Carmen Mastren

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Carmen Mastren (born October 6, 1913 in Cohoes , New York as Carmen Nicholas Mastandrea , † March 31, 1981 in Valley Stream on Long Island ) was an American jazz musician ( guitar , also banjo and violin ) and arranger . He was an "excellent rhythm guitarist " influenced by Carl Kress , Dick McDonough and George Van Eps .

Live and act

Mastren first learned the violin and began his professional career as a musician in 1931. In 1934 he went to New York, where he worked in the band of Wingy Manone and Joe Marsala . There he recorded the title Swingin 'on That Famous Door in 1935 with Marsala, Sid Weiss and Roy Eldridge .

From 1936 to 1940 he played in the orchestra of Tommy Dorsey ( Stardust on the Moon , 1937). He was featured in the polls of Down Beat (1937) and Metronome (1939, 1940) magazines as the best guitarist. He also wrote the arrangements for some of the most popular Dorsey titles such as Liebestraum, Dark Eyes, Melody in F (1937). During this time he also recorded with the Delta Four ("Farewell Blues", 1935), Billie Holiday , Mildred Bailey , 1939 with the Metronome All-Stars and with Sidney Bechet and Muggsy Spaniers Big Four ("Four or Five Times", 1940 ). Then he worked again with Joe Marsala ("Reunion in Harlem", "Lover Register", 1940/41).

During the Second World War he played in the Glenn Miller Air Force Band from 1943 to 1945 . In the 1940s, Mastren was also musical director and orchestral conductor for Morton Downey . In 1945/46 he also played with Ray McKinley and Bud Freeman . From 1946 to 1970 he worked for the Today Show and The Tonight Show radio station NBC . Mastren also played with Raymond Scott , Bobby Hackett , Quincy Jones , Dick Hyman and Mel Powell throughout his career . Mastren died of a heart attack at his home in Valley Stream, Long Island, at age 68.

Selection discography

With Wingy Manone & Joe Marsala

With Dick Hyman and His Orchestra

With Bobby Hackett

  • Jazz Impressions Of Lionel Bart's "Oliver!" ( Epic Records )

With Quincy Jones

With Tommy Dorsey

With Sidney Bechet & Muggsy Spanier

  • Bechet-Spanier Quartet (Allegro Elite)

With Bud Freeman

  • Jazz Vignettes on "Tea For Two" (Mercury Records)

With the Wolverine Orchestra

Lexical entries

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ W. Kampmann Reclams Jazzlexikon , p. 337
personal data
SURNAME Mastren, Carmen
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Mastandrea, Carmen Nicholas (full name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American jazz musician (guitar, also banjo and violin) and arranger
DATE OF BIRTH October 6, 1913
PLACE OF BIRTH Cohoes , New York
DATE OF DEATH March 31, 1981
Place of death Valley Stream on Long Island