Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular Music

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

CANDOLI, Pete and Conte

Trumpeters born in Mishawaka IN: Walter Joseph 'Pete' Candoli (b 28 June 1923; d 11 January 2008, Studio City CA), Secondo 'Conte' Candoli (b 12 July 1927, d 15 December 2001, Palm Desert CA). Pete played with Will Bradley, Benny Goodman, Charlie Barnet, Woody Herman (featured on 'Superman With A Horn' at Herman's Carnegie Hall concert '46, and often wearing a Superman costume), many other big bands in '40s; led his own band mid-'50s. Conte studied with brother Pete; played with Herman while still in high school; finished school, rejoined Herman; played with Stan Kenton, Charlie Ventura, many others; led band in Chicago; played in combo at the Lighthouse in Hermosa Beach CA late '50s; with Shelly Manne '61-6; Monterey Jazz Festival '60 with Herman, European tour '61 with Gerry Mulligan, with Supersax '72, etc.

Conte was the more aggressive soloist, Pete a talented arranger. Both became busy freelances in TV studio bands etc; both conducted college music seminars; they worked together on film Bell, Book And Candle '58, albums Brothers Candoli and Bell, Book And Candoli '57-8 on Colpix, others on Mercury '59, WB '62, Japanese Atlas label '82. As leaders separately, Conte recorded for Bethlehem and Atlantic '54-5, Mode '57, Crown '60, RCA (in Italy) '73; mellow sextet set Old Acquaintance '85 on Pausa had Conte and Phil Woods. Pete recorded for Dot '59 (with Conte in the band), Kapp '60, Somerset '61. Both recorded for a Dobre label in Hollywood '78; Conte played in a Thelonious Monk band conducted by Oliver Nelson '68; Pete for Igor Stravinsky; between them they played on hundreds of records as sidemen. Conte made Meets The Joe Haider Trio '94 on JHM in Switzerland; pianist Haider's sextet Magic Box '94 is on JHM, sextet Up Shot '88 is on Jazz Live Music.