Al Gallodoro

rollhead · January-3rd-2006, 02:41 PM

This Saturday, I am going to see AL GALLODORO play at Justin's in Albany, NY.

Al has been playing sax professionally since 1926, and was in Paul Whiteman's Band in the 1930s.

Then:

Now:

Al's first job was in 1926 at Birmingham's Lyric Theatre, a one week booking with the `Romeo and his Juliet's' band of the Romeo brothers, whose father would pick him up at school, doing 3 vaudeville shows a day.

Still not quite 14, he joined the orchestra of banjo artist, George Evans, which played along the Gulf Coast during the summer of 1927. He was taken into the union by means which would not stand close scrutiny as he was 2 years under the minimum age for union membership.

In the fall of 1927 he was hired to play in the Forest Club in New Orleans, where his parents relocated from Birmingham, AL.

In 1927 age 15, he became the first alto sax/clarinet in the Orpheum Theater house orchestra in New Orleans, doing big time vaudeville acts (Bob Hope, Edgar Bergen, Milton Berle, Olsen and Johnson, Blackston (magician) Joan Davis, Ritz bros. , among them After the last show he would play from 11:30pm to 5 am at a night club called the Frolics. This lasted until July 1933.

Leaving New Orleans for New York, he stopped by Atlantic City to see a friend and after an audition for Isham Jones , was hired for his orchestra as a sax soloist. After union rules barred him from continuing with Jones for a 6 month engagement at the Commodore Hotel in New York, he became a free lance musician while waiting out the time to get his New York Union card.

In the spring of 1936 he joined the Paul Whiteman Orchestra as first chair alto sax/clarinet and featured soloist. The orchestra.disbanded in 1940 In 1947 Paul Whiteman became the Musical Director for WJZ Radio ( which later became ABC radio) Paul Whiteman asked Frank Vangnoni, who was the Musical Contractor for Wiz to contact Al and ask him to join the staff as a soloist. Al joined, and over twenty arrangements were written for him. He performed up to four live solos per week for WJZ and stayed with them until 1967. He doubts that any other musician has played as may live solos on the air as he has.

In October of 1948 , under the direction of Paul Whiteman, Al went on a 29 day tour. On the tour he performed an extremely elaborate three-way concerto (music by George Gershwin) The concerto consisted of the following:
1st Movement Summertime on Alto Sax
2nd Movement Bess, you is my Woman on Bass Clarinet
3rd Movement Liza on B flat Clarinet

In October of 1940 he started with the orchestra of "It Happens on Ice" show where he stayed until the summer of 1943. Sonya Heine, famous ice skater, sponsored the show but did not perform.
He joined the NBC Symphony in June 1942 where he played bass clarinet under Toscanini and Stokowski, as well as Dr. Frank Black.

From 1967 to date he has free lanced in New York, making countless records on various labels as well as playing for dozens of radio and TV programs.

Moving to Oneonta, NY in 1981, he is still playing with local groups and teaching.

http://www.algallodoro.com/index.mv?screen=home

Lazz · January-4th-2006, 01:25 PM

Great to read this, rollhead, and have a link to a web-site!

I knew nothing about this guy whatsoever save for an old cassette copy of some of his music. The copy was one of many that flew around a small circle of distant friends after the uncle of one of them stumbled across the second-hand vinyl issue in Port Hardy, the northern-most settlement on Vancouver Island.

Hard to believe at first that I was hearing an alto. The articulation of notes was such it sounded sometimes like a violin, sometimes like a a button accordion (as well as a sax sometimes).

A stunning musician of such alien virtuosity and technique that my imagination constructed an entire biographical arc that rooted him in eastern europe before joining the pre-war diaspora and entering the new world where according to my invention he played on Tex Avery sound-tracks. I'm still pretty convinced I can hear his sound on old cartoons. And the "czarda" I heard him play was wild and authentic enough to have true Hungarian origins. The style, or styles, of his approaches were most definitely from another time and place. Wow.

And all the time it was New Orleans.
I am gob-smacked.

Obviously could have discovered more had I been able to spell his name correctly. The old cassette was a tad smudged across the label, leading me to read each suspicious "o" as an "a" and hence I discovered zilch about him.

So thanks for the info - been a long time coming. He is sure one phenomenal player and I look forward to hearing more about the show. Wish I was able to be there, too. Generally unheard and unknown, this guy is a total sax monster.

rollhead · January-5th-2006, 10:01 AM

Thanks, Lazz.

I was visiting Hartwick College in Oneonta, NY, when I came across a clip of him on a bulletin board. I was astonished he was still around and playing.

I have to make it to hear a guy who played with and/or was a contemporary, (or just a few years younger), of Bix, Trumbauer, Adrian Rollini, Eddie Lang, Joe Venuti, etc.

My sax teacher, Brian Patneaude, said he's heard Al recently, and that he's still amazing.

Lazz · January-5th-2006, 11:39 PM

From his site, it seems the vinyl original for my treasured cassette copy must be "For Your Listening Pleasure..." with Carnival Of Venice, I heard You Cried Last Night, Hora Staccato, Romance, Gigue, Stardust, Harlem Nocturne, Caprice, Csardas, Latinata, Gypsy Rondo.

If there's the chance you get to speak to the venerable geezer, it would be a great service, much appreciated, if you have time to convey my admiration for his playing. That old cassette has held me (and many friends) spellbound beyond these past 20 years since it was delivered to my seedy squat in south-london by Canadian trombonist/composer/educator Hugh Fraser who had in turn got it from Canuck alto/soprano player Campbell Ryga, who was original gift recipient (giftee?) from generous and discriminating uncle who found it first in the most unlikely small-town back-woods circumstances.

Probably you're a retiring kind of guy who doesn't like to get too much in anyone's face but, quite apart from the devious route of his music into my ear-hole being mildly intertaining, I'd just like the maestro to know how far and wide his work has been, and is still being, appreciated amongst players and listeners one and two generations his junior across at least a couple of continents.

What a guy.

John P. Cooper · January-6th-2006, 01:35 AM

I suppose that any contact with AG could be made thru the e-mail address on his web site -

info@AlGallodoro.com

Lazz · January-6th-2006, 02:30 AM

Thanks for slapping me in the face with the blindingly obvious, John.
I'll do that very thing right away.

Ron Thorne · January-6th-2006, 02:34 AM

While I wasn't hip to Al Gallodoro until this thread, I'm enjoying the education.

Welcome, Lazz. I'm really enjoying reading your posts.

John P. Cooper · January-6th-2006, 03:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazz

Thanks for slapping me in the face with the blindingly obvious, John.
I'll do that very thing right away.

Happy to help. Sometimes the obvious is the most elusive.

Scott Yanow · January-8th-2006, 02:04 AM

That's great news. Somebody record him, soon!

He's one of only 14 survivors who recorded before 1940 and might still be active. A few of these I'm not sure if they are still performing though Asmussen, Jackson, Jeffries, Paul, Wilson, Young and happily Gallodoro still are:

Svend Asmussen
Johnny Blowers
Al Gallodoro
Lena Horne
Franz Jackson
Herb Jeffries
Lawrence Lucie
Buddy Morrow
Les Paul
George Shearing
Kay Starr
Gerald Wilson
Snooky Young
Zeke Zarchey

Jay McShann just missed, not having recorded until 1940.

There is no one alive in jazz or blues as far as I know who recorded before 1930. Claude "Fiddler" Williams was the last survivor.

Lazz · January-9th-2006, 11:12 PM

Hey - thanks for the welcome and the compliment, Ron Thorne.
(Perhaps I'm confused, but I seem to be familiar with your name from somewhere. Any ideas?)

Speaking with a friend at Tulane, I learned that Al Gallodoro remains highly revered down at the union in N.O.

So Mr Rollhead - how was the gig?
Anything to tell us?

rollhead · January-10th-2006, 05:40 PM

Lazz... sorry, I didn't see your note asking for me to give the maestro your regards.

But, yes, I did speak with him. He is a fiesty fellow.

I showed up at the bar/restaurant at 8:15 -- a good hour and 15 minutes before he was set to play at 9:30pm -- and I saw Maestro Gallodoro at the front of the bar knocking back beers with his bandmates.

He showed up in Albany as part of a quartet -- piano, bass and drums, and he had his alto, clarinet and bass clarinet with him.

He played 11 songs in his first set... and took a break to drink another beer -- a tall dark draft.

I jumped up and started asking him questions --

1. Did you play with Bix Beiderbecke? NO!!! Bix was before him.
2. Did you play with Frankie Trumbauer? YES! Trumbauer was with him in the Whiteman band.
3. Who influenced you? I play my own style!!! But if anyone influenced him it would have been Jimmy Dorsey.
4. Did you play with Adrian Rollini? NO! But I played with his brother (I thougth he said "ARnie" but it might have been "ARtie," who I know was a sax player.
5. I know you played a lot of classical music (Al worked for many years under Arturo Toscannini and Leopold Stokowski) how is the classical style of sax playing different from the jazz style? TOTALLY DIFFERENT!!! Totally different embouchure, etc.
6. Can I get your instructional DVD? I am still working on it!
7. Is my friend Austin Becker still studying with you? HE ONLY TOOK A FEW LESSONS! (Austin, who is a 19-year-old studying at the Manhattan School of music was in he audience, too.)

Al played great, except he had some troubles with his clarinet keywork because of his arthritis. Also, on some of the longer passages on the alto, his tone was sometimes wavery because his wind isn't as strong as it was 40 years ago (when he was smoking 3-4 packs of cigarettes a day, a habit he gave up 25 years ago.)

But overall, I'd say Al played GREAT. he played with in that light lyrical style that Frankie Trumbauer and Jimmy Dorsey made famous, and which influenced Lester Young so much. He maybe isn't playing 100 percent but he is a blast to listen to, and you definitely get the feel of his unique (don't know if anyone alive still plays like him) style of play.

Al went through mostly standards -- with a couple of his original compositions thrown in.

I heard him play Paper Moon, Street of Dreams, Running Wild, Embraceable you, Caravan, Sweet Lorraine, Fascinating Rhythm/I've Got Rhythm, Girl from Ipanema, the Nearness of You, Stomping at the Savoy, Out of Nowhere, etc., etc.

He took a couple of short breaks -- to get more beer -- but kept on keeping on.

My wife I and another couple who came with us left at midnight, and Al was still playing as we walked out.

Al looks his age -- probably mostly because of osteoporosis, he is kind of crunched down -- but he definitely doesn't act his age.

He is still having a blast playing and partying.

He cracked jokes the whole night, and would tip his fisherman's cap after the applause he would get for his solos.

He doesn't seem at all hard of hearing -- if he was yelling at me it was just because I am a 53-year-old whippersnapper and he was trying to be heard over a noisy crowd. And he seems to have every single one of his wits still intact.

All of us -- even those who weren't jazz fans -- left amazed at his performance.

I called my 92-year-old mother Sunday morning to tell her that I saw a guy who is older than her (by six months) who was out playing and partying until the wee hours.

By the way, Al is still recording. he made a record in 2004, while playing the alto, clarinet and bass clarinet. He did it without overdubbing, and kept the few squeaks that he blew. He says: "To hell with it, we'll make excuses! Just let someone else with arthritic hands try this at 91!

Chuck Nessa · January-12th-2006, 10:45 PM

When I was in 8th grade band Mr. Gallodorro gave a clarinet clinic for us in Randall, IA - pop. circa 200.

bluenoter · January-12th-2006, 11:58 PM

rollhead--

Re #11: Excellent work interviewing, remembering, and recounting! Thanks! That's precious oral history (even to me, who had never heard of the guy).

Ron Thorne · January-13th-2006, 01:17 AM

Wonderul, rollhead! Thanks for the report. I wish that I could have witnessed what you and your wife (and others) did that evening. Al Gallodoro is a jazz icon, yet most of us weren't hip to him and should have been.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazz

Hey - thanks for the welcome and the compliment, Ron Thorne.
(Perhaps I'm confused, but I seem to be familiar with your name from somewhere. Any ideas?)

You're welcome!

I'm an old fart who lives in Alaska and has been involved with jazz and drumming for nearly 50 years. I used to work for KJZZ-FM in Anchorage, if that's any help. I've also participated on several other jazz boards, including JCS, but mostly here.

rollhead · January-13th-2006, 09:08 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bluenoter

rollhead--

Re #11: Excellent work interviewing, remembering, and recounting! Thanks! That's precious oral history (even to me, who had never heard of the guy).

Thanks, Rita. I wish I had the words to really draw a picture of how he plays, other than comparing him to other musicians.

He was selling CDs at the concert, and I bought one he made in 1999,when he was a "youthful" 86 or so. He recorded with the "Beau Hunks" in Holland, which specializes in "American film music."
http://www.beauhunks.com/

The CD's called "Out of Nowhere," and it has that great bouncy feel that the old bands had.

Robert Veen, a Dutch saxophone player, described Al's playing in the "Out of Nowhere" liner notes:

"Hearing Al Gallodoro for the first time is a jaw-dropping experience because of his astronomic control of the altissimo register, his double and triple tonguing techniques and his dazzling speed ... Having excluded the possibility that there's something terribly amiss with the tape or tape player, you realize you are listening to something really special."

rollhead · January-13th-2006, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ron Thorne

Wonderul, rollhead! Thanks for the report. I wish that I could have witnessed what you and your wife (and others) did that evening. Al Gallodoro is a jazz icon, yet most of us weren't hip to him and should have been.

Thanks Ron.

Funny story about my young friend Austin Becker (the altoist who is studying at the Manhattan School of Music), who took a few lessons with Al.

His folks told my wife that they drove out to Oneonta, NY, where Al lives, so Austin could take his lesson. Apparently, Al needed to show them something, and they had to take separate cars.

Al, at 92, still drives. He is a little guy, so I suspect he can barely see over the steering wheel (if he can). And Austin's folks said Al has a lead foot, and they had to keep it on the floor to keep up with him.

The image of the codger behind the wheel of a car, careening around corners -- with only his fisherman's cap visible to his fellow drivers -- makes me laugh.

rollhead · January-13th-2006, 12:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lazz

Thanks for slapping me in the face with the blindingly obvious, John.
I'll do that very thing right away.

Lazz, if you don't have any luck with that e-mail address, you might try Al's manager, JoAnn Chmielowski at chmusic2me (at) yahoo.com.

I am pretty sure JoAnn is agressive about responding to her e-mails on Al.

I just e-mailed her because I want to get a copy of Al's instructional DVD (which is in production now).

steve(thelil) · January-13th-2006, 01:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rollhead

Lazz, if you don't have any luck with that e-mail address, you might try Al's manager, JoAnn Chmielowski at chmusic2me (at) yahoo.com.

I am pretty sure JoAnn is agressive about responding to her e-mails on Al.

I just e-mailed her because I want to get a copy of Al's instructional DVD (which is in production now).

Is that JoAnn Chmielowski of the Oneonta Chmielowskis?

rollhead · January-13th-2006, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve(thelil)

Is that JoAnn Chmielowski of the Oneonta Chmielowskis?

Steve, she is definiely an Oneonta Chmielowski -- dunno if she is of "The" Oneonta Chemilowski, given that Oneonta is such a booming metropolis. But my best guess would be, "Yes, she is of the Oneonta Chmielowski, the branch of the family that produces jazz pianists, of which she is one."

She just sent me an e-mail, which says this:

"I haven't even done an e-mail on this yet, but I just received our first 1000 copies of Al's latest CD, which is a restored recording of both the 1951 SAX CONTRASTS and 1958 Gallodoro (Merri) Album, on one CD. Haven't even gotten to put it on the web-site yet, cause I also have a day job teaching Spanish. (my 6th graders just left the room). Thanks for being a true fellow "rooster". If you wish to order, the CD should be on the site by Tuesday. Or you can order by mail by sending a check made out to Al Gallodoro for $21.00 (postage is included) to: Chmusic Productions, 25 Myrtle Ave, Oneonta, New York 13820. And I'll send it right out to you! Thanks again. JoAnn"

Al and JoAnn

rollhead · February-20th-2007, 10:24 AM

AL GALLODORO WILL APPEAR AT JUSTINS, 301 Lark Street in Albany on SATURDAY MARCH 3rd, 2007, 9:30 PM. Just as hunched over, but playing more creatively than ever! The man is definitely from another planet! Please help me spread the word. Thanks, JoAnn

Scott Yanow · February-21st-2007, 02:42 AM

He's amazing. Wish I could see him.

Tom Storer · February-21st-2007, 05:48 AM

When's the European tour??

Sounds like he could handle it. I saw Benny Carter in Paris when he was in his 90's, why not Al Gallodoro? Thanks for spreading the word on this guy, rollhead!

rollhead · February-21st-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Storer

When's the European tour??

Sounds like he could handle it. I saw Benny Carter in Paris when he was in his 90's, why not Al Gallodoro? Thanks for spreading the word on this guy, rollhead!

You are welcome, Tom.

I actually want to take some lessons from him, but he lives in Oneonta, NY, which is about 90 minutes from my house. If I can talk him into giving me 2-3 lessons, I might do it. I don't want to commit to making that drive over a long period.

I know Al's manager, JoAnn Chmielowski, reads this thread, so I might ask her if she thinks it's possible.

In the meantime, I want to encourage Al to finish an instruction DVD I know he is working on. I think it is critical that as much knowledge about his technical methods are preserved.

I know that Claire Daly wants to video tape him, and she will be up in the Albany area in April. Maybe she can connect with Al and video him.

cookie · February-21st-2007, 12:32 PM

One of the biggest regrets I have is that I *had* to turn down a gig with Al for last New Year's Eve. I wanted so much to do it but got hassled by the band leader I had been working for ("I've given you a lot of work and you owe me etc. etc). I really wish I had just told the cat "Forget it, I don't care." I *did* try to explain to him who Al is, but he just guilted me and, being that I have to put food on the table and he did give me a lot of work and I did owe him some loyalty, I had to turn down the Gallodoro gig.

I resented it then and I regret it now because the band in question broke up after New Year's and I may have lost my chance to play with Al. I hope somebody asks me again. I think he's soooooo cool.

José Domingos Raffaelli · February-23rd-2007, 09:54 AM

Once there was an English alto saxophonist named Freddy Gardner who played a almost the same repertoire of Al Gallodoro with a sound quite similar to him. Around 1950 Freddy Gardner recording of I'm in the mood for love had a smash success.

christifur · March-28th-2007, 06:37 PM

His new website is up: http://www.algallodoro.com/

We did the website and I had to encode every song from every cd and I gotta say he really is amazing, I was forced to listen lol, his work basically opened me up to Jazz. I never really listened to it before and actually didnt really like jazz, now I'm listening to it all the time.

-chris

rollhead · March-29th-2007, 04:33 PM

Hey, Chris:

Great website. Thanks for posting the link.

rollhead · October-10th-2008, 05:17 PM

http://www.thedailystar.com/local/lo...280000922.html

cookie · October-11th-2008, 02:07 PM

I heard the sad news just recently. A friend of mine played with him just a couple of weeks ago. He commented on how sharp Al's mind was and how well he was playing still.

I regret that I will never have a chance to play with Al. I have enjoyed his playing and it has been an honor to see him in the audience when I've played in the Oneonta area, but I missed that one shot to actually share the stage with him. He was loved by everyone in the region. RIP, Al Gallodoro and thanks for the many, many years of great music.

rollhead · October-11th-2008, 03:02 PM

Cookie:

The good news is that he was STILL playing and enjoying life to the very end.

He was scheduled to play in Albany next weekend.

I used to tell my mom stories about AL -- who was a year older than her -- out sax playing and beer drinking up to his 90s. I would tell her if her "elders" could do it, so could she. It always made her laugh.

Al was still teaching, too, to the very end.