Tony Aless

Tony Aless, 1946

Anthony Alessandrini, better known by his stage name Tony Aless (born August 28, 1921, Garfield, New Jersey)[1] -(died September 23, 1985 New York NY) was an American jazz pianist.[2]

Aless worked with Bunny Berigan late in the 1930s and with Johnny McGhee, Teddy Powell, and Vaughn Monroe early in the 1940s. He served in the Army during World War II, then played with Charlie Spivak and Woody Herman. Subsequently he worked with George Auld, Flip Phillips, Chubby Jackson, Neal Hefti, Stan Getz, Elliot Lawrence, Seldon Powell, and Charlie Parker. He also worked frequently on radio and television. His 1955 Roost Records release Long Island Suite featured J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding on trombone and Dave Schildkraut on saxophone.

References

  1. ↑ Rye, Howard (2002). "Aless, Tony". In Barry Kernfeld. The new Grove dictionary of jazz, vol. 1 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries Inc. p. 25. ISBN 1-56159-284-6.
  2. ↑ Lees, Gene. Leader of the band: The life of Woody Herman, p. 117. Oxford University Press, 1995. ISBN 0-19-505671-X. Accessed June 30, 2011. "Born Anthony Alessandrini in Garfield, New Jersey, on August 28, 1921, Tony would stay with the band for two years, and then work with various members of the Herman alumni in small groups, and with Charlie Parker, Sheldon Powell and others."