Tony Aless

Tony Aless
Background information
Birth name	Anthony Alessandrini
Born	August 28, 1921 Garfield, New Jersey, US
Died	January 11, 1988 (aged 66) New York City, New York, US
Genres	Swing, jazz
Occupation(s)	Musician, composer, arranger
Instruments	Piano
Associated acts	Bunny Berigan, Johnny McGhee, Teddy Powell, Vaughn Monroe, Woody Herman

Anthony Alessandrini, better known by his stage name Tony Aless (August 28, 1921, in Garfield, New Jersey^[1] – January 11, 1988, in New York City) was an American jazz pianist.^[2]

Career

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 United States 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."

External links

• Tony Aless at Allmusic