Pete Jolly

Pete Jolly (born Peter A. Ceragioli Jr., June 5, 1932 was a two-time Grammy-nominated American West Coast jazz pianist and accordionist. He is known for his performance of television themes and movie soundtracks.

Biography Jolly began playing the accordion at age three and appeared on the radio program Hobby Lobby at the age of seven. He was raised in Phoenix, Arizona, a hotbed of jazz at the time. One of his best friends and collaborators in Phoenix was guitarist Howard Roberts, whom he met at the age of 13. Following Roberts to Los Angeles in 1952, he immediately began working with the best players on the West Coast jazz scene, including Shorty Rogers. Besides his performances as a pianist, he also played the accordion, often ranking among the top three in the Down Beat reader's polls during the mid to late 1950s.

His composition "Little Bird" (a minor hit on Fred Astaire's Ava Records) was nominated for a Grammy Award in 1963, and he formed the Pete Jolly Trio in 1964. With the Trio and as a solo artist, he recorded several albums, including earning a Grammy nomination for Best Instrumental Jazz Performance – Small Group or Soloist with Small Group. One of the last albums was a collaboration—aptly entitled Collaboration—with Jan Lundgren, Chuck Berghofer, and Joe LaBarbera in 2000. His final album, It's a Cool Heat, was recorded in Phoenix in May 2004 shortly before his death. He worked with Buddy DeFranco, Art Pepper, and Red Norvo, and for many years with music arranger and director Ray Conniff and Herb Alpert, recording on Alpert's record label, A&M as both sideman and leader.

Jolly's music can be heard on television programs such as Get Smart, The Love Boat, I Spy, Mannix, M*A*S*H and Dallas, as well as hundreds of movie soundtracks. He recreated some of Bud Powell's playing with Charlie Parker for Clint Eastwood's biographical movie about Parker, Bird. By day, Jolly worked in the studios; by night, with his trio. He continued to perform with his trio in Los Angeles jazz clubs until shortly before being hospitalized in August 2004. His final public performance with his trio was in Reno, Nevada. Jolly died at the age of 72 in November 2004 in Pasadena, California, from complications of multiple myeloma. 1955? Duo, Trio, Quartet RCA Victor 1956? When Lights Are Low RCA Victor 1959? Impossible MetroJazz 1960 The Duo VSOP Duo, with Ralph Peña (bass) 1963 Sweet September Äva Most tracks trio, with Chuck Berghofer (bass), Larry Bunker (drums); some tracks quartet, with Howard Roberts (guitar), Berghofer (bass), Nick Martinis (drums); Nominated for a Grammy for Best Instrumental Jazz Performance – Small Group or Soloist with Small Group 1964 Hello, Jolly! Äva Two tracks trio, with Chuck Berghofer (bass), Howard Roberts (guitar), and Nick Martinez (drums); all others with orchestra arranged and conducted by either Dick Hazard or Dick Grove. 1960–65? Live in L.A.: Red Chimney and Sherry's Bar VSOP Most tracks with Chuck Berghofer and Ralph Peña (bass; separately), Nick Martinis (drums); in concert; released 1994 1965? Too Much, Baby Columbia Trio, with Chuck Berghofer (bass), Nick Martinis (drums) 1968? Herb Alpert Presents Pete Jolly A&M With John Pisano (guitar), Chuck Berghofer (bass), Earl Palmer (drums), orchestra 1969 Timeless VSOP With Chuck Berghofer (bass), Nick Ceroli (drums) 1970? Seasons A&M With Chuck Berghofer (bass), Paul Humphrey (drums), John Pisano (guitar), Milt Holland and Emil Richards (percussion), brass 1980? Strike Up the Band Atlas 1993? Yours Truly Bainbridge Trio, with Chuck Berghofer (bass), Nick Martinis (drums) Gems Holt 1995 Yeah! VSOP With Chuck Berghofer (bass), Nick Martinis (drums)

As sideman With Elmer Bernstein The Man with the Golden Arm (Decca, 1956) With Kenny Burrell Heritage (AudioSource, 1980) With The Carnival The Carnival (World Pacific, 1969) With Buddy Collette Porgy & Bess (Interlude 1957 ) With Jerry Donato It's a Cool Heat (Tempest, 2005) With Joni James After Hours (MGM, 1962) With J. J. Johnson Concepts in Blue (Pablo Today, 1981) With Quincy Jones Roots (A&M, 1977) With Johnny Mandel I Want to Live (United Artists, 1958) With Gerry Mulligan I Want to Live (United Artists, 1958) If You Can't Beat 'Em, Join 'Em! (Limelight, 1965) With Jack Nitzsche Heart Beat (Soundtrack) (Capitol, 1980) With Shorty Rogers Shorty Rogers and His Giants (RCA Victor, 1954 ) The Swinging Mr. Rogers (Atlantic, 1955) Martians Stay Home (Atlantic, 1955 ) Martians Come Back! (Atlantic, 1955 ) Way Up There (Atlantic, 1955 ) Shorty Rogers Plays Richard Rodgers (RCA Victor, 1957) Gigi in Jazz (RCA Victor, 1958) Chances Are It Swings (RCA Victor, 1958) The Wizard of Oz and Other Harold Arlen Songs (RCA Victor, 1959) Shorty Rogers Meets Tarzan (MGM, 1960) The Swingin' Nutcracker (RCA Victor, 1960) The Music From An Invisible Orchard (RCA Victor, 1961 ) The Fourth Dimension in Sound (Warner Bros., 1961) Bossa Nova (Reprise, 1962) Jazz Waltz (Reprise, 1962) With Tom Waits One from the Heart (film) soundtrack (CBS, 1982)