Reprinted from http://jazzwax.com
Four well-known jazz pianists of the 1950s started out as accordionists. The trend owed much to the accordion's affordability and the instrument's appeal at weddings and other parties, allowing budding squeeze-boxers to earn a few bucks. By my count, the list includes George Shearing, Joe Mooney, Marty Paich and Pete Jolly. [Pictured, from left, guitarist Howard Roberts and Pete Jolly]
Born in New Haven, Conn. in 1932, Jolly (née Peter Ceragioli), began studying accordion with his father at age 3. According to a Los Angeles Times obit by Myrna Oliver in 2004 (go here), Jolly, at 7, appeared on the nationwide CBS radio program Hobby Lobby. Billed as the "Boy Wonder Accordionist," he was mistakenly introduced by the announcer as "Pete Jolly," which he decided to use going forward as his professional name. Accompanying his father on gigs, Jolly soon grew fascinated with the piano and began taking lessons when he was 6.
Jolly didn't record many dates on accordion after relocating from Phoenix to Los Angeles, largely because of his relentless studio obligations on the piano. Probably his best studio accordion session came in March 1955 for the album The Pete Jolly Sextet (RCA). On the date, Jolly recorded four songs on accordion with a sensational group: Shorty Rogers (tp), Jimmy Giuffre (bar), Howard Roberts (g), Curtis Counce (b) and Shelly Manne (d).
The songs recorded were Jolly Jumps In (written and arranged by Jimmy Giuffre), Why Do I Love You? (arranged by Andre Previn), Pete's Meat (written and arranged by Shorty Rogers) and I Get a Kick Out of You, with Jolly's fingers taking on reed-section chord voicings. Of the bunch, the last two best showcase the depth and swing of Jolly's accordion playing.
As the accordion became more closely associated with pop and mood music in the 1950s, most top jazz pianists who could double on the instrument steered clear. Which is a shame, especially in the case of Jolly, who was easily the most interesting of the bunch.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Pete Jolly's four accordion tracks mentioned above on Pete Jolly: Quartet, Quintet & Sextet (Fresh Sound) here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Pete Jolly on Shorty Rogers' Pete's Meat...
Here's Jolly on I Get a Kick Out of You...
Here's Marty Paich on How Low the Tune (1955) with Bob Enevoldsen (v-tb,ts), Larry Bunker (vib,d), Howard Roberts (g), Red Mitchell (b,p) and Don Heath (d)...
Here's George Shearing on Four Bars Short (1949) with Marjorie Hyams (vib,p), Chuck Wayne (g), John Levy (b) and Denzil Best (d)...
And here's Joe Mooney playing and singing September Song (1946) with Andy Fitzgerald (cl,ts, vcl), Jack Hotop (g,vcl) and Gaetan Frega (b,vcl)...
Used with permission by Marc Myers
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