Jazz / Swing
Johnny Frigo - Violin, Liner Notes
Alan Nahigian - Artwork, Illustrations
Andrea Fusina - Production Assistant
Bill Goodwin Drums
Bob Katz Engineer
Bob Kindred Clarinet, Sax (Tenor)
Bret Primack Liner Notes
David Chesky Producer
David Merrill Engineer
David Windmuller Production Assistant
Gene Bertoncini Guitar
Joe Vito Piano
Keddins Etienne Assistant Engineer
Lisa Hershfield Production Assistant
Michael Moore Bass
Miguel Kertsman Editing, Mastering
Norman Chesky Executive Producer
Rob Brown Photography
Ross Hudson Artwork, Design
Roy Spangenthal Project Director
Shari Rothstein Production Coordination
Steve Guttenberg Assistant Producer
Steve Kaiser Producer
Debut Of A Legend, Johnny Frigo's current release on Chesky Records, encapsulates the sort of musical sensitivity and expertise that only artistry and experience can engender. Johnny Frigo's meticulous arrangements deliver finely executed, highly original interpretations of today's traditional jazz. Regarded as the most gifted artist in his field, hear Johnny Frigo as he has never been heard before.
Violinist Johnny Frigo's third album as a leader (he had previously made a forgotten date for Mercury in 1957 and a Chesky CD in 1988) is his definitive set, even though he was 77 at the time. With a good supporting cast (guitarist Gene Bertoncini, Bob Kindred on tenor and clarinet, pianist Joe Vito, bassist Michael Moore, and drummer Bill Goodwin), Frigo mostly explores standards, plus two of his originals. The music, falling between swing and bop, is superior straight-ahead jazz; among the highlights are "Get Happy," "Bow Jest," "Jitterbug Waltz," and "Jeannine." Frigo's sudden prominence in his '70s (considering he spent most of his career as a bassist) was as unlikely and welcome an event as trumpeter Doc Cheatham's late-period triumphs. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
Johnny Frigo
Active Decades: '50s, '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s and '00s
Born: Dec 27, 1916 in Chicago, IL
Died: Jul 03, 2007 in Chicago, IL
Genre: Jazz
Styles: Swing
Johnny Frigo has really had two careers. He started out playing violin in grammar school and after switching to tuba in order to play in his junior high school band, he took up the bass. Frigo started playing professionally as a bassist in 1934 and had some low-profile jobs until joining Jimmy Dorsey in the mid-'40s. In 1947, he formed a trio with guitarist Herb Ellis and pianist Lou Carter, called Soft Winds, that was popular for a few years; they co-wrote "Detour Ahead" and "I Told Ya I Love Ya, Now Get Out." After the group disbanded in the early '50s, Frigo became a studio bassist in Chicago for decades, playing sessions, jingles, and club dates. Although Frigo had an opportunity to record an album on violin in 1957 for Mercury, it was not until 1988 that he returned to his first instrument, guesting on a Herb Ellis Justice CD and leading two excellent and swinging dates of his own for Chesky that put him near the top of his field.
--- Scott Yanow, All Music Guide |
