Sonny Russo

Santo " Sonny " Russo ( born March 20, 1929 in Brooklyn, New York City; † February 23, 2013 ) was an American jazz trombonist.

Life and work

Russo, who comes from a musical family - his father and his grandfather were professional musicians - first learned the piano, then violin. At the beginning of his musical career Russo worked with Buddy Morrow (1947 ), Lee Castle, Sam Donahue, Artie Shaw ( 1949-50 ), with Dick Collins, Buddy Rich, Ralph Flanagan, Rex Stewart and the Sauter - Finegan Orchestra ( 1953-55 ). He also played in the orchestras of Tommy Dorsey and Jimmy Dorsey Brothers, 1956 Maynard Ferguson Orchestra and the Al Cohn- orchestra. As a member of the orchestra of Eddie Sauter 1965 he was involved in the production of the soundtrack album Mickey One of Stan Getz. From 1967 to 1973 he was part of the orchestra of the Tonight Show, played in 1975 in Europe with The World's Greatest Jazz Band, and then stepped off and on with Frank Sinatra. As a studio musician he has also worked with The Godfather, Goodfellas and Sophie's Choice (1982 ) on the soundtracks of the films.

Discography (selection)

• Eddie Sauter: Sauter - Finegan Orchestra, The - New Directions In Music (RCA Victor 10 -inch LP, 1953)
• Maynard Ferguson: The Birdland Dream Band ( Vik, 1956)
• Teddi King with the Al Cohn Orchestra: Bidin ' My Time (RCA Victor, 1956)
• Stan Getz, Eddie Sauter Orchestra: Mickey One ( MGM Records, 1965)

Lexical entries

• Richard Cook, Brian Morton: The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD. Penguin, 6th Edition, London, 2002. ISBN 0-14-017949-6
• Liner Notes to Eddie Sauter: The Sauter Finnegan Orchestra - Directions In Music, 1952-55 (RCA Bluebird, 1990)
• Bielefeld Catalog Jazz 1988 & 2001