Carmen Mastren (born Carmine Nicholas Mastrandrea, 6 October 1913 – 31 March 1981) was an American jazz guitarist, banjoist, and violinist who was a member of the Tommy Dorsey orchestra from 1936–1941. He was a superior rhythm guitarist who uplifted many sessions with his subtle playing but was rarely in the spotlight himself.
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Sid Weiss, Carmen Mastren, Wingy Mannone and Joe Marsala. |
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| Glem Miller |
After his discharge he returned to New York, but his attention seemed to be more oriented towards conducting and composing. He discovered that light music gave him greater economic satisfaction and progressively neglects jazz. He became accompanist to Morton Downey, providing music for Songs By Morton Downey on CBS-Radio (1948); The Morton Downey Show (Mohawk Showroom) on NBC-TV (1949). Mastren also worked with Raymond Scott, Ray McKinley and Mel Powell.
In 1953 Mastren rejoined N.B.C. where until 1970 he played for –The Today Show, The Tonight Show and Say When!!. He also recorded a single, "Spaghetti Rag," with Robert Maxwell in the mid-1950s. Mastren only released one album under his own name in 1967, the spectacular looking and sounding Banjorama on Mercury. Mastren demonstrated his technical prowess with his banjo on the album, backed by a veteran band of session men including guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli and pianist Dick Hyman (appearing as "The Renowned Ricardo").
Mastren died at age 68 from a heart attack on March 31, 1981 at his home in Valley Stream on Long Island, New York. In the history of jazz his contribution remains, especially in the Thirties and Forties, that of one of the greatest and most significant acoustic guitarists, an ideal continuator of the path traced by Eddie Lang and Dick McDonough.
(Edited from Wikipedia, Rough Guide to Jazz, AllMusic & Daily Green)