Dave Pell
Encyclopedia
Dave Pell is an American jazz
saxophonist and bandleader born in New York City
.
Pell first played in his teens with the big band
s of Tony Pastor
, Bob Astor, and Bobby Sherwood
, and then moved to California
in the middle of the 1940s. There he played on Bob Crosby
's radio show in 1946, and was a member of Les Brown
's band from 1947 to 1955. In 1953 he began working with his own ensembles, mostly as an octet
; among the players were Pepper Adams
, Benny Carter
, Mel Lewis
, Red Mitchell
, Marty Paich
, and Art Pepper
. These ensembles recorded in the 1950s for Atlantic
, Kapp
, Coral
, Capitol
, and RCA Victor; alongside this, he played as a sideman for Shorty Rogers
, Pete Rugolo
, Benny Goodman
, and Gene Krupa
. He also produced in the 1950s and 1960s for Tops, Uni
and Liberty
; among his credits in production were some singles by Gary Lewis & the Playboys
. In the 1970s he assembled the group Prez Conference, a Lester Young
tribute ensemble. In the 1980s he returned to the octet format, and played on and off into the 1990s.
While living in North Hollywood, Dave Pell was married to Babette and had 2 daughters, Sandra and Suzanne.
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
saxophonist and bandleader born in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
.
Pell first played in his teens with the big band
Big band
A big band is a type of musical ensemble associated with jazz and the Swing Era typically consisting of rhythm, brass, and woodwind instruments totaling approximately twelve to twenty-five musicians...
s of Tony Pastor
Tony Pastor
Tony Pastor was an American impresario, variety performer and theatre owner who became one of the founding forces behind American vaudeville in the mid-to-late nineteenth century...
, Bob Astor, and Bobby Sherwood
Bobby Sherwood
Bobby Sherwood was a trumpet player, bandleader, actor and composer. He appeared in three films including Pal Joey in 1957. His sons Billy and Michael are both musicians....
, and then moved to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
in the middle of the 1940s. There he played on Bob Crosby
Bob Crosby
George Robert "Bob" Crosby was an American dixieland bandleader and vocalist, best known for his group the Bob-Cats.-Family:...
's radio show in 1946, and was a member of Les Brown
Les Brown (bandleader)
Les Brown, Sr. and the Band of Renown are a big band that began in the late 1930s, initially as the group Les Brown and His Blue Devils that Brown led while a student at Duke University. He was the first president of the Los Angeles chapter of the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences...
's band from 1947 to 1955. In 1953 he began working with his own ensembles, mostly as an octet
Octet (music)
In music, an octet is a musical ensemble consisting of eight instruments or voices, or a musical composition written for such an ensemble.-Octets in classical music:Octets in classical music are one of the largest groupings of chamber music...
; among the players were Pepper Adams
Pepper Adams
Park Frederick "Pepper" Adams III was a jazz baritone saxophonist and composer. He composed 43 pieces, was the leader on twenty albums, and participated in 600 sessions as a sideman.-Biography:...
, Benny Carter
Benny Carter
Bennett Lester Carter was an American jazz alto saxophonist, clarinetist, trumpeter, composer, arranger, and bandleader. He was a major figure in jazz from the 1930s to the 1990s, and was recognized as such by other jazz musicians who called him King...
, Mel Lewis
Mel Lewis
Mel Lewis was an American drummer, jazz musician and band leader. He was born Melvin Sokoloff in Buffalo, New York to Russian immigrant parents....
, Red Mitchell
Red Mitchell
Keith Moore "Red" Mitchell Keith Moore "Red" Mitchell Keith Moore "Red" Mitchell (September 20, 1927, New York City - November 8, 1992, Salem, Oregon, was an American jazz double-bassist, composer, lyricist, and poet. He was the brother of Whitey Mitchell....
, Marty Paich
Marty Paich
Martin Louis "Marty" Paich was an American pianist, composer, arranger, producer, music director and conductor....
, and Art Pepper
Art Pepper
Art Pepper , born Arthur Edward Pepper, Jr., was an American alto saxophonist and clarinetist.About Pepper, Scott Yanow of All Music stated, "In the 1950s he was one of the few altoists that was able to develop his own sound despite the dominant influence of Charlie Parker" and: "When Art Pepper...
. These ensembles recorded in the 1950s for Atlantic
Atlantic Records
Atlantic Records is an American record label best known for its many recordings of rhythm and blues, rock and roll, and jazz...
, Kapp
Kapp Records
Kapp Records was an independent record label started in 1954 by David Kapp, brother of Jack Kapp . David Kapp founded his own label after stints with Decca Records and RCA Victor Records. Kapp licensed its records to London Records for release in the UK.In 1967, David Kapp sold his label to MCA Inc...
, Coral
Coral Records
Coral Records was a Decca Records subsidiary formed in 1949. It recorded pop artists McGuire Sisters and Teresa Brewer, as well as rock and roller Buddy Holly....
, Capitol
Capitol Records
Capitol Records is a major United States based record label, formerly located in Los Angeles, but operating in New York City as part of Capitol Music Group. Its former headquarters building, the Capitol Tower, is a major landmark near the corner of Hollywood and Vine...
, and RCA Victor; alongside this, he played as a sideman for Shorty Rogers
Shorty Rogers
Milton “Shorty” Rogers , born Milton Rajonsky in Great Barrington, Massachusetts, was one of the principal creators of West Coast jazz. He played both the trumpet and flugelhorn, and was in demand for his skills as an arranger. Rogers worked first as a professional musician with Will Bradley and...
, Pete Rugolo
Pete Rugolo
Pietro "Pete" Rugolo was an Italian-born jazz composer and arranger.-Life and career:Rugolo was born in San Piero Patti, Sicily, Italy. His family emigrated to the United States in 1920 and settled in Santa Rosa, California...
, Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
, and Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa
Gene Krupa was an American jazz and big band drummer and composer, known for his highly energetic and flamboyant style.-Biography:...
. He also produced in the 1950s and 1960s for Tops, Uni
Uni Records
Uni Records was a record label owned by MCA Inc. The brand, which long featured a distinct UNi logo, was established in 1966 by MCA executive Ned Tanen and developed by music industry veteran Russ Regan...
and Liberty
Liberty Records
Liberty Records was a United States-based record label. It was started by chairman Simon Waronker in 1955 with Al Bennett as president and Theodore Keep as chief engineer. It was reactivated in 2001 in the United Kingdom and had two previous revivals.-1950s:...
; among his credits in production were some singles by Gary Lewis & the Playboys
Gary Lewis & the Playboys
Gary Lewis & the Playboys were a 1960s rock group fronted by Gary Lewis, son of comedian Jerry Lewis. They are best known for their 1965 Billboard Hot 100 number-one single "This Diamond Ring."-Original members:* Gary Lewis - Drums and vocals...
. In the 1970s he assembled the group Prez Conference, a Lester Young
Lester Young
Lester Willis Young , nicknamed "Prez", was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and clarinetist. He also played trumpet, violin, and drums....
tribute ensemble. In the 1980s he returned to the octet format, and played on and off into the 1990s.
While living in North Hollywood, Dave Pell was married to Babette and had 2 daughters, Sandra and Suzanne.
Discography
- The Dave Pell Octet Plays Irving BerlinIrving BerlinIrving Berlin was an American composer and lyricist of Jewish heritage, widely considered one of the greatest songwriters in American history.His first hit song, "Alexander's Ragtime Band", became world famous...
(Kapp/Fresh Sound Records, 1953) with Don FagerquistDon FagerquistDonald Fagerquist was a small group, big band, and studio jazz trumpet player from the West Coast of the United States...
, Ray Sims - The Dave Pell Octet Plays Again (Fresh Sound Records, 1954)
- The Dave Pell Octet: I Had The Craziest Dream (Fresh Sound Records, 1956) with Don Fagerquist, Bob GordonBob Gordon (saxophonist)Bob Gordon was an American cool jazz baritone saxophonist born in St. Louis, Missouri, best-known as a sideman for musicians like Stan Kenton, Shelly Manne, Chet Baker, Maynard Ferguson, trombonist Herbie Harper and tenor saxophonist Jack Montrose, among others.-Selected recordings:* Moods in Jazz...
- The Dave Pell Octet - Jazz Goes Dancing (Prom To Prom) (RCA/Fresh Sound Records, 1956) with Bob BatesBob Bates (musician)Bob Bates was an American jazz bassist.Bates was born in Pocatello, Idaho. His mother was an organist; his brother is the bassist Norman Bates. As a youth he played tuba, trumpet, and trombone. He studied classical bass from 1944 to 1948 and played with Sonny Dunham in 1947 and with Jack Fina from...
, Don Fagerquist, Ray Sims - The Dave Pell Octet - A Pell Of Time (RCA/Fresh Sound Records, 1957) with Pepper AdamsPepper AdamsPark Frederick "Pepper" Adams III was a jazz baritone saxophonist and composer. He composed 43 pieces, was the leader on twenty albums, and participated in 600 sessions as a sideman.-Biography:...
, Marty PaichMarty PaichMartin Louis "Marty" Paich was an American pianist, composer, arranger, producer, music director and conductor....
, Paul MoerPaul MoerPaul Moerschbacher, better known as Paul Moer , was an American jazz pianist.Moer attended the University of Miami, graduating in 1951, and following this played frequently on the West Coast jazz scene with Benny Carter, Vido Musso, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, Bill Holman, and Shorty Rogers...
, Mel LewisMel LewisMel Lewis was an American drummer, jazz musician and band leader. He was born Melvin Sokoloff in Buffalo, New York to Russian immigrant parents.... - The Dave Pell Octet - Campus Hop: Jazz Goes Dancing (RCA/Fresh Sound Records, 1957) with Jack SheldonJack SheldonJack Sheldon is an American bebop and West Coast jazz trumpeter, singer, and actor. He is a trumpet player and was a comedian on The Merv Griffin Show, as well as the voice heard on several episodes of the educational music television series Schoolhouse Rock.-Biography:Sheldon was born in...
, Bob EnevoldsenBob EnevoldsenBob Enevoldsen was a West Coast jazz tenor saxophonist and valve trombonist born in Billings, Montana, probably best known for his work with Marty Paich. He also did sessions with Art Pepper and Shorty Rogers, and later extensively played with Shelley Manne...
, Paul MoerPaul MoerPaul Moerschbacher, better known as Paul Moer , was an American jazz pianist.Moer attended the University of Miami, graduating in 1951, and following this played frequently on the West Coast jazz scene with Benny Carter, Vido Musso, Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, Bill Holman, and Shorty Rogers...
, Mel Lewis