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Pat Longo

b. 11 September 1929, Passaic, New Jersey, USA. Adept on several reed instruments, Longo concentrated on alto saxophone and clarinet. During military service he played in the band of the 2nd Marine Airwing and following his discharge studied music full-time. Although intent on a career in music, throughout the 60s and into the early 70s Longo found it necessary to support himself by working in a bank. However, in 1974 and resident in Los Angeles, he decided the time was right to give up banking and just play music. He joined the Harry James band but had ambitions to lead his own big band. In 1979, he achieved his goal and formed a big band which quickly gained regular bookings in and around LA. In the late 70s and early 80s Longo’s Super Big Band successfully blended the more traditional aspects of big band music with currently popular jazz rock funkiness. His line-ups usually featured many of the best west coast session men and a useful handful of talented jazzmen, including Gordon Brisker, Lanny Morgan, Bob Efford, Buddy Childers, Frank J. Szabo and Nick Ceroli. Intent on developing other areas of exposure for the band, Longo also became involved in a television series.

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149
Album Review

Pat Longo and His Hollywood Jazz Band: Extreme Heat

Read "Extreme Heat" reviewed by Edward Blanco


Salsa it's not, but Pat Longo and his Hollywood Jazz Band deliver a Latin-flavored hot big band sound with shades of Kenton on Extreme Heat. It blends great writing and arrangements with a fiery performance from a star-filled ensemble to produce a unique Latin jazz experience. To the discerning jazz fan and aficionado, a glance at the arrangers on this album should provide a clue at how good the music is. Pat Longo borrowed the talents of Gary Urwin, Bob ...

112
Album Review

The Pat Longo Big Band: The Hit List

Read "The Hit  List" reviewed by Jack Bowers


Okay, Pat, granted you have a splendid band, and there's an abundance of good-natured camaraderie and energy on The Hit List--but a playing time of less than 35 minutes is clearly unacceptable for a compact disc, which will accommodate up to eighty. Truth be told, this enterprise--with no liner notes or recording dates, no list of soloists, unnamed backup singers, a single-page “booklet"--has the taste of a leftover meal, wherein one reaches into the fridge--in this case the library--to see ...

117
Album Review

Pat Longo and His Latin/Jazz Big Band: Extreme Heat

Read "Extreme Heat" reviewed by Jack Bowers


There's no messin' around in this hothouse. Pat Longo's star-laden Latin/Jazz Big Band cuts straight to the chase on Buddy Childers' torrid arrangement of Dizzy Gillespie/Chano Pozo's “Manteca" and keeps the fire-god Vulcan smiling throughout the remainder of this impressive scrapbook of rhythmically volatile jazz from south (well, mostly north) of the border.

In fact, Luiz Bonfä's enchanting theme from the movie Black Orpheus (stylishly arranged by Kim Richmond) is the exception to the norteamericano rule, as Longo's ensemble transposes ...

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71

Performance / Tour

Tamela D'Amico with the The Pat Longo Hollywood Big Band at Catalina Bar & Grill October 7

Tamela D'Amico with the The Pat Longo Hollywood Big Band at Catalina Bar & Grill October 7

Source: Tamela D'Amico

What do Tamela D'Amico, Tony Bennett, Rod Stewart, Rob Thomas of Matchbox 20, Santana, Michael McDonald, John Travolta, Neil Diamond, Rosemary Clooney and Sarah Vaughan have in common? The answer? They, and many others, have joined forces with one of the most versatile big bands in the country: The Pat Longo Hollywood Big Band! Come out for an evening of sassy sounds when Tamela D'Amico takes the stage with the Legendary Pat Longo Hollywood Big Band on October 7, 2011 ...

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Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

The Hit List

Longann Records
2005

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Extreme Heat

Jazzed Media
2005

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Videos

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