Tony Fruscella

Tony Fruscella was a mellow, cool, jazz trumpeter who was reminiscent of Chet Baker. Unfortunately, his addictive lifestyle led to a premature death. Fruscella was born February 4, 1927 in Orangeburg, NY. He gained his first significant experience in an Army band. Fruscella’s cool tone, influenced by Miles Davis, swing-era veteran Joe Thomas and also reminiscent Bix Beiderbecke’s fluidity, made him an ideal sideman in early ’50s for artists such as Stan Getz, Lester Young and Gerry Mulligan. Fruscella recorded the first session with Getz in 1955. It was also re-released under the name Tony Fruscella. Fruscella was already suffering from the effects of drugs and alcohol. His subsequent activity was limited to dates with Don Joseph, a fellow cool trumpeter, in the late ’50s. Fruscella was out of jazz by 1960s, and he died in New York in 1969 from cirrhosis. Fruscella’s beautiful but limited recorded legacy was somewhat enhanced by the release of several studio and live dates. Allmusic

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