Gus Bivona
Encyclopedia
Gus Bivona was an American
musician.
This reed player—covering a range of clarinets, saxophones, and flute—was at the height of the big band era. Following World War II
, he was a staff musician for the MGM Studio Orchestra
, playing on countless soundtracks and sessions. He later became a well-known sidekick of pianist, composer, comedian, and television host Steve Allen
. In the late '50s and early '60s, Gus Bivona began leading his own band, releasing albums under his own name for labels such as Mercury
and Warner Bros
.
, whom the saxophonist would get to record with later. Bivona's first instrument was violin, but he switched to a combination of alto saxophone and clarinet at the age of 16. His professional debut was in a band led by Spider Johnson, followed by dates all around New England in Leo Scalzi's Brunswick Orchestra. In 1935, Bivona began a lengthy stint with the Jimmy Monaco Orchestra, based out of New York City, and also worked with the Hudson-DeLange Orchestra, and spent several months with Bunny Berigan
in 1938. Through the end of the '30s, he also worked with bandleaders such as Will Hudson and Teddy Powell
.
from the fall of 1940 through the spring of 1941, just in time to match wits with the sizzling electric guitar solos of Charlie Christian
. Prior to joining the Naval Air Force Band, Bivona gigged with Jan Savitt
and Les Brown & His Band of Renown
. A series of high-profile gigs with Tommy Dorsey
and Bob Crosby
followed the end of the war, and in 1947 Bivona signed on with MGM
. Many studio sessions and freelance recordings were the result, carrying on into the '50s.
, the two would occasionally hit the concert trail, including a lengthy club residency at the Roundtable in New York City
. Music for Swingers: Gus Bivona Plays the Music of Steve Allen is one delightful documentation of this relationship, originally released in 1958 on Mercury
. The pair collaborated on many other West Coast jazz
recordings, always in the company of many of the top studio players and arrangers, such as Skip Martin
, Henry Mancini
and Pete Rugolo
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
musician.
This reed player—covering a range of clarinets, saxophones, and flute—was at the height of the big band era. Following World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was a staff musician for the MGM Studio Orchestra
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
, playing on countless soundtracks and sessions. He later became a well-known sidekick of pianist, composer, comedian, and television host Steve Allen
Steve Allen
Steve Allen may refer to:*Steve Allen , American musician, comedian, and writer*Steve Allen , presenter on the London-based talk radio station LBC 97.3...
. In the late '50s and early '60s, Gus Bivona began leading his own band, releasing albums under his own name for labels such as Mercury
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
and Warner Bros
Warner Bros. Records
Warner Bros. Records Inc. is an American record label. It was the foundation label of the present-day Warner Music Group, and now operates as a wholly owned subsidiary of that corporation. It maintains a close relationship with its former parent, Warner Bros. Pictures, although the two companies...
.
The 30s - Music Upbringings
He got his musical start under the close eye of his parents, both of whom were also musicians. His mother was a pianist, and his father was a guitarist, although not on the level of Charlie ChristianCharlie Christian
Charles Henry "Charlie" Christian was an American swing and jazz guitarist.Christian was an important early performer on the electric guitar, and is cited as a key figure in the development of bebop and cool jazz. He gained national exposure as a member of the Benny Goodman Sextet and Orchestra...
, whom the saxophonist would get to record with later. Bivona's first instrument was violin, but he switched to a combination of alto saxophone and clarinet at the age of 16. His professional debut was in a band led by Spider Johnson, followed by dates all around New England in Leo Scalzi's Brunswick Orchestra. In 1935, Bivona began a lengthy stint with the Jimmy Monaco Orchestra, based out of New York City, and also worked with the Hudson-DeLange Orchestra, and spent several months with Bunny Berigan
Bunny Berigan
Rowland Bernard "Bunny" Berigan was an American jazz trumpeter who rose to fame during the swing era, but whose virtuosity and influence were shortened by a losing battle with alcoholism that ended in his early death at age 33. He composed the jazz instrumentals "Chicken and Waffles" and "Blues"...
in 1938. Through the end of the '30s, he also worked with bandleaders such as Will Hudson and Teddy Powell
Teddy Powell
Teddy Powell was an American jazz guitarist, composer and big band leader...
.
The 40s & 50s - Big Bands
The first of Bivona's bands under his own name showed up in 1940, but work as a sideman in more established bands seemed to be more what he was after. This included a period with Benny GoodmanBenny 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...
from the fall of 1940 through the spring of 1941, just in time to match wits with the sizzling electric guitar solos of Charlie Christian
Charlie Christian
Charles Henry "Charlie" Christian was an American swing and jazz guitarist.Christian was an important early performer on the electric guitar, and is cited as a key figure in the development of bebop and cool jazz. He gained national exposure as a member of the Benny Goodman Sextet and Orchestra...
. Prior to joining the Naval Air Force Band, Bivona gigged with Jan Savitt
Jan Savitt
Jan Savitt was an American bandleader, musical arranger, and violinist....
and Les Brown & His Band of Renown
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...
. A series of high-profile gigs with Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
and Bob Crosby
Bob Crosby
George Robert "Bob" Crosby was an American dixieland bandleader and vocalist, best known for his group the Bob-Cats.-Family:...
followed the end of the war, and in 1947 Bivona signed on with MGM
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Inc. is an American media company, involved primarily in the production and distribution of films and television programs. MGM was founded in 1924 when the entertainment entrepreneur Marcus Loew gained control of Metro Pictures, Goldwyn Pictures Corporation and Louis B. Mayer...
. Many studio sessions and freelance recordings were the result, carrying on into the '50s.
Steve Allen
Once he connected with AllenSteve Allen
Steve Allen may refer to:*Steve Allen , American musician, comedian, and writer*Steve Allen , presenter on the London-based talk radio station LBC 97.3...
, the two would occasionally hit the concert trail, including a lengthy club residency at the Roundtable 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...
. Music for Swingers: Gus Bivona Plays the Music of Steve Allen is one delightful documentation of this relationship, originally released in 1958 on Mercury
Mercury Records
Mercury Records is a record label operating as a standalone company in the UK and as part of the Island Def Jam Motown Music Group in the US; both are subsidiaries of Universal Music Group. There is also a Mercury Records in Australia, which is a local artist and repertoire division of Universal...
. The pair collaborated on many other West Coast jazz
West coast jazz
West Coast jazz refers to various styles of jazz music that developed around Los Angeles and San Francisco during the 1950s. West Coast jazz is often seen as a sub-genre of cool jazz, which featured a less frenetic, calmer style than bebop or hard bop. The music tended to be more heavily arranged,...
recordings, always in the company of many of the top studio players and arrangers, such as Skip Martin
Skip Martin
Lloyd "Skip" Martin was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and music arranger....
, Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini
Henry Mancini was an American composer, conductor and arranger, best remembered for his film and television scores. He won a record number of Grammy Awards , plus a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award posthumously in 1995...
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...
.
Partial discography
| Artist | Album | Personnel | Dates |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gus Bivona and his Orchestra | Hey! Dig That Crazy Band! | Recorded: February 1956 at Universal Recording Studios, Chicago, IL | |
| Gus Bivona and his Orchestra | Blast Off! | 1958 | |
| The Great New Gus Bivona Band | Ballads, Bounce, & Bivona | Gus Bivona (Leader, Clarinet); Russell Cheever, Jack DuMont, Morris Crawford, William Ulyate (Saxophones); Frank Beach, Virgil Evans (Trumpets); Joe Howard, Richard Nash, Lloyd Ulyate, George Roberts (Trombones); Bill Miller (Piano); Red Mitchell (Bass); Vince Terri (Guitar); Mel Lewis (Drums) | 1959 |
| Gus Bivona and his Orchestra | Bivona Deals In Millions | 1960 | |
| Steve Allen and Gus Bivona and Hollywood's Greatest Musicians | Swingin' And Dancin' [Equivalent release to Music For Swingers (Mono)] | John Best, Pete Candoli, Conrad Gozzo, Manny Klein (trumpets); Joe Howard, Di Maio, George Roberts, Si Zentner (trombones); Gus Bivona (clarinet, alto sax); Mahlon Clark, Les Robinson (alto sax) Georgie Auld, Don Lodice (tenor sax); Pete Terry (bars); Jimmy Rowles (piano); Vince Terry (guitar); Joe Mondragon or Mike Rubin (bass); Alvin Stoller Alvin Stoller Alvin Stoller was an American jazz drummer. Though he seems to have been largely forgotten, he was held in high regard in the 1940s and 1950s... (drums); Steve Allen (composer); Hank Mancini, Skip Martin Skip Martin Lloyd "Skip" Martin was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and music arranger.... (arrangers) |
Recorded: March 18, 1957 - March 20, 1957 in Hollywood, CA |
| Steve Allen and Gus Bivona and Hollywoods Greatest Musicians | Music For Swingers [Equivalent release to Swingin' And Dancin (Stereo)] | John Best, Pete Candoli, Conrad Gozzo, Manny Klein (trumpets); Joe Howard, Di Maio, George Roberts, Si Zentner (trombones); Gus Bivona (clarinet, alto sax); Mahlon Clark, Les Robinson (alto sax) Georgie Auld, Don Lodice (tenor sax); Pete Terry (bars); Jimmy Rowles (piano); Vince Terry (guitar); Joe Mondragon or Mike Rubin (bass); Alvin Stoller (drums); Steve Allen (composer); Hank Mancini, Skip Martin (arrangers) | Recorded: March 18, 1957 - March 20, 1957 in Hollywood, CA |
| Terry Gibbs/Steve Allen/Gus Bivona | Allen's All Stars | Gus Bivona (clarinet); Terry Gibbs (vibes); Steve Allen (piano); George Barnes, Al Viola (guitar); Red Mitchell (bass); Frank DiVito (drums). | Recorded: March 24, 1958 at Joe Pasternak's home, Hollywood, CA |
| Steve Allen Steve Allen Steve Allen may refer to:*Steve Allen , American musician, comedian, and writer*Steve Allen , presenter on the London-based talk radio station LBC 97.3... |
At The Roundtable | Steve Allen (piano); Gus Bivona (clarinet); Mundell Lowe (guitar); Gary Peacock(bass); Gary Frommer (drums);Terry Gibbs (vibes); Doc Severinson (Trumpet). | 1958 |
| Frank Sinatra | Sings For Only The Lonely Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely Frank Sinatra Sings for Only the Lonely is a studio LP by the American singer Frank Sinatra... |
Frank Sinatra Frank Sinatra Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the... (Vocals); Nelson Riddle Nelson Riddle Nelson Smock Riddle, Jr. was an American arranger, composer, bandleader and orchestrator whose career stretched from the late 1940s to the mid 1980s... (Arranger); Felix Slatkin Felix Slatkin Felix Slatkin was an American violinist and conductor.-Biography:Slatkin was born in St. Louis, Missouri to a Jewish family originally named Zlotkin from areas of the Russian Empire now in Ukraine. He began studying the violin at the age of nine with Isadore Grossman... (Conductor); Bill Miller Bill Miller (pianist) Bill Miller was an American jazz pianist, who accompanied Frank Sinatra over fifty years, and for the last eight years of his life, accompanied Frank Sinatra, Jr..... (Piano); Gus Bivona (Alto Sax on Track 12: "One For My Baby One for My Baby (and One More for the Road) "One for My Baby " is a popular song written by Harold Arlen and Johnny Mercer for the musical The Sky's the Limit and first performed in the film by Fred Astaire. It was popularized by the American singer Frank Sinatra... " |
Released: 1958, Recorded: May 25-September 11, 1958 Capitol Studio A, Hollywood |
| Various Jazz Artists | Session At Midnight | Gus Bivona (Clarinet); 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... (alto sax, trumpet); Irv Cottler (drums); Harry "Sweets" Edison (trumpet); Al Hendrickson (guitar); Plas Johnson (Tenor Sax); Murray McEachern (trombone, alto sax); Jimmy Rowles (piano); Mike Rubin (bass); Babe Russin (tenor sax); Shorty Sherock Shorty Sherock Clarence "Shorty" Sherock was a prominent swing jazz trumpeter.Sherock attended the Illinois Military Academy before becoming a soloist with Jimmy Dorsey's orchestra and later with Gene Krupa's Orchestra, together with saxophonist Sam Donahue.He was a featured soloist at the first concert of... (trumpet); Willie Smith (alto sax) |
December 1955 |
| Skip Martin Skip Martin Lloyd "Skip" Martin was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, and music arranger.... |
Scheherajazz | Gus Bivona, Ted Nash, Paul Horn, Jules Jacobs, Chuck Gentry (reeds); Conrad Gozzo Conrad Gozzo Conrad J. Gozzo was an American trumpet player born in New Britain Connecticut on February 6, 1922. Gozzo was a member of the NBC Hollywood staff orchestra at the time of his death on October 8, 1964... , Pete Candoli, Don Fagerquist Don Fagerquist Donald Fagerquist was a small group, big band, and studio jazz trumpet player from the West Coast of the United States... , Frank Beach, Joe Triscari (trumpet); Joe Howard, Milt Bernhart, Frank Rosolino, George Roberts (trombone); Vince DeRosa, Jack Cave, Dick Perissi (French horn); Clarence Karella (tuba); Al Hendrickson (guitar); Jimmy Rowles (piano); 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.... (bass); Larry Bunker, Irv Cottler, Lou Singer (drums); Eudice Shapiro (solo violin); Ed Lustgarten (first cello); and symphony orchestra. |
1959 |
| Ralph Marterie And The All Star Men | Big Band Man | Ralph Marterie, Pete Candoli, Conrad Gozzo, Don Fagerquist (trumpet); Frank Rosolino, Vern Friley, Al Hendricks (trombone); Buddy DeFranco, Bud Shank (clarinet, alto sax); Gus Bivona, Bob Cooper (tenor sax); Babe Russin (baritone sax); Jimmy Rowles (piano); Red Mitchell (bass); Jack Sperling (drums); Johnny Mandel, Morty Corb Morty Corb Mortimer G. "Morty" Corb was an American jazz double-bassist.Corb had a long career as a jazz musician, playing with Gus Bivona, Pete Fountain, Ella Fitzgerald, Nat King Cole, Pearl Bailey, Louis Armstrong, Claude Thornhill, Jess Stacy, Kid Ory, Jack Teagarden, and Benny Goodman, as well as... , Skippy Martin, Frank DeVol, Bill Holman (arrangers); Pete Rugolo (recording director). |
Recorded: August 1959 at United Recording Studios, Los Angeles, CA |
| Benny Goodman | The Best of Benny Goodman: The Capitol Years | Benny Goodman (clarinet); Heinie Beau Heinie Beau Heinie Beau was an American jazz composer, arranger, saxophonist and clarinetist, most notable for his swing clarinet work and recordings done with Tommy Dorsey, Peggy Lee, Frank Sinatra and Red Nichols... , Gus Bivona, Hymie Schertzer, Jules Rubin, Benny Carter (alto saxophone); Stan Getz, Herbie Haymer, Bumps Myers, Art Rollini, Don Byas, Wardell Gray, Dave Cavanaugh (tenor saxophone); Billy Butterfield, Charlie Shavers, Fats Navarro, Mickey McMickle, John Best, George Seaburg, Frank Beach, Harry James, Ruby Braff, Irving Goodman (trumpet); Vernon Brown, Jack Satterfield (trombone); Red Norvo (vibraphone, xylophone); Lionel Hampton (vibraphone); Mel Powell, Teddy Wilson, Jess Stacy, Tommy Todd, Jimmy Rowles (piano); Allan Reuss, Irving Ashby (guitar); Sid Weiss, Harry Babasin Harry Babasin Harry Babasin was an American jazz bassist. His nickname was "The Bear".-Biography:... , Red Callender (bass); Cozy Cole, Tommy Romersa, Lee Young (drums). |
Recorded: June 12, 1944 - February 25, 1964. |
| 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... and his Orchestra |
10 Saxophones and 2 Basses | Russ Cheever (soprano sax, C melody sax); Skeets Herfurt Skeets Herfurt Arthur "Skeets" Herfurt was an American jazz saxophonist and clarinetist.... , Bud Shank, Gus Bivona (alto sax); Bob Cooper, Plas Johnson, Gene Cipriano (tenor sax); Bill Perkins (tenor sax, bass sax); Chuck Gentry, Bill Hood (baritone sax, bass sax); Jimmy Rowles (piano); Howard Roberts (guitar, banjo); Red Mitchell, Joe Mondragon Joe Mondragon Joe Mondragon is an American jazz bassist.Mondragon was an autodidact on bass, and began working professionally in Los Angeles. He served in the Army during World War II, and then joined Woody Herman's First Herd in 1946... (bass); Shelly Manne Shelly Manne Shelly Manne , born Sheldon Manne in New York City, was an American jazz drummer. Most frequently associated with West Coast jazz, he was known for his versatility and also played in a number of other styles, including Dixieland, swing, bebop, avant-garde jazz and fusion, as well as contributing... (drums); Pete Rugolo (arranger, conductor). |
Recorded: November 8, 1961 - November 9, 1961 at United Recording Studios, Hollywood, CA. |
Pictures
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External links
- IMDb Page
- Mercury Records Collection: Music For Swingers
- Mercury Records Collection: Swingin' and Dancin'
- Mercury Records Collection: Hey! Dig That Crazy Band!
- Mercury Records Collection: Allen's All Stars
- Mercury Records Collection: Big Band Man
- Mercury Records Collection: 10 Saxophones and 2 Basses