Bebop / cool jazz: “On Green Dolphin Street”

Pete Jolly Trio. Pete Jolly (piano), Chuck Berghofer (double bass) and Nick Martinis (drums). From the album Yours Truly (1993) by Pete Jolly.

Pete Jolly collaborated in the soundtrack for the television detective series Mannix that ran from 1967 to 1975 on CBS; in the war comedy/drama television series aired on CBS from 1972 to 1983 M*A*S*H; in 1977 in the television miniseries Roots by singer, multi-instrumentalist, composer and record and film producer Quincy Jones; in the comedy/drama television series The Love Boat aired on the ABC television network from 1977 to 1987; in the prime time television soap opera Dallas aired on CBS from 1978 to 1991; in 1980 in the drama film Heart Beat by composer and record producer Jack Nitzsche; in 1982 in the romantic musical One From the Heart by Francis Ford Coppola; and in 1984 in the action crime-comedy movie City Heat written by Blake Edwards and directed by Richard Benjamin.

He also starred with his Pete Jolly Trio in three albums by tenor saxophonist and arranger Jack Montrose with covers of folk songs by guitarist and percussionist David Holt, who won four Grammy Awards: Better Late Than Never (1985), Spread a Little Joy (1987) and Let’s Do It (1990), with narrative melodic lines in his excellent songs, where you can hear the respect the musicians had for Holt’s music. In 1988 Jolly recreated the interpretations of bebop pianist Bud Powell with the father of modern jazz, alto saxophonist Charlie Parker, in the biographical film Bird (Parker’s nickname) by Clint Eastwood. In 1993 released Yours Truly for Bainbridge Records with his Pete Jolly Trio playing eleven standards and his popular song “Little Bird”. His total mastery of the piano and infectious enthusiasm combine perfectly with his good taste and self-control in ballads.

In 1995 he launched Yeah! for the VSOP label with his Pete Jolly Trio to celebrate their 21st year as a regularly working trio. The musicians play with dynamism and creativity within the boundaries of straight-ahead jazz, showing that they had not run out of ideas alternating hot pieces, standards and ballads. Also in 1995 VSOP brought to the market Live in LA: Red Chimney and Sherry’s Bar, which includes live shows by the trio made at club Donte’s from 1960 to 1965. Finally, in 2001 he issued Collaboration for the Fresh Sound label with pianist Jan Lundgren, double bassist from his own trio Chuck Berghofer and drummer Joe LaBarbera. Pete Jolly passed away in 2004 in Pasadena from multiple myeloma at the age of 72.