An infrequently recorded pianist,
Tony Aless mixed bop, mainstream and cool elements into his compositions and solos.
Aless played with trumpeter
Bunny Berign in the late '30s, then recorded with
Teddy Powell in the early '40s. After serving in the army,
Aless played briefly with
Charlie Spivak, then worked and recorded with
Woody Herrman in the mid-'40s. Later stints included stretches with
George Auld,
Flip Phillips,
Chubby Jackson,
Neal Hefti,
Stan Getz and
Charlie Parker, plus radio appearances.
Aless's best-known album is the 1955 release Long Island Suite, notable for the inclusion of twin trombone dynamos
J.J. Johnson and
Kai Winding, and contributions from another solid, undervalued musician, alto saxophonist
Dave Schildkraut. ~ Ron Wynn