Mouse Bonati Portrait Of A Jazz Hero

Description: Personnel: Mouse Bonati (as), Mike Mala, Benny Clements, Carmell Jones (tp), Jack Martin (flh), Tommy Butcher, Chick Powers (ts), George Harris (bs), Frank Strazzeri, Ed Frank (p), Phil Darois, Jimmy Johnson, Bob Whitlock (b), Earl Palmer, Nick Martinis (d), Dan Terry (big band lead) Joe “Mouse” Bonati was arguably one of jazz history’s most-underrated alto saxophone players. Today his name remains unknown to many and is completely ignored by jazz dictionaries and encyclopedias. This skilled altoist was born in Buffalo, NY, in 1930. His career was interrupted several times due to being arrested, and later convicted, of drug possession, forcing him to change cities frequently to continue working as a musician. He moved to New Orleans in the early 1950s, where he became involved with a group of hungry, young musicians in its emerging modern jazz scene. In 1955, he made his recording debut with Jack Martin’s Octet, followed by his first-and-only recordings as the leader of his own sextet–both for the tiny local label Patio Records. On these rare and rather excellent sides, we can enjoy Bonati’s fiery passionate bebop alto sax style, fluent in the Bird tradition, and his tasteful and relaxed –but no less intense– groove on the ballads. From then on, Mouse’s reputation grew quickly. At one point, he was even considered by Dizzy Gillespie for a place in his band in Louisiana, but the authorities stopped him from playing as he was on probation. After a short time in San Francisco and Las Vegas, he briefly joined Frank Strazzeri’s new quintet in Los Angeles in 1962, which appeared on noted disc jockey Frank Evans’ TV show 'Frankly Jazz.' Strazzeri’s quintet also recorded for Dick Bock's Pacific Jazz label, but the session wound up unreleased, resulting in another bad experience for Mouse. He moved around the country for several years before settling in Las Vegas in 1972. There, he played in show and jazz bands like the Dan Terry “Big” Big Band, with whom he made his last recordings in 1981. This unsung jazz hero died of cancer in 1983, and with this release, we hope to give Joe “Mouse” Bonati the recognition he deserved as one of the great alto saxophonists of modern jazz history. —Jordi Pujol TRACKLIST: 01. Scherzo (Jack Martin) 2:45 02. Back (Joseph Bonati) 2:27 03. One Blind Mouse (Jack Martin) 2:43 04. Mouse’s House (Jack Martin) 2:40 05. Improvisation (Jack Martin) 2:02 * 06. What a Difference a Day Made (Adams-Grever) 2:43 07. New Orleans (Hoagy Carmichael) 4:39 08. Kids Delight (Frank Strazzeri) 5:25 09. Injun Joe (Frank Strazzeri) 3:29 10. Lope In (Frank Strazzeri) 1:40 11. Jasmine (Terry-Roland) 3:56 12. Lover Man (Davis-Sherman-Ramirez) 3:09 13. Tuxedo Junction (Hawkins-Feyne) 3:27 14. Stompin at the White House (Terry-Roland) 2:43 15. Redwood Cathedral (Terry-Roland) 3:08 16. Cry Me a River (Arthur Hamilton) 2:59 17. Taxi Dance (Terry-Roland) 5:43 Sources: Tracks #1-6, from the 10-inch LP “New Sounds from New Orleans” (Patio MJL-1) Tracks # 7-10, from the 'Frankly Jazz' TV show Tracks #11-17, from the 12-inch LP “Dan Terry Big Big Band” (Metronome M1010) Personnel on #1: JACK MARTIN OCTETTE Mike Mala, trumpet; Jack Martin, flugelhorn; Joe “Mouse” Bonati, alto sax; Tommy Butcher, tenor sax; George Harris, baritone sax; Frank Strazzeri, piano; Phil Darois, bass; Earl Palmer, drums. Recorded in New Orleans, WDSU Studios, 1955 Personnel on #2-6: MOUSE BONATI SEXTET Benny Clements, trumpet; Joe “Mouse” Bonati, alto sax; Chick Powers, tenor sax; Ed Frank, piano; Jimmy Johnson, bass; Earl Palmer, drums. (*) Mouse Bonati, alto and tenor sax, piano; Jack Martin, bass, drums, French horn, and bass clarinet. Recorded in New Orleans, WDSU Studios, 1955 Personnel on #7-10: FRANK STRAZZERI QUINTET Carmell Jones, trumpet; Joe “Mouse” Bonati, alto sax; Frank Strazzeri, piano; Bob Whitlock, bass; Nick Martinis, drums. Frank Evans, emcee. Recorded in Los Angeles, live at Frank Evans’ TV show 'Frankly Jazz,' November 28, 1962 Personnel on #11-17: THE DAN TERRY BIG BIG BAND Carl Saunders, Dave Culp, Thomas Ehlen, Greg Marciel, trumpets; Vinnie Tanno, Tony Klatka, Dick Wright, Lou Dell, flugelhorns; Jim Hurtzinger, Eddie Morgan, Suzuki Hiroshi, Roy Weigand, Gary Russell, Curtis Miller, trombones; Joe Romano, Phil DiRe’, alto saxes; Joe “Mouse” Bonati, tenor & soprano sax; Jerry Pinter, tenor sax; Benny Bailey, baritone sax; Ronnie Feuer, Scott Tibbs, piano; Don Overberg, guitar; Bill Plavin, bass; Santo Savino, Jimmy Manone, drums; Darius, Raphael Artiles, percussion. Recorded in Las Vegas, February 12 & 13, 1981 Liner notes by Jordi Pujol Original recordings produced by Tom Hicks (#1-6), Frank Evans & Dick Bock (#7-10), Dan Terry (#11-17) All tracks issued for the first time on CD This compilation produced for CD release by Jordi Pujol © 2022 by Fresh Sound Records Hi Fi / Stereo · 24-Bit Digitally Remastered

Price: 19.99 USD

Location: Lake Hughes, California

End Time: 2025-01-05T22:05:37.000Z

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