Jack Costanzo

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Jack Costanzo (2003)

Jack Costanzo (born September 24, 1919 in Chicago , Illinois - † August 18, 2018 ) was an American percussionist . He was the first bongo player to perform with jazz bands.

Act

Constanzo started out as a dancer with his wife and was inspired to play bongo by the performance of a Puerto Rican band with Chino Pozo . At first he used the bongos, with which he primarily dealt with as an autodidact , in his dance show. Then he played in the Latin bands Lecuona Cuban Boys, Desi Arnaz and Rene Touzet.

Constanzo was a member of Stan Kenton's orchestra from 1947 ; Arranger Pete Rugolo wrote "Bongo Riff" as a piece in which he could show his skills. Kenton introduced him as a soloist in other titles such as "Chorale for Brass, Piano, and Bongo", "Fugue for Rhythm Section" or "Journey to Brazil". Between 1949 and 1953 Constanzo was a member of Nat King Cole's band , and then worked as a studio musician with Peggy Lee , Betty Grable , Harry James , Judy Garland , Jane Powell , Ray Anthony , Martin & Lewis , Frances Faye , Dinah Shore , Xavier Cugat , Frank Sinatra , Eddie Fisher . From 1956 he led his own band, with which he presented several successful albums. After his main instrument, which he introduced to jazz in the 1950s, he became “Mr. Called Bongo “.

Constanzo has appeared in a variety of films including "Visitor to a Small Planet" and "The Delicate Delinquent" (starring Jerry Lewis ), Danny Kaye's "Man from the Diners Club," Red Skelton's "Stool Pigeon Number 1," and "Harem Scarum ”with Elvis Presley . He taught Marlon Brando to bongos on a television show. He taught other Hollywood greats , including Gary Cooper .

Discographic notes

  • Mr. Bongo Has Brass (1956)
  • Costanzo Plus Tubbs Equation in Rhythm (1962)
  • Back from Havana (2001)
  • Scorching the Skins (2002)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Jack Costanzo, le Mister Bongo du jazz, décède à 98 ans. France Musique, August 20, 2018, accessed on August 21, 2018 (French).
personal data
SURNAME Costanzo, Jack
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American percussionist
DATE OF BIRTH September 24, 1919
PLACE OF BIRTH Chicago , Illinois
DATE OF DEATH 18th August 2018