Four well-known jazz pianists of the 1950s started out as accordionists. The trend owed much to the accordion's affordability by families that couldn't afford a piano and the instrument's appeal at weddings and other parties, allowing budding squeeze-boxers to earn a few bucks. The list includes George Shearing, Joe Mooney and Marty Paich. The fourth may come as a surprise—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. Probably his best 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 voicing. Of the bunch, the last two features the depth and swing of Jolly's accordion playing.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Pete Jolly's four according tracks on Pete Jolly: Quartet, Quintet & Sextet (Fresh Sound) here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Pete Jolly on Shorty Rogers' Pete's Meat...
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 on September Song (1946) with Andy Fitzgerald (cl,ts, vcl), Jack Hotop (g,vcl) and Gaetan Frega (b,vcl)...
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. Probably his best 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 voicing. Of the bunch, the last two features the depth and swing of Jolly's accordion playing.
JazzWax tracks: You'll find Pete Jolly's four according tracks on Pete Jolly: Quartet, Quintet & Sextet (Fresh Sound) here.
JazzWax clips: Here's Pete Jolly on Shorty Rogers' Pete's Meat...
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 on September Song (1946) with Andy Fitzgerald (cl,ts, vcl), Jack Hotop (g,vcl) and Gaetan Frega (b,vcl)...
This story appears courtesy of JazzWax by Marc Myers.
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