Nunzio (Toots) Mondello (August 14, 1911 – November 15, 1992) was an important American swing jazz lead alto saxophonist during the swing era and a talented soloist, yet he remains relatively unknown to most music fans.
Mondello started life in Boston, where he performed on the alto and soprano saxophones with his father’s band from the age of 8 and joined the musicians’ union when only 14. Mondello studied at NEC in 1927; his classes included harmony with William B. Tyler and solfeggio with Clara Ellis. He became assistant bandleader with Mal Hallett’s Toast of New England in the same year and stayed with the band until 1933 where he also simultaneously performed saxophone and trombone.
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| Benny Carter, Zoots & Coleman Hawkins |
He then played with Irving Aaronson's Commanders, Joe Haymes (1934-5), Ray Noble (1935) and Buddy Rogers. In 1934–35, Mondello was a member of the original Benny Goodman Orchestra and was one of the clarinetist's key soloists. He followed that up with stints in the orchestras of Joe Haymes, Ray Noble, Phil Harris and with Goodman again (1939-40).
Mondello did extensive work as a studio sideman, with Chick Bullock (1935 & 1937), Bunny Berigan (1936), Miff Mole, Claude Thornhill, Larry Clinton (all 1937), Teddy Wilson (1938), Louis Armstrong (1938–39), Lionel Hampton (1939 -40) with whom he recorded Gin For Christmas. He then worked with the Metronome All–Stars (1940-41) and many others. Mondello recorded as a leader between 1937 and 1939, doing two sessions with a big band, one with a nonet, and one with a trio, resulting in eight titles.
Mondello served in the military during World War II. He continued doing session work and recorded with Pearl Bailey (1946), Billie Holiday (1947), Doris Day (Toots was “the growling sax man” on Doris Day’s recording of No Moon at All in 1947), Sarah Vaughan (1949), Toots Thielemans (1954-5), Billy Butterfield (1950, 1956-8), Artie Shaw (1963) and Goodman again (1967) and remained active into the 1970s. Late in his career, Mondello performed with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra for productions of "Lulu" and "Porgy and Bess."
Over his career he also played on shows for Kate Smith, Ed Sullivan, Jackie Gleason, and Milton Berle, among others. Mondello played what is called “the Boston sound” – clear and well-rounded – and was considered one of the best saxophonists of this style. He was also a flutist. For many years he studied with Harold Bennett, and compiled a book of Bennett's finger exercises. Mondello studied composition with Paul Creston for thirteen years, and the two remained lifelong friends. Mondello’s compositions saw many performances in the 1970s; in all he composed more than thirty chamber music and orchestral pieces.
Mondello who lived in Manhattan, died of cancer at the Lenox Hill Hospital, New York City, New York, November 15, 1992, aged 81.
(Edited from Wikipedia, New Grove Dictionary of Jazz, New England Conservatory)