Tony Fruscella

• 180 GRAM AUDIOPHILE VINYL

Tony Fruscella was an under-recorded mellow, lyrical, cool jazz trumpeter (think Chet Baker). He unfortunately lived a similarly addictive lifestyle that led to his tragically premature death in 1969. His cool tone, influenced by Miles Davis and swing-era veteran Joe Thomas, made him a sideman in the early '50s for artists like Lester Young, Gerry Mulligan, and Stan Getz.

In 1955, the same year he recorded with Getz, Fruscella led the only session officially released during his lifetime, I'll Be Seeing You a.k.a Tony Fruscella. He is backed here by a great horn section of Allen Eager on tenor saxophone (who played similar sounds with Gerry Mulligan), Charles Mingus' associate Danny Bank on baritone, and Chauncey Welsch on trombone. The rhythm section is rounded out by the prominently featured piano of Bill Triglia (who also played with Mingus), Bill Anthony on bass, and Junior Bradley on drums.

PERSONNEL:

• Tony Fruscella - trumpet
• Chauncey Welsch - trombone
• Allen Eager - tenor sax
• Danny Bank - baritone sax
• Bill Triglia - piano
• Bill Anthony - bass
• Junior Bradley - drums

New York, March 29 & April 1, 1955

TRACKS:

• SIDE A
• 01. I’ll Be Seeing You
• 02. Muy
• 03. Metropolitan Blues
• 04. Raintree County

• SIDE B
• 01. Salt
• 02. His Master’s Voice
• 03. Old Hat
• 04. Blue Serenade
• 05. Let’s Play The Blue