Tony Fruscella

Personnel: Tony Fruscella (trumpet); Allen Eager (tenor saxophone); Danny Bank (baritone saxophone); Chauncey Welsch (trombone); Bill Triglia (piano); Bradley Junior (drums).
Liner Note Authors: Yves Bigot; Bill Simon; Claude Nobs; Ahmet Ertegun.
Recording information: New York, NY (03/29/1955/04/01/1955).
Tony Fruscella was an under-recorded cool jazz trumpeter in the Chet Baker vain, who only managed to release this lone studio date for Atlantic in March 1955. With the exception of Fruscella's playing on a few Stan Getz sessions, he could never overcome obscurity. He is backed by a great, albeit little-known horn section of Allen Eager on tenor saxophone (who played similar sounds with Gerry Mulligan), Charles Mingus' associate Danny Bank on baritone, and Chauncey Welsch on trombone. The rhythm section is rounded out by the prominently featured piano of Bill Triglia, who also played with Mingus, Bill Anthony on bass, and Junior Bradley on drums. Two standards, "I'll Be Seeing You" and "Blue Serenade," are included with seven originals. [This is one of the 50 reissues celebrating Atlantic's 50th anniversary from Rhino/Atlantic complete with original cover art, liner notes, and playing order.] ~ Al Campbell