Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Carmine D’Amico was born on December 22, 1954 in Brooklyn, New York. His father gave him the choice of piano or the guitar and he chose the latter. Taught by his father who instilled in him that each note must have meaning. At age 9 he recorded Who Wears Short Shorts, which became a big hit. He was then signed to Capitol Records and went on tour , including television appearances on American Bandstand, The Allen Fried Show, and Soul Train. From age 9 – 11 during the 1950s he played on hit records by the Shirelles, Connie Francis, Fabian, Frankie Avalon, and others.
He won academic scholarships to both high school and college, graduating valedictorian from Trinity High School with a 99.9 average. Carmine found himself in pre-med but then transferred to Queens College and majored in music. Studying in between touring with Tammy Grimes, Liza Minelli and Ed Ames, he graduated with a B.A. in Music Education.
Then came military service with an assignment with an Army Dance Band. Discharged, he returned to New York and resumed his career activities, first joining Ed Ames, recording two of his biggest hits, Try To Remember and My Cup Runneth Over.” D’Amico then became staff guitarist on the Mike Douglas Show and remained for three years.
He went on to work with Bobby Darrin, Sergio Franchi, Patti Austin, Englebert Humperdinck, Vic Damone, Manhattan Transfer, Shirley Maclaine, Henry Mancini, Michele Legrande, Bernadette Peters, The Pointer Sisters, The O’Jays, Jack Jones, Lainie Kazan, Elisa Kashi, Connie Francis, Cleo Laine, Shirley Bassey and Josephine Baker.
He worked with Bernard Purdie, Steve Gadd, Ron Carter, John Faddis, Lou Marini, Lionel Hampton, Teo Macero, Bob Cranshaw, Tom Barney, John Frosk, Doc Severinsen, John Tropea, Mel Torme, Mel Lewis, and Thad Jones, among others.
Outside of jazz he recorded with Bee Gees, the Stylistics, Ray, Goodman and Brown, Stephanie Mills, Vanessa Williams, Patti LaBelle, Freda Payne, Tina Turner, Ben Vereen and played on all of the Sugar Hill Productions. During this prolific period and seemingly height of opportunities for working musicians, NARAS voted him Most Valuable Guitar Player in 1986 and 1987.
Guitarist, producer, composer, arranger and sideman Carmine D’Amico, who over the course of his career received 16 Grammys, died at the age of 67 in Casa Grande, Arizona on Oct. 2, 2011.
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Requisites
Wheelin’ & Dealin’ ~ Frank Wess, John Coltrane, Paul Quinichette, Mal Waldron, Doug Watkins and Arthur Taylor | By Eddie Carter
This morning’s album from the library is an excellent 1957 jam session by Frank Wess, John Coltrane, Paul Quinichette, Mal Waldron, Doug Watkins and Arthur Taylor. Wheelin’ & Dealin’ (Prestige PRLP 7131) is an outstanding album featuring an impressive team of musicians. The ensemble consists of John Coltrane and Paul Quinichette on tenor saxophones, Frank Wess on flute (tracks: A1, B1, B2) and tenor saxophone (track: A2), Mal Waldron on piano, Doug Watkins on bass, and Arthur Taylor on drums. The copy of this album that I own is the 2025 Worldwide Stereo audiophile reissue (Craft Recordings CR00862).
The album opens with Things Ain’t What They Used To Be by Mercer Ellington and Ted Parsons. Frank’s flute sets a welcoming tone for the sextet’s laid-back melody before moving into a relaxing first solo. Paul soars with graceful ease, then John follows him effortlessly with a mellow reading, then the saxophones revisit the sequence. Mal responds with a breezy interpretation, and Doug takes a quick walk, leading to the closing chorus. Wheelin’ by Mal Waldron takes off with the ensemble’s spirited theme. Coltrane leads the way with an energetic statement. Quinichette lets loose next, then Wess wails on the tenor saxophone. Waldron delivers a lengthy, vigorous performance. Taylor adds a brief footnote that leads to the ensemble reprising the theme and a rousing finish.
Side Two opens with Robbins’ Nest by Illinois Jacquet, Bob Russell, and Sir Charles Thompson, a tribute to DJ Fred Robbins. Frank, returning on flute, gently guides the ensemble through the melody, then enters like a cool breeze for the first solo. Paul then offers some down-home cooking; John makes every note count in a relaxed interpretation. Mal then keeps the mood easygoing, and Doug takes a brief walk before the closing ensemble. Mal Waldron’s Dealin’ starts with the sextet’s collective melody; Waldron leads with an inviting opening solo. Wess, on flute, produces a warm, fluid sound. Quinichette steps in for a few relaxing choruses, then Coltrane flows with fresh, creative ideas. Wess makes a short return on tenor sax, and Waldron has the last word before the group reunites to close the set.
The dynamic combination of Coltrane and Quinichette on tenor saxophones infuses the sextet with vibrant energy, establishing an engaging lead voice for the group. Coltrane, poised on the threshold of stardom, plays with deep emotion and a sense of adventurousness, while Quinichette’s silky, relaxed approach pays homage to Lester Young’s signature sound. Frank Wess further elevates the ensemble’s texture, seamlessly alternating between flute and tenor sax; his flute contributions, in particular, bring a light, breezy quality to the arrangements. Supporting them, the rhythm section of Waldron, Watkins, and Taylor lays down a consistent, swinging foundation, artfully mixing delicacy with spirited drive to enhance each soloist’s performance throughout the album.
Bob Weinstock supervised the first session, and Rudy Van Gelder was at the recording console. Kevin Gray did an excellent job mastering this audiophile reissue from the original tapes at Cohearant Audio. The sound quality truly shines, offering a spacious soundstage and vibrant clarity that makes you feel like the musicians are right in front of you. The record is pressed on 180-gram Virgin Vinyl and is silent until the music begins. If you’re craving a fantastic Hard-Bop album, I highly recommend checking out Wheelin’ & Dealin’ by Frank Wess, John Coltrane, Paul Quinichette, Mal Waldron, Doug Watkins, and Arthur Taylor on your next record-shopping trip. It’s an outstanding album by the talented group that later became The Prestige All-Stars, and I believe it will become a beloved favorite in the libraries of both new and seasoned jazz fans for many years to come!
Things Ain’t What They Used To Be – Source: JazzStandards.com © 2025 by Edward Thomas Carter
Wheelin’ & Dealin’: 1957 | Frank Wess, John Coltrane, Paul Quinichette, Mal Waldron, Doug Watkins, Arthur Taylor
For the serious collector of jazz… #Jazz #Classic #Collectible #Music #Notorious
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Ze Luis was born José Luis Segneri Oliveira was born December 17, 1957 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil and as a child lived next to Antonio Carlos Jobim in the historic Ipanema neighborhood. Early on Oliveira began playing flute and he graduated from Pro-Art Conservatoire in flute and traditional harmony in 1975. Two years later he continued his studies in Performance Arts at Villa-Lobos Institute and soon after studied with renowned Brazilian saxophonist and clarinet player Paulo Moura.
The mid-70s saw him becoming heavily influenced by the album Native Dancer, a collaboration between Wayne Shorter and Milton Nascimento. He was also drawn to the music of Ian Anderson, leader and flutist of the British band Jethro Tull.
Zé’s first professional engagement began with Brazilian vocalists Ney Matogrosso and Luiz Melodia. Oliveira met pianist Tomás Improta while working with Brazilian actress and singer Zezé Motta, who at that time was working with emerging Caetano Veloso and recorded on his album and eventually joined Veloso’s newly formed band.
During this time Oliveira worked extensively with Gilberto Gil, The Wailers, Chico & Caetano on Globo TV and played with Chico Buarque, Rita Lee, Milton Nascimento, João Bosco, Elza Soares, and Mercedes Sosa.
He moved to New York City in 1990 and began studying with saxophonists Joe Lovano and Ted Nash at New York University. In 2004, Oliveira received his Masters in Composition and Arranging from the Juilliard School. His career includes multiple Grammy Award nominations.
Throughout the 1990s, Oliveira continued to record and perform with hundreds of artists from different genres, composed and performed for choreographer and dancer Patricia Hoffbauer and became a part of the New York Samba Band with Duduka da Fonseca, Romero Lubambo, Cyro Baptista and Nilson Matta.
Saxophonist and flutist Zé Luis Oliveira is the current producer of Just Play, a traveling improvisational music series and global storytelling project.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Graham Leslie Lionel Clark was born on December 16, 1959 in England. He plays the violin as his first instrument, sings and also the electric guitar. As a freelance violinist he is adept in most styles of jazz, rock, blues and pop, however, he specializes in improvisation.
He worked with Daevid Allen from 1988 to 2014, and has also worked with Andy Sheppard, Keith Tippett, Tim Richards, Phil Lee, Paz, Brian Godding, Elbow, Lamb, Bryan Glancy, Little Sparrow, Jah Wobble, Graham Massey, Louis Gordon and Liz Fletcher.
Violinist Graham Clark, who has been featured on seven albums, continues to perform and record.
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Daily Dose Of Jazz…
Róbert Rátonyi was born December 13, 1953 in Budapest, Hungary. At the age of six he started to learn solfeggio before turning to the piano. He later became a student of Klára Géczy Fazekas, however, following his art studies and the grammar school graduation, he attended the Bartók Béla Music Conservatory, specializing in jazz.
His style of playing is influenced by Bill Evans, Ahmad Jamal, Bob James, Kenny Barron, Andy Laverne and Herbie Hancock. Beginning in 1975 he has played together with all leading Hungarian jazz musicians in concerts and festivals at home and abroad.
Besides jazz, he is one of the most frequently engaged studio musicians. He has written and composed music for numerous films, theatre, shows and advertisements. He is also a consummate accompanist for many vocalists.
Pianist, arranger, and composer Róbert Rátonyi, known for his work in jazz and studio music, while also teaching jazz piano and electronic instruments, has been awarded the Artisjus Award and continues to perform and record.
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