Melvin F. Wanzo, born in Cleveland, Ohio, November 22, 1930, is a big band Jazz Legend, who has served as a mentor for the Wayne State University Trombone Ensemble from 1997 through 2002 and for the Jazz Lab I Band since 2000. He and his wife, Carolyn Patrick-Wanzo, a graduate of Wayne State University's School of Social Work, are currently living in Detroit, Michigan.
Mel spent over 40 years on the road playing and recording with many of history's greatest jazz artists, including Duke Ellington, Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra and Sarah Vaughan. He is most widely known as the longtime "lead trombonist" for the world famous Count Basie Orchestra (1969-96). Prior to that, Mel performed with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, under the direction of Ray McKinley (1963-66) and Woody Herman's Swinging Herd (1966-68). During the Korean Conflict (1952-54), Mel served in the 36th Army Band with the Adderly Brothers and Junior Mance. After his tour of duty, Mel played at the Ebony Lounge with Joe Cooper's All Stars, who hosted all the national touring artists who came through Cleveland. In 1956 he toured with Choker Campbell, whose band backed Big Joe Turner, Ruth Brown and other Rhythm and Blues artists. After leaving Choker's band, he studied at the Cleveland Institute of Music and joined the staff at WEWS-TV as a studio musician in Cleveland.
Special highlights of Mel's career include a Command Performance for the Queen of England, performances for Thailand's King Bhumipol Adulyadej, Rama IX and the President of Finland, and six Grammy Awards.
Mel retired from the Count Basie Orchestra in 1996. He remains active with Johnny Trudell's and other big jazz bands in the metro Detroit area. For Mel's complete discography and movie credits, scroll down.
NOTE: Part of the sales of Jazz Pins benefits the Mel Wanzo Scholarship Fund, a non profit, 501(c)(3) organization which supports the Mel Wanzo Endowed Scholarship at Wayne State University, Detroit, MI.
CAROLYN PATRICK-WANZO
In 1991, Carolyn and Mel visited Nice, France for a Jazz Festival. Mel was performing with the Count Basie Orchestra for a "Tribute to Dizzy Gilespie." As part of the festival, a bronze monument of "Dizzy" was unveiled in one of their parks. While in Nice, Mel and Carolyn had an opportunity to meet an artist with a love for Jazz who manufactured lapel pins. As a result of this meeting, Carolyn and Mel developed a relationship whereby they have been able to share their love for Jazz with the rest of the world thru the promotion of Jazz lapel pins.
MEL WANZO'S COMPLETE DISCOGRAPHY - 70 Albums
Note: Six of Mel's recordings were Grammy Award Winners and appear in bold.
Count Basie - Best of Count Basie [Roulette/Pablo] (1957)
Count Basie - Afrique (1970)
Count Basie - Basie on the Beatles (1970) Personnel
Count Basie - Golden Years (1972)
Count Basie - Pleyel: 17 April 1972, Pt. 1 (1972)
Count Basie - Fun Time: Count Basie Big Band at Montreux '75 (1975)
Count Basie - Basie Big Band (1975)
Count Basie - Orchestra I Told You So (1976)
Count Basie - Basie in Europe (1977)
Count Basie Jam - Montreux '77: Art of the Jam Session (1977)
Count Basie Orchestra - Prime Time (1977) - Best Jazz Performance by a Big Band
Count Basie Orchestra - Live in Japan (1978) (1978)
Count Basie - On the Road (1979) - Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band
Count Basie - Basie in Europe/Blues Alley (1985)
Count Basie Orchestra - Long Live the Chief (1986)
Count Basie Orchestra - Legend: The Legacy (1989)
Count Basie Orchestra - Ain't Misbehavin' (1992)
Count Basie Orchestra - Live at El Morocco (1992)
Count Basie - Best of the Count Basie Big Band (1992)
Count Basie Orchestra - Basie's Bag (1992)
Count Basie - Live at Tilburg 1971 & Nassau 1969 (1994)
Count Basie with New York Voices - Live at Manchester Craftsmen's Guild (1996)
Count Basie - Paris Jazz Concert 1972 (1998)
Count Basie - Incontournables (2000)
Count Basie - In Europe (2001)
Count Basie Big Band - Montreux '77 [OJC] (2002)
Count Basie - Timeless Count Basie (2002)
The Count Basie Big Band - Basie Swings (2002)
Count Basie - Montreux '77 [Pablo]
George Benson with the Count Basie Orchestra - "Basie's Bag," Big Boss Band (1990) - Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band
Teresa Brewer with Count Basie - Songs of Bessie Smith (1973)
Teresa Brewer - Songs of Bessie Smith/The Cotton Connection (2001)
Frank Capp/Pierce Juggernaut Band - Juggernaut Strikes Again (1981)
Ella Fitzgerald - Concert Years (1953)
Ella Fitzgerald - Bluella: Ella Fitzgerald Sings the (1953)
Ella Fitzgerald - Best of Ella Fitzgerald [Pablo] (1956)
Ella Fitzgerald with Count Basie - Classy Pair (1979)
Ella Fitzgerald with Count Basie - Perfect Match (1979)
Ella Fitzgerald - Incontournables (2000)
Woody Herman - Wild Root [Collector's Edition] (1958)
Woody Herman - Concerto for Herd (1967)
Woody Herman - Woody Live: East and West (1967)
Woody Herman - Jazz Hoot/Woody's Winners (2001)
Lena Horne - Evening with Lena Horne (1994)
Milt Jackson with Count Basie - Milt Jackson, Count Basie & The Basie Big Band, Vol. 1 (1978)
Milt Jackson with Count Basie - Milt Jackson, Count Basie & The Basie Big Band, Vol. 2 (1978)
Milt Jackson/Count Basie - Milt Jackson, Vol. 1 (1992)
Milt Jackson - To Bags with Love: A Tribute to Milt Jackson (2000)
Milt Jackson/Count Basie - Milt Jackson, Vol. 2
Pat Longo and His Super Big Band - Here's That Swing Thing (1994)
Manhattan Transfer - Vocalese (1985)
Manhattan Transfer - Anthology: Down in Birdland (1992)
Tito Puente - Jazzin' (1995)
Diane Schuur "Deedles" - Diane Schuur & the Count Basie Orchestra (1987) - Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female
Big Joe Turner - Rhythm & Blues Years (1951)
Big Joe Turner/Count Basie - Flip, Flop & Fly (1972)
Joe Williams with the Count Basie Orchestra - Live at Orchestra Hall, Detroit (1993)
Joe Williams - Triple Play (1999)
Various Artists - Monterey Jazz Festival: 40 Legendary Years (1958)
Various Artists - Digital III at Montreux (1979)
Various Artists - Digital Big Band Bash (1983)
Various Artists - Best of the Big Bands, Vol. 1 [Lester] (1989)
Various Artists - Jazz Giants Play Harry Warren: Lullaby of Broadway (1998)
Various Artists - Masters of Jazz Sampler [Malaco] (1999)
Various Artists - Time Remembered: LRC Jazz Legacy Anthology (2001)
Various Artists - LRC Jazz Legacy Anthology: Just One of Those Things (2001)
Various Artists - Big Bands [LRC Box Set] (2002)
Various Artists - Pablo Sampler (2002)
Various Artists - Flying Groove (2003)
Various Artists - Fill Your Head with Jazz Trombone
MOVIES:
Last of the Blue Devils
Shake Rattle and Rock (with Big Joe Turner)
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