Biography
Tony Aless, a pianist who seldom stepped into the studio, wove bop, mainstream and cool influences through both his writing and his improvisations. In the late ’30s he performed alongside trumpeter Bunny Berign, then cut sides with Teddy Powell during the opening years of the following decade. Once discharged from military service he spent a short interval in Charlie Spivak’s band before joining Woody Herrman for an extended engagement and several recordings in the mid-’40s. Subsequent work found him alongside George Auld, Flip Phillips, Chubby Jackson, Neal Hefti, Stan Getz and Charlie Parker, as well as taking part in numerous radio broadcasts. His most celebrated date, the 1955 album Long Island Suite, stands out for the presence of trombonists J.J. Johnson and Kai Winding, whose combined firepower is matched by the contributions of alto saxophonist Dave Schildkraut, another reliable yet under-recognized player.