Si Zentner & His Orch 1965

preview_player
Показать описание
Simon H. "Si" Zentner (June 13, 1917, New York City - January 31, 2000, Las Vegas, Nevada) was an American jazz bandleader.

Zentner played piano from age four and picked up trombone a few years later. He attended college for music and had intended to pursue a career in classical music, but became more interested in pop music after recording with Andre Kostelanetz. Zentner played in the bands of Les Brown, Harry James, and Jimmy Dorsey in the 1940s, then moved to Los Angeles, where he worked as a studio musician. He also landed a job with MGM from 1949 to 1955, and was involved in the music for films such as Singin' in the Rain and A Star Is Born.

In 1959 Zentner put together his own big band and signed to Liberty Records, releasing a large number of successful pop albums in the early 1960s. Zentner's ensemble was voted "Best Big Band" for 13 straight years by Down Beat, and Zentner himself was voted named Best Trombonist in a Playboy Reader's Poll. In 1962, his album Up a Lazy River (Big Band Plays the Big Hits, Vol. 2) won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Instrumental Performance.

Zentner's success was thoroughly unusual; he had a thriving big band going at a time when big band music was, for the most part, on the wane. The general downturn in interest eventually caught up to him, and by 1965 the orchestra had folded. He then moved to Las Vegas and accompanied Mel Torme at the Blue Room. In 1968 he became musical director of the long-running Vegas show Folies Bergere. It wasn't until the 1990s that Zentner returned to big band performance, assembling a new group and releasing several more albums. He suffered from leukemia late in life, though he continued performing into 1999; he died of the disease in early 2000.

(extract from Wikipedia 2011)
Рекомендации по теме
Комментарии
Автор

I had the privilege to see and hear Si Zentner and the house orchestra at the Tropicana Hotel Las Vegas, back in 1969. Stan Kenton was in the audience. Stan was sitting in the next row right in front of me. It was a memorable performance that I will never forget. The great Joe Williams was the guest singer.

MichaelAndrews-uygl
Автор

One of the greatist trombonists of the 20th century. Saw him live several times in the 60's. Si was a n extremely exciting performer. He always had a tight swinging band.R.I.P. Si.

m.j.mcilroy
Автор

Attended a dance with Si Zenter Orchestra at Purdue University in 1965. Wonderful evening.

RobertaHanscom
Автор

Great lead trumpet player. I believe it was Gene Goe, who also played lead trumpet for Count Basie.

johnmcilroy
Автор

Si told me years ago(the 60's) that his specially made Almont mouthpiece was the same as a Bach 12C only bored out to a certain specification.
Some minor info for you trombone players out there.

m.j.mcilroy
Автор

Up A Lazy River became legendary in NYC radio as on November 9, 1965 on WABC-AM when DJ Dan Ingram played it leading up to the news at 5:25 EST as the Big East Coast blackout was taking hold.

Tommy-
Автор

Wow, clear as a bell. This guy was wonderful, under-appreciated by many at that time. A terrific musician.

cynthiahawkins
Автор

IT'S STILL AMAZING TO SEE SUCH MAGNIFICENT MUSICIANSHIP IN A LIVE TAKE. These dudes did it flawlessly. Such unique arrangements to play. And, I had to edit in here that the Drummer was a major top of the line guy that got more sound out of that small number of skins that anyone could hope for. Wonder what he thought of the monster drum sets that came along a bit later for pop music concerts?

hisroyalness
Автор

Wikipedia piece does not include Si's tenure in Atlantic City NJ.  He became musical director of the 1st hotel/casino there - Resorts International - and led the band until he left to take over director/leader chores at The Sands, where they build a theater for him that we used to call "The House That Si Built".  A great leader...I was in his trumpet section at Resorts. We opened in 1978. Si auditioned local players and wanted the band to be local and a few came in from NYC and Vegas.

davesheetz
Автор

He was a legendary trombonist who also helped give the Billy May Orchestra it's signature sound. He was also the principal trombonist of the MGM Studio Orchestra, which meant you would have heard his unmistakable sound on many of the Tom and Jerry cartoons.

marvinmuonekejazz
Автор

Great historical archival footage-- Thank you!!

PosauneundPapier
Автор

Loving this! What a great way to chill on my day off - I have 2 Si Zentner records and first heard about him from a Martin Denny album called Exotica Suite- The songs he did on that record were stunning 😍

LoungeCat
Автор

I LOVE this guy!!! 6:57 Without a Song. Wow!

charlesperron
Автор

Thanks for posting. I've been a big band fan for 35 years and only "discovered" Si about a year ago. Now I can't get enough, a musician's musician and great band and charts. Check out Petite Fleur here on YT.

garnerjazz
Автор

Top band - just love that vibrato. I'd like to play all tunes on this clip - I have some already and will work them up 2015. Thanks for uploading.

rosshurley
Автор

I heard this iteration of Si's band summer 1965 Disneyland.

markschlachter
Автор

Our band played Up a lazy river. We had sitting in with us Si’s first chair trumpet in 1964/65. I could play a robust high C and took the solo.

I heard Si live at Elich Gardens in Denver. His horn filled the venue in a way impossible to describe.. trombone paradise!!!

AspartameBoy
Автор

I just bought some of his albums @ Discogs 🎼

SteelerYNation
Автор

One of the happiest memories I have of living in Las Vegas was befriending Si. He used to come to the music store I worked in, and always had wonderful stories to share. He wasn't shy about sharing his knowledge with a trombone student, either. A wonderful guy to be around!

marlin
Автор

Let's not forget Si's work with the one and only, Mickey Katz.

cinegraphic