Vido Musso
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Vido William Musso (17 January 1913 – 9 January 1982) was an Italian-born jazz tenor saxophonist, clarinetist and bandleader born in Carini, Italy, best known for his many contributions to the big bands of Benny Goodman, Gene Krupa, Tommy Dorsey, Harry James, Stan Kenton and Woody Herman.
His family moved to the United States in 1920. He began on clarinet before switching to tenor sax. He is most associated with Stan Kenton who he first worked with in 1930. He reached his peak of notoriety with Kenton from 1945 to 1947. Perhaps his most notable work with the Kenton orchestra was his "Come Back to Sorrento". His son-in-law is comedian Shecky Greene. Musso died 9 January 1982 in Rancho Mirage, California.
Discography
As Leader (78rpm/45rpm singles)
- "Jig-A-Jive" // "I've Been A Fool" (with Betty Van-vocal) (Davis & Schwegler-D&S 162/163, 1938)
- "Moose On The Loose" // "Vido In A Jam" (Savoy 599, 1946) - with Kai Winding, Gene Roland, Boots Mussulli, a.o.
- "Spellbound" // "Lem Me Go" (Savoy 601, 1946) - with the Eddie Safranski All Stars (including Lem Davis)
- "My Jo-Ann" // "Big Deal" (Savoy 622, 1946) - note: B-side by Charlie Ventura's band
- "On The Mercury" (with The Raye Sisters-vocals) [mx# 1115] // "Vido's Bop" [mx# 1114] (Trilon 166, 1947)
- "Vido In A Mist" [mx# 1117] // "Gone With Vido" [mx# 1116] (Trilon 167, 1947) - personnel on these four tracks: Ray Wetzel, Kai Winding, Boots Mussulli, Pete Rugolo, Eddie Safranski, Shelly Manne
- "Trees" (with Ray Wetzel-vocal) [mx# 1150] // "The Unfinished Boogie" [mx# 1151] (Trilon 183, 1947)
- "The Day I Left Alsace-Lorraine" (with The Honeydreamers-vocals) [mx# 1152] // "Checkerboard" [mx# 1153] (Trilon 184, 1947) - personnel on these four tracks: Buddy Childers, Ray Wetzel, Earl Swope, Boots Mussulli, Bob Gioga, Mel Henke, Norman Colman, Roy Harte
- "Santa Lucia" // "Pagliacci" (Capitol 1306, 1950) - billed as 'Stan Kenton And His Orchestra Presenting Vido Musso, Tenor Saxophone (Arranged By Pete Rugolo)'.
- "Blue Night" // "Vido's Boogie" (RPM 387, 1953)
- "Vido's Drive" // "Frosty" (RPM 404, 1953)
- "Blues For Two" // "Speak Easy" (RPM 493, 1957)
- "Lullaby" // "Roseland Boogie" (Crown 100, 1953)
- "Musso's Boogie" // "Sing, Sing, Sing" (Crown 110, 1954)
- "Flat Top Boogie" // "Power House Boogie" (Crown 130, 1954)
As Leader (12" LPs)
- Loaded (Savoy, 1946 [rel. 1956]) - with Kai Winding, Gene Roland, Boots Mussulli, Eddie Safranski, Denzil Best, a.o.
- The Swingin'st (Modern, 1953–54 [rel. 1956]) - with Maynard Ferguson, Milt Bernhart, a.o.
- Teenage Dance Party (Crown, 1957) - note: these two albums have been reissued on one CD by Ace Records in 2004.
- Thanks For The Thrill (Sounds Of Yesteryear, 2015) - reissue of Musso's first recordings under his own name, made for the Keystone Transcription Service in 1938.
With Wardell Gray
- Way Out Wardell (Modern, 1947 [rel. 1956]) - live recordings from a Gene Norman Presents "JUST JAZZ" concert at The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.
With Stan Kenton
- Artistry in Rhythm (Capitol, 1946–47 [rel. 1950])
- Encores (Capitol, 1946–47 [rel. 1950])
- Stan Kenton's Milestones (Capitol, 1943–47 [rel. 1950])
- Stan Kenton Classics (Capitol, 1944–47 [rel. 1952])
- The Kenton Era (Capitol, 1940–54, [rel. 1955])
- Kenton in Hi-Fi (Capitol, 1955 [rel. 1956])
With Jess Stacy
- Tribute To Benny Goodman (Atlantic, 1954)