’s
famed “First Herd.” Pete settled into the studio scene in the 50’s after
tenures with Herman, Tex Beneke, Jerry Gray and Stan Kenton among
others. He and Conte also co-led a band (1957-62). As a preeminent
lead trumpeter, Pete played for the Orchestras of Alex Stordahl, Gordon
Jenkins, Nelson Riddle, Don Costa, Michel LeGrand, Henry Mancini, as
well as Frank Sinatra.
Pete’s
exuberant premier lead work and dashing high note specialty is fueled
with gratifying surprises always. His sharp, peppered trumpet recalls
the brilliance of Louis Armstrong and Roy Eldridge bulking peaks and
climaxes. As for jazz, “I’m radical! I never play the same jazz thing
twice!” asserts Pete. “I’m like a chameleon and I play what I feel,
although I may favor some patterns. Also, I’m a little staccato—on edge
of my fiery type of playing.” In summary both bothers define jazz force
at it’s best. |