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Pete Candoli

It would seem that Pete Candoli has been biding his time in the wings all these years. While Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Miles Davis, etc. have long enjoyed broad public recognition; Pete has finally attained the level of popular acceptance that the quality of his talents as a jazz trumpeter deserves.

Within the Music World Pete Candoli is regarded as one of the most precise and eloquent interpreters of jazz. He and his trumpet playing brother Conte have what amounts to a cult following among aficionados.

A trumpet player of major importance, Pete's association with top bands reads like a "Who's Who" of jazz. He has been featured with Tommy Dorsey, Glen Miller, Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Les Brown, Count Basie, Freddy Slack, Charlie Barnet, etc... in fact, he has played with over 27 of the top named bands.

Although Pete Candoli is best known for the jazz trumpet, his musical background and experience is as varied as it can be. He is equally expert with classical music and pop. He has conducted music seminars and concerts at some (30) universities and colleges when he is not playing a jazz festival, concert, or nightclub somewhere. To date he has worked over (5000) record dates.

He has composed and arranged music and conducted for Judy Garland, Ella Fitzgerald, and Peggy Lee among others. Having played first trumpet for Igor Stravinsky’s “Ebony Concerto” written for the Woody Herman Orchestra. Pete has received much acclaim for his versatility as a solo trumpeter.

Pete Candoli has won awards as outstanding trumpet player from Downbeat and Metronome Magazines, the 20 most prestigious publications in the music business. Pete also won the Esquire Magazine and the Look Magazine Awards as one of the (7) all-time outstanding jazz trumpet players. The (6) were Louis Armstrong, Bix Biederbeck, Harry James, Bunny Berigan, Dizzy Gillespie and Bobby Hackert, there is more. Pete and his brother Conte won The International Jazz Hall of Fame award in 1997, and was honored with The Big Band award in 2003.

Pete began playing lead and jazz for Sonny Dunham’s Orchestra in 1941, followed by a long string of other name bands including Woody Herman’s famed “First Herd.” Pete settled into the studio scene in the 50’s after tenures with Herman, Tex Beneke, Jerry Gray and Stan Kenton among others. He and Conte also co-led a band (1957-62). As a preeminent lead trumpeter, Pete played for the Orchestras of Alex Stordahl, Gordon Jenkins, Nelson Riddle, Don Costa, Michel LeGrand, Henry Mancini, as well as Frank Sinatra.

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Big Band Report

Pete Candoli (and Other Losses...)

Read "Pete Candoli (and Other Losses...)" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Through the years there have been a number of “family acts" in jazz, but not many in which the parent/offspring or siblings played the same instrument. An exception is the Candoli brothers, Pete and Conte, who not only played trumpet but did so with such creativity and talent that they are widely considered to be among the best who ever picked up a horn. There were some small differences. Conte, younger than Pete by four years, was best known as ...

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Birthday

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pete Candoli

Jazz Musician of the Day: Pete Candoli

Source: Michael Ricci

All About Jazz is celebrating Pete Candoli's birthday today!

JAZZ MUSICIAN OF THE DAY Pete Candoli

It would seem that Pete Candoli has been biding his time in the wings all these years. While Louis Armstrong, Dizzy Gillespie, Freddie Hubbard, Miles Davis, etc. have long enjoyed broad public recognition... more

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Obituary

Trumpeter Pete Candoli Dies at 84

Trumpeter Pete Candoli Dies at 84

Source: All About Jazz

Pete Candoli began playing lead and jazz for Sonny Dunham's Orchestra in 1941, followed by a long string of other name bands, including Woody Herman's famed “First Herd." He settled into the studio scene in the 1950s after tenures with Herman, Tex Beneke, Jerry Gray and Stan Kenton, among others. He and his trumpeter brother Conte, four years his junior, also co-led a band from 1957 to 1962. As a preeminent lead trumpeter, he played for the orchestras of Alex ...

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Moscow Mule And Many...

Concord Music Group
1966

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Blues, When Your...

Concord Music Group
1961

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For Pete's Sake

Concord Music Group
1960

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Something Else

Bethlehem Records
1956

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