Carl Fontana life and biography

Carl Charles Fontana was an American jazz trombonist. Because Fontana rarely recorded under his own name and toured only occasionally after 1958, he is significantly less famous among mainstream jazz fans, although well-known amongst trombonists.

Many critics and musicians have called Carl Fontana "the world's greatest trombonist." Bandleaders and fellow trombonists have stated that Fontana "raised the bar and set the standard." Fontana is one of the most well-known and treasured jazz trombonists in music history. When the legendary musician died on October 9, 2003, he left a legacy of musicianship and ingenuity. His life and personality were full of genuine modesty, coupled with a desire to give back by teaching and sharing his gifts with young students and other musicians.

Fontana's biggest contribution to music was perhaps the playing technique he created, known as "doodle tonguing." According to the Monroe, Louisiana, News-Star, "It allowed trombonists to play faster and with more precision." Fontana called the technique "a self-defense against saxophone players." This groundbreaking method of playing influenced countless numbers of musicians. According to Jazzmasters, by using this technique Fontana "combine[d] a plump tone with the fast-tonguing of notes that caused a re-thinking of techniques the world over." Fontana was also well known for mixing mainstream jazz with bebop, creating his own signature swing-meets-bop style.

Carl Fontana's first trombone was a gift from his father. According to the News-Star, Fontana's brother Mickey said Carl "always knew he wanted to be a jazz musician." As a teenager, Fontana played in the local big band that was led by his father, Charles "Collie" Fontana, who also worked as a plumber, saxophonist, and violinist. While in the band, Fontana worked and played school sports. After graduating from Neville High School, he enrolled at Louisiana State University (LSU). He graduated in 1950 and soon returned to LSU to pursue a master's degree in music. In between his studies, Fontana performed with the Lee Fortier Band. His first big break came when, in 1951, he filled in for Woody Herman's current saxophonist, Urbie Green. Green's wife had gone into labor at the same time the band was due to play New York's Blue Room. After Fontana filled in for him on stage the crowd went wild, and Herman asked him to join the band permanently. After just two years at graduate school, an eager Fontana left his studies to go on tour with Woody Herman's Third Herd Band. Other trombonists in the group included brothers Urbie and Jack Green.

It didn't take long for Fontana's music career to take off. In 1954 he played in a band led by Lionel Hampton, and from 1954-55 he played with Hal McIntyre. In 1955 Stan Kenton hired Fontana. Kenton, who liked to feature Fontana as a soloist, invited Fontana to record with him, and together they recorded eleven albums. Perhaps the best-known track was Fontana's trombone playing on Fuego Cubano in 1956. Soon after, Fontana departed for a European tour in Kai Winding's four-trombone band; the tour, which lasted from 1956 to 1957, garnered international attention for Fontana.

In 1957 Fontana re-teamed with Woody Herman for the International State Department Tour. He also performed for many years with Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, and Kai Winding on television shows such as the Ed Sullivan Show and the Tonight Show, and also performed at Carnegie Hall. Later in 1957, Fontana decided to settle in Las Vegas, where he had been performing with greats such as Lionel Hampton, Duke Ellington, Benny Goodman, and Frank Sinatra. Every year in Las Vegas, Fontana performed in the annual trombone concerts at the University of Las Vegas, as well as at an array of festivals, tours, and all-star jazz parties.

In 1958, Fontana played his most renowned and well-known solo on Woody Herman's song "Intermission Riff." Although the tune contained only three chords, Fontana played it so skillfully that people called his performance a masterpiece. Fontana earned the nickname "Captain Kut-Cha," and he became known as a master of timing.

In the late 1970s Fontana toured Japan with bandleader Georgie Auld, and worked with the group Supersax. The group, which was signed to Blue Note Records, recreated Charlie Parker's solos, and featured Fontana and saxophonists Med Flory and Buddy Clark. He also played with the all-star group the World's Greatest Jazz Band. In 1975 Fontana took center stage again, co-leading a group with Swing drummer Jake Hanna. He made a name for himself in 1985, leading a quintet that included his longtime friend and fellow musician Al Cohn. By the 1990s, Fontana had regular gigs playing Las Vegas and touring as a soloist.

In 1985 Fontana's first major label release, The Great Fontana, featured the artist as quartet leader. Subsequently he released The Carl Fontana-Arno Marsh Quintet: Live at Capozzoli's in 1997 and The Carl Fontana Quartet: Live at Capozzoli's in 1998. On Nice and Easy in 1997, Fontana shared the lead, playing side by side with trombonist Jiggs Whigham. Later he released First Time Together in 2002, Quintet, Vol. 3 in 2002, and Conte Candoli Quintet (live) in 2003.

Although he toured extensively, Fontana always maintained close relationships with his family. He married and had three children, who currently reside in Las Vegas. Toward the end of his life, Fontana suffered from Alzheimer's disease. Carl Fontana passed away on October 9, 2003, in Las Vegas. In his later years, Fontana regularly taught clinics and master classes at the University of Nevada and other universities across the United States, including Harvard and Mississippi State College; he was also a featured soloist with the Army Blues Jazz Band. Ken Hanlon, a music professor at the University of Nevada, told the Los Angeles Times that Fontana was a phenomenon.

Selected discography
Solo:
-The Great Fontana Uptown, 1985.
-The Carl Fontana-Arno Marsh Quintet: Live at Capozzoli's Woofy, 1997.
-The Carl Fontana Quartet: Live at Capozzoli's Woofy, 1998.
-Nice 'n' Easy TNC Jazz, 1999.
-First Time Together Budapest Music, 2002.
-Keepin' up With the Boneses TNC Jazz, 2002.
-Quintet, Vol. 3 Woofy, 2002.
-Conte Candoli Quintet (live) Woofy, 2003.

With others:
-(With Stan Kenton) Retrospective Capitol, 1943.
-(With Woody Herman) Early Autumn Discovery, 1952.
-(With Stan Kenton) Sketches on Standards Capitol, 1953.
-(With Stan Kenton) Cuban Fire! Capitol, 1956.
-(With Stan Kenton) Kenton in Hi-Fi Capitol, 1956.
-(With Bill Perkins) Bill Perkins Octet on Stage Blue Note, 1956.
-(With Mel Tormé) Round Midnight: A Retrospective (1956-1962) Stash, 1956.
-(With Bill Holman) Big Band in a Jazz Orbit Andex, 1958.
-(With Bill Holman) In a Jazz Orbit Andex, 1958.
-(With Woody Herman) Concerto for Herd Verve, 1967.
-(With The Lawson-Haggart Jazz Band, Vol. 1) World's Greatest Jazz Band, Vol. 1 Project 3, 1968.
-(With Supersax) Supersax Plays Bird, Vol. 2: Salt Peanuts Pausa, 1973.
-(With Hanna-Fontana Band) Live at the Concord Concord Jazz, 1975.
-(With Jake Hanna) Live at Concord Concord Jazz, 1975.
-(With Louis Bellson) Don't Stop Now! Capri, 1984.
-(With Paul Cacia) Alumni Tribute to Stan Kenton Happy Hour, 1987.
-(With Tommy Vig Orchestra) Space Race Discovery, 1992.
-(With Woody Herman) Scene & Herd in 1952 Jazz Band, 1995.
-(With Bobby Shew) Heavyweights MAMA Foundation, 1995.
-(With Don Sickler) Nightwatch Uptown, 1995.
-(With Stan Kenton) Plays Holman Live! Artistry, 1996.
-(With Bobby Knight/Great American Trombone Co.) Cream of the Crop Jazz Mark, 1996.
-(With Stan Kenton) Jazz Profile Blue Note, 1997.
-(With Scott Whitfield) To Be There Amosaya, 1997.
-(With Woody Herman) Cool One Hindsight, 1998.
-(With Louise Baranger) Trumpeter's Prayer Summit, 1998.
-(With Stan Kenton) 1950's Birdland Broadcasts Jazz Band, 1998.
-(With Stan Kenton) Intermission Riff 1952-1956 Giants of Jazz, 1999.
-(With Paul McKee) Gallery Corridor, 1999.
-(With Stan Kenton) Revelations Tantara, 2000.
-(With Bill Watrous) Bill Watrous & Carl Fontana Atlas, 2001.
-(With Dusko Goykovich) Belgrade Blues Cosmic Sounds, 2001.
-(With Woody Herman) Jazz Swinger/Music for Tired Lovers Collectables, 2001.
-(With Woody Herman) Woody Herman's Finest Hour Uptown/Universal, 2001.
-(With Woody Herman) Presenting Woody Herman & The Band Jazz Band, 2001.
-(With Conte Candoli and Carl Fontana) Complete Phoenix Recordings, Vol. 1 Woofy, 2002.
-(With The Bill Perkins Octet) Bill Perkins Octet on Stage Japanese Import, 2002.
-(With Flip Phillips) Celebrates His 80th Birthday at the March of Jazz 1995 Arbors, 2003.
-(With Woody Herman) Standard Times--The Third Herd (1951-1952) Ocium, 2003.
-(With Stan Kenton & His Orchestra) At the Ernst-Merck-Halle, Hamburg Sounds of Yesteryear, 2003.
-(With Stan Kenton) Contemporary Concepts Capitol Jazz, 2003.
-(With Stan Kenton) Concepts Era Live! Artistry, 2003.

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