Daily Dose Of Jazz…

Sam Noto was born on April 17, 1930 in Buffalo, New York, where he learned to play the trumpet. While still in his early twenties he was invited to join Stan Kenton’s band as the lead trumpeter, playing with him full-time until 1958. He returned to the Kenton band in 1960 after a year-long stint touring Europe with Louie Bellson and Pearl Bailey in 1959.

Between 1964 and 1967 for two separate periods, Sam was also a member of the Count Basie Orchestra. He worked primarily in Las Vegas, Nevada after 1969. It was while living and working in Vegas, he became acquainted with trumpeter Red Rodney who was influential in Noto’s prolific recording career with Xanadu.

Relocating to Toronto in 1975 he quickly became a first-call studio player and member of Rob McConnell’s “The Boss Brass” for a number of years in the ‘80s. Noto established his own successful groups including the Sam Noto Quintet, performing frequently throughout Toronto in the ‘90s and early 2000s.

He recorded six albums as a leader and another eighteen as a sideman working with Count Basie, Stan Kenton, Rob McConnell, Frank Rosolino, Red Rodney,  Don Menza, Buddy Rich, Joe Romano, Charlie Parker, Mel Lewis, Dizzy Gillespie, Louie Bellson, and Kenny Drew. He has had recording associations with Xanadu, Muse, Capitol, Sea Breeze, Dot, Coliseum, Reprise, Supermono, and Unisson record labels.

Now residing in Fort Erie, Ontario, trumpeter and bop soloist Sam Noto continues to play in and around the Toronto area, as well as closer to home in Buffalo, New York jazz clubs.

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