Conte Candoli
b. Secondo Candoli, 12 July 1927, Mishawaka, Indiana, USA. At the age of 13 Candoli was already showing a prodigious talent playing the trumpet, and studying alongside his older brother, Pete Candoli, with whom he performed briefly in the Woody Herman band at the early age of 16. He went back home to finish school, then rejoined Herman but was drafted into the army. After leaving the services he joined a small group led by ex-Herman bassist Chubby Jackson, with whom he toured Scandinavia in 1947. During the next few years Candoli worked with several bands, including Charlie Ventura's, but spent most of the early '50s, very successfully, with Stan Kenton. Candoli worked with numerous small groups, sometimes as leader, and was an important contributor to the development of west coast jazz, the so-called ‘cool school’. In the '60s he played with Terry Gibbs, was with Herman again, worked extensively with Shelly Manne, and returned to Kenton as a member of the LA Neophonic Orchestra. From time to time he has also worked in a small group as co-leader with his brother and through the '70s and '80s continued to perform in clubs and at festivals, making regular recordings with a wide range of musical associates, and was a member of Supersax. Candoli's playing is characterized by a fluid, reflective approach while his warm and full sound adds immeasurably to his inventive solos.