Many years ago Stan Kenton and I had a conversation where we agreed that any musician playing a musical or percussion instrument improvisationally is playing a form of Jazz With out being committed to playing traditional Latin, clave etc.
This free form rhythm driven conga solo is my contribution to that opinion.
J.C.
Private Birthday Party!
Nat King Cole & Jack Costanzo in "Calypso Blues"
Nat King Cole & Jack Costanzo.............
.........................Nat King Cole & Jack Costanzo
Influences
Lifetime Achievement Award: Jack "Mr. Bongo" Costanzo
Most jazz aficionados know Jack Costanzo as the groundbreaking bongo player for the legendary Stan Kenton Band, which made three appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show. Or maybe they learned his name when Nat King Cole took Costanzo into his fold, honoring him by changing the band's name to "Nat King Cole and the Trio (featuring Jack Costanzo)." Or simply by virtue of having his own band, which has released excellent Latin jazz records, including this year's Back from Havana.
Others may know Costanzo for his public persona, "Mr. Bongo." Under that name, Costanzo has performed and acted in many movies, including Visitor to a Small Planet and The Delicate Delinquent (with Jerry Lewis), Danny Kaye's Man from the Diners Club, Red Skelton's Stool Pigeon Number 1, and Harem Scarum, alongside Elvis Presley.
However you know of him, Costanzo is a living legend, credited with introducing the bongos to American jazz in the 50s. He was raised in Chicago until the age of 15, beginning his entertainment career as a touring dancer with his late wife. "We did everything -- jitterbug, ballroom dancing, rumba," the 79-year-old says from his home in Lakeside. "Rumba was just becoming known in this country. When it became popular in the big cities, we toured nationally. That's how I learned to do bongos.
"I was teaching in a ballroom. They brought a band in from Puerto Rico," he says, recalling with amazement, "No one had ever seen a Latin band before. One of their players brought out a set of bongos, and I was sold from then on. Nowhere in town sold bongos. There was nobody to learn from. So I made a pair of bongos from a pair of buttercups and taught myself. When my partner danced solo, I would follow her footwork with bongos."
Costanzo served in the U.S. Navy during World War II as an aviation ordinance man, "putting torpedoes and gun racks on planes, testing the machine guns so they don't shoot the propeller off." After he was discharged, he moved to Los Angeles, where he taught dancing at the Beverly Hills Hotel. He would occasionally jam on the bongos there; at one such occasion, big band leader Bobby Ramos noticed him and offered him a gig with his band, which had recently landed a residency at the famous Trocadero club.
During the same period, Stan Kenton had been searching high and low for a bongo player. New York was then the most obvious source for Latin talent, but Kenton had been there and hadn't found what he was looking for. Then he saw Costanzo -- and the rest is history.
"Kenton came in one night, heard me, and said, Jack, I promise you you'll be a star within six weeks.' You know, he was right."
..................................From The Movie"Bernadine"
........................Jack with Elvis in the Movie" Harum Scarum"
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...................MORE JACK WITH ELVIS!
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Jack Costanzo is known and responsible for the popularity of the bongos all over the world. He introduced bongos into American music when he was with the famous Stan Kenton Band, which shot him to jazz fame overnight. Jack recorded with Stan such favorites as The Peanut Vendor, Bongo Riff, Cuban Carnival and about fifty other recordings. Listen to Mr. Bongo! (MP3) He was also featured at the famous Carnegie Hall with Stan Kenton in concert, which broke all attendance records. Jack next joined the late great Nat King Cole which caused the King Cole Trio to be changed to Nat King Cole and the Trio, featuring Jack Costanzo. Jack recorded on many of King Cole's hits, including Calypso Blues, Lover Come Back To Me, Lush Life, Alakazam and Yes Sir That's My Baby. Jack stayed with Nat almost five years, appearing all over the world, including the world famous Palladium. They also did The Ed Sullivan Show three times, Jack was featured on each show. After Nat King Cole, Jack joined Peggy Lee and was prominently showcased by Miss Lee in her act throughout the country. Jack Costanzo also worked and was featured with Betty Grable and Harry James, Judy Garland, Jane Powell, Ray Anthony, Martin & Lewis, and the never to be forgotten record breaking engagement at the Hollywood Interlude and Crescendo with the frantic Frances Faye, who featured Jack throughout her whole act, giving him ample opportunities to play wild bongos. Mr. Bongo finally started his own band from which he opened a whole new era for himself. He appeared with Dinah Shore as a featured artist at least seven times, the year Dinah Shore's Show won every award there was to win in a musical category. Jack also appeared with Marlon Brando on the Edward R. Murrow Show three days after Marlon won his first Academy Award Oscar, for On The Water Front. Recording offers started coming in, and Jack recorded his first album for Crescendo Records called Jack Costanzo (Mr. Bongo) And His Afro Cuban Band, (which has been re-released recently on a CD) Jack then signed with Liberty Records and did seven great albums for them. Leonard Feather, the late famous jazz critic named Costanzo "Mr. Bongo". Jack Costanzo has appeared as an actor and musician in many motion pictures. To name a few, Jerry Lewis - Visitor to a Small Planet and The Delicate Delinquent. Danny Kaye's - Man From the Diners Club. Red Skelton's - Stool Pigeon Number 1. Pat Boone's - Bernadine. The Satin Bug. Costanzo's last movie was a picture called Harem Scarum staring Elvis Presley, featuring Jack musically and as an actor throughout the whole picture. Mr. Bongo's television appearances number so many that we can only name a few. The Hollywood Special on Jazz, The Hollywood Special on Latin and It's Influence on Jazz, The Art Linkletter Show, during which Jack did a five minute solo coast to coast. He also was highlighted with Ann Miller on the Dinah Shore Chevy T.V. Show, which received rave notices. They later appeared on The Ed Sullivan Show. Jack appeared with his own show, featuring Gerrie Woo, at the famous Sands and Tropicana hotels in Las Vegas. They also did a Far East tour ending at the El San Juan Hotel in Puerto Rico. Mr. Bongo's fans, some of which studied bongos with him, reads like a Who's Who in Hollywood. They include: Marlon Brando, Rita Moreno, Carolyn Jones, Hugh O'Brien, Keenan Wynn, Van Johnson, Tony Curtis, Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, Betty Grable, Vic Darnone, and the most unlikely Gary Cooper, who was one of Jack's most avid pupils. Jack Costanzo is one of the world's greatest percussionists on Bongos & Conga Drums!!!...............
Jack, It was an absolute pleasure to jam with you in Chicago at Carnivale restaurant with the Johnny Blas Quartet. I can't express enough what a privilege it was to play with a legend like you!
hi uncle jack! hope you are healthy and happy, have been thinking about u lately, im sure you have Beautiful weather, today was warm for me but it is always raining in dublin, even when its sunny! i have been getting guitar lessons from my boyfriend here and am learning hotel california. wish i could go to another drum circle that one we went to was so fun!
Dear Jack..thank you very much for your friendship..it's a honour for me keep in touch with you..your records with Nat King Cole are fantastics!!!...thank's for your music & Happy New Year....ciao :-)) silvio
MyHotCommentsTU TIENES ALGO QUE NO TIENE LOS DAMAS Y ES QUE TIENES AMOR EN TODO TU CORAZON. TU AMOR ES DE TODO EL MUNDO. YOU HAVE SOMETHING THAT NOBODY HAS.YOU HAVE LOVE IN YOUR HEART FOR EVERONE. POR ESO TE QUIERO MUCHO. THATS WAY I LOVE YOU. TU AMIGO DE PONCE PUERTO RICO. YOUR FRIEND FROM PONCE PUERTO RICO. ((( ABRAHAM===CONGABONGO )))
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