wbamb83392

The best sounding lead players Ive heard in order:

Frank Beach - Frank Comstock orchestra (at least I think he's the lead, tough to tell from the album credits. WOW!!)

Jon Faddis - w/ canadian brass and friends, sounded great

Conrad Gozzo - Pete Rugolo orchestra

Wayne Bergeron - Tom Kubis band

Buddy Childers - Stan Kenton orchestra

Larry Gianni

Hi wbamb83392

I'm so glad you mentioned Frank Beach. He is one of those great lead players , that because of an earlly death , like Chet Ferritti, Nat Pavone, Danny Styles, Paul Hubinon, isnot mentioned in these types of discussion enough. One thing about Frank Beach, he has the destinction of being the very first Stan Kenton lead trumpet when Stan first started his Big Band.

He was a " heavy-hitter " on the West Coast scene for many years. I'm told he rivalled Gozzo as far a sound and power.

If anyone see's any re-issue CD with Frank Beach on it, buy it, you won't be disapointed. He usually can be found on the Terry Gibb's albums and Pete Rugalo / Shorty Rogers collaberations

Gearhead stuff:

Frank Beach
1948 Besson .470 Meha and Calicchio 1s/2 LB / Reeves 42s/692 and a Calicchio custom

Near the end of his life, he was an Olds endorser ( along with Bobby Shew, Pete and conti Condoli, Uan Rasey and Ollie Mitchel)playing the Olds" Studio" model.

psalt

Larry. Can you tell us more about Frank Beach. When did he pass away and who were his teachers. For one of the all time LA studio greats, very little is written about him.
On the subject of Nat Pavone, was he a member of the Newport Youth Band in the late 50's? I know he used to room with Alan Rubin who I think was also a member of Marshall Brown's band.
Peter Salt.

Larry Gianni

Peter,

I do know a little about each person Frank Beach and Nat Pavone,
but a couple of guys out here really know them first hand.

Nat Pavone played on the immortal Woody Herman album with a young Gary Grant (Gary was right out of NTSU taking over the lead trumpet chair form legendary Bill Chase, big shoes to fill.)
Nat played lead trumpet for Maynard in one of the late 60's MF dreamland bands.

Sal Marquez, the very first trumpet player on the Jay Leno tonight show band after Johnny C left, also was on the 1968 Woody Herman Big Band with Nat.

Frank Beach who played with Benny Goodman , Glenn Miller , Les Brown and Billy May. Frank Beach was also credit with the distinction of being Stan Kenton's first lead trumpet player. He called by the top arrangers to play lead trumpet on the session if Gozzo was not availbale.

Frank Beach was member of the generation of Gozzo, Pete Candoli , Bud Brisbois, Ray Triscari , Mannie Klein era of Hollywood trumpet legends. He was regular on the Billy May and Henry Mancini dates. he was a player of that caliber. A couple guys still atound town that new him well were Uan Rasey, Pete Candoli and Jack Sheldon. I'll get back to you after I speak with them.

Larry