Al Porcino Biography
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14 May 1925, New York City, New York, USA. While still in his teenage years, Porcino joined the Louis Prima band where his high-note trumpet playing attracted excited attention. In the 40s he played in many of the leading big bands of the day, including those led by Tommy Dorsey, Gene Krupa, Stan Kenton and Woody Herman. In the 50s he again worked with Kenton and Herman among others such as Charlie Parker, Count Basie and Elliot Lawrence before settling in Los Angeles, where he did studio work and also made regular appearances in jazz groups, usually big bands, including Terry Gibbs’ ‘dream bands’. He made many record sessions with singers including Frank Sinatra, Sarah Vaughan, Ella Fitzgerald, Judy Garland and Ray Charles. He was co-leader with Med Flory of the Jazz Wave Orchestra. In the 60s he continued to play in big bands, adding Buddy Rich and the Thad Jones - Mel Lewis Jazz Orchestra to his list of credits. He rejoined Herman again and also formed his own band, with which he accompanied Mel Tormé. His career continued along similar lines in the 70s and then, in 1977, he settled in Munich, Germany, where he worked with radio bands and led his own big band. During the 80s he made many concert appearances with his big band, some of which were recorded, often in company with visiting American jazzmen such as Al Cohn. One of the outstanding lead trumpeters in big band history, Porcino set remarkably high standards of performance for himself and for his section mates and any band in which he played was assured of a first-rate trumpet section. His German band of the late 80s clearly benefits from his remarkable leadership.
Source: The Encyclopedia of Popular Music by Colin Larkin. Licensed from Muze.
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