Carl Fontana

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Carl Fontana

Charles "Carl" Fontana (* 18th July 1928 in Monroe , Louisiana ; † 9. October 2003 in Las Vegas , Nevada ) was one of the best jazz - trombone player who had many successes in the 1950s in the United States and then to 2003 Las Vegas lived and worked. He was able to play particularly fast and extremely controlled. He developed a tongue technique on that one " Dudelzunge " (Engl .: "doodle tongue") calls. The tongue becomes twice as fast because - instead of the usual every note with z. B. TA TA TA TA or DO DO DO DO - can also generate an impact when pulling back the tongue, i.e. instead of do do do do do, do dl do dl do dl.

Live and act

Fontana was taught by his father, the saxophonist and violinist Collie Fontana (who got his family through the Depression as a plumber), and played in his band from 1941 to 1945 next to the school. He then studied at Louisiana State University , where he graduated as a music teacher in 1950; he also played in symphony orchestras. 1951/52 he belonged to Woody Hermans Third Heard , after he stepped in for Urbie Green in New Orleans in 1951 and was kept by Herman after his return. From 1952 to 1953 he was with Al Belletto , 1954 with Lionel Hampton , 1954/5 with Hal McIntyre . In 1955/6 he came out as a soloist with Stan Kenton , z. B. with "Carl" and "Polka Dots and Moonbeams" and went on tour with him in 1956. In 1956/7 Kai Winding recruited him from Kenton. From the end of the 1950s he was in Las Vegas (after he stepped in again for Herman shortly in December 1957). There he played in show bands. In 1966 he played with Benny Goodman and toured Europe and Africa with Woody Herman. From 1968 he was a member of the predecessor bands of " The World's Greatest Jazz Band " by Bob Haggart and Yank Lawson and played at the "Colorado Jazz Parties". In the 1970s he was part of Supersax (from 1973) and played with Louie Bellson and Georgie Auld . In 1975 he had a band with the drummer Jake Hanna (Japan tour). In the 1980s he appeared regularly on National Public Radio's "Monday Night Jazz" show. In 1985 he recorded with his own quintet, a. a. with Al Cohn . From the 1990s he stopped playing in Vegas bands, but only appeared worldwide as a soloist and led a quintet in Vegas with saxophonist Bill Trujillo and Arno Marsh . Most recently Fontana suffered from Alzheimer's.

He was married and had three children.

Play style

Carl Fontana is known for his fast technique, which is mostly based on the above-mentioned doodle-tounge. He had his "licks" that his whole life gave him admirers. Stylistically, he continued Tommy Dorsey's game, giving it a new, more technical direction through his doodle-tounge.

Lexical entries

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personal data
SURNAME Fontana, Carl
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Fontana, Charles
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz trombonist
DATE OF BIRTH July 18, 1928
PLACE OF BIRTH Monroe , Louisiana (USA)
DATE OF DEATH October 9, 2003
Place of death Las Vegas , Nevada (USA)