Pete Rugolo has died in Los Angeles at the age of 95. Rugolo’s composing and arranging, particularly for the Stan Kenton Orchestra, 
had much to do in the 1940s and ‘50s with the creation of what came to be called progressive jazz. As a discoverer of talent and as a producer, he was responsible for recording a number of artists including Peggy Lee and Mel Tormé. He produced the seminally influential Miles Davis Birth of the Cool sessions of 1949 and ’50. Later, Rugolo led a band of his own and composed theme music for several successful television series, among them The Thin Man, The Fugitive and Run For Your Life. For today’s Los Angeles Times obituary, go here.
Rugolo’s 1951 arrangement of “Love For Sale” for demonstrates the craftsmanship and sense of drama that underlay his work for Kenton.
Here is Rugolo’s theme for The Fugitive, the series starring Richard Janssen that aired on ABC television from 1963 to 1967.
Composer, arranger, historian and big band scholar Jeff Sultanof is preparing for Rifftides an essay putting in perspective Rugolo’s career and contributions.
The nonagenarian pianist presented de Barros with every biographer’s hope, unrestricted access to his subject’s personal papers and nearly unrestricted access to her private thoughts. He made the most of it, turning exhaustive research and hundreds of hours of interviews into a true story with the sweep of a novel. From the early discovery of McPartland’s musical gift through her wartime service, her ecstatic and stormy marriage to Jimmy McPartland, her growth as a pianist, her deep affair with Joe Morello, and the radio show that made her a national figure, she has had a fascinating life. It makes a splendid read.
Mulligan’s Concert Jazz Band had three fewer musicians than most big jazz outfits. Its size permitted precision, flexibility and subtlety, yet the band had the power of sprung steel. In this concert from a half century ago, the CJB is as fresh as yesterday. Arrangements by Mulligan, Bob Brookmeyer, Al Cohn and Johnny Mandel set standards to which big band writers still aspire. Bassist Buddy Clark and drummer Mel Lewis inspired Mulligan, Brookmeyer, Conte Candoli, Gene Quill and Zoot Sims to some of the best soloing of their careers. This beautifully produced issue of the complete concert is a basic repertoire item.
GIANT! GIANT! GIANT! A true giant of music… of real greatness…
There is a good obituary of Pete Rugolo in today’s The Independent (UK):
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/obituaries/pete-rugolo-arranger-crucial-to-both-miles-davis-and-stan-kenton-2372368.html