John Pisano, a Los Angeles studio guitarist who began recording in the mid-1950s and was so proficient that he appeared on some of jazz's finest chamber jazz recordings and pop's flashiest hits, died May 2. He was 93. [Photo above of John Pisano]
Pisano, like dozens of other excellent jazz guitarists of the era who came from working-class Italian families, found that his home-encouraged passion for music, mastery of the inexpensive instrument and an ability to sight-read could lead to lucrative studio work as the recording industry shifted from single records to 12-inch albums and the electric guitar emerged. As a result, Pisano wound up in L.A., replacing a departing Jim Hall in the Chico Hamilton Quintet, whose music was featured in the 1957 film The Sweet Smell of Success.
When I interviewed Chico Hamilton for JazzWax in 2009, I asked him about Pisano's role in the film:
JazzWax: In 1957 you wrote the incidental music for The Sweet Smell of Success.
Chico Hamilton: I tell you, man, that was great. The actor Martin Milner, who was cast as the quintet's bandleader in the movie, he didn't know how to play guitar. So what happened was Milner put his left hand behind his back and John Pisano, my guitar player, put his hand on the strings. It looked like Milner was playing the guitar, the way [cinematographer] Jimmy Wong [Howe] shot it [laughs].
Pisano then left Chico's group and played in a trio with trombonist Frank Rosolino before recording as a sideman on numerous chamber-jazz albums by former Chico Hamilton cellist Fred Katz. He also recorded albums with guitarists Billy Bean and Joe Pass, Paul Horn and leading vocalists such as Peggy Lee.
In the 1960s, Pisano became a member of the Tijuana Brass, a touring pop ensemble led by Herb Alpert. With studio work drying up in the rock era, Pisano taught, played regularly at L.A. restaurants and clubs, and continued to record. His last album was in 2012.
Let's listen to 10 of my favorite clips featuring John Pisano...
Here's the Chico Hamilton Quintet playing Chanel #5, with Paul Horn (fl,cl,ts,pic), Fred Katz (cello), John Pisano (g), Carson Smith (b) and Chico Hamilton (d), in 1956...
Here's Sidney's Theme, by the Chico Hamilton Quintet in 1956 for the soundtrack of The Sweet Smell of Success...
Here's Pisano playing rhythm guitar in 1957 on I'm Glad There Is You, from Fred Katz's Soul-o-cello, with Paul Horn (fl,cl) Ann Mason Stockton (harp) Fred Katz (cello) Calvin Jackson (p) John Pisano (g) Hal Gaylor (b) Chico Hamilton (d)...
Here's Circus in 1957 on The Fred Katz Ochestra, with Paul Horn and Buddy Collette (as), Harry Klee and Bill Green (fl), Fred Katz (cello), Calvin Jackson (p), John Pisano (g), Hal Gaylor (b) and Chico Hamilton (d)...
Here's Like Someone in Love in 1958 by the 4-5-6 Trio, featuring Fred Katz (cello), John Pisano (g) and Hal Gaylor (b), in 1958...
Here's Pisano with Billy Bean on Indian Summer in 1958, with Gene Estes (vib), John Pisano and Billy Bean (g), Hal Gaylor (b) and Larry Bunker (d). I believe Pisano has the second guitar solo...
Here's Pisano playing Feeling the Blues in 1958, on Fred Katz and His Jammers, with Don Fagerquist (tp), Gene Estes (vib), Fred Katz (p,cello), John Pisano (g), Leroy Vinnegar (b) and Lennie McBrowne (d)...
Here's Pottsville, U.S.A. from Pisano's Take Your Pick, in 1958, with Paul Horn and William Green (ts,fl), Chuck Gentry (bar), Jules Jacobs (oboe), George Smith and Abe Most (cl), Justin Gordon (b-cl), Calvin Jackson (p), Lou Singer (vib), John Pisano and Billy Bean (g), Hal Gaylor (b) and Larry Bunker (d)...
Here's Sunday in New York in 1964 with Pisano playing rhythm guitar, on Joe Pass's Great Motion Picture Themes, with Joe Pass (12 string-g), John Pisano (rhythm-g), Charlie Haden (b) and Larry Bunker (d)...
And here's Pisano in 1964 playing rhythm guitar behind Joe Pass on Pass' album For Django, with Joe Pass (g), John Pisano (rhythm-g), Jim Hughart (b) and Colin Bailey (d)...
Bonus: Here's the clip with Pisano's hand moving on the strings of actor Martin Milner's guitar in The Sweet Smell of Success...
JazzWax notes: John Kissell's super Los Angeles Times obit of John Pisano is here.
To read my 2009 three-part JazzWax interview with Chico Hamilton, go here for Part 1 (links to subsequent parts can be found above the red date at the top of each page).
