Charlie Ventura

Charlie Ventura (born Charles Venturo; December 2, 1916 – January 17, 1992) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and bandleader from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States.

Career During the 1940s, Ventura played saxophone for the bands of Gene Krupa and Teddy Powell. In 1945, he was named best tenor saxophonist by DownBeat magazine. He led a band which included Conte Candoli, Bennie Green, Boots Mussulli, Ed Shaughnessy, Jackie Cain, and Roy Kral.

Discography

As leader Stomping with the Sax (Crystalette, 1950) Gene Norman Presents a Charlie Ventura Concert (Decca, 1953) F.Y.I. (EmArcy, 1954) In Concert (GNP, 1954) An Evening with Charlie Ventura and Mary Ann McCall (Norgran, 1954) Another Evening with Charlie Ventura and Mary Ann McCall (Norgran, 1954) Jumping with Ventura (EmArcy, 1955) An Evening with Mary Ann McCall and Charlie Ventura (Norgran, 1955) Charlie Ventura's Carnegie Hall Concert (Norgran, 1955) The New Charlie Ventura in Hi-Fi (Baton, 1956) Plays Hi-Fi Jazz (Tops, 1957) Crazy Rhythms (Regent, 1957) Adventure with Charlie (King, 1957) Here's Charlie (Brunswick, 1957) East of Suez (Regent, 1958) A Battle of Saxes (King, 1959) Plays for the People (Craftsmen, 1960) Live at the 3 Deuces! (Phoenix Jazz, 1975) Aces at the Deuces (Phoenix Jazz, 1976)

As sideman Dizzy Gillespie, The Complete RCA Victor Recordings (Bluebird, 1995) Gene Krupa, The Great New Gene Krupa Quartet Featuring Charlie Ventura (Verve, 1964)