Big Band Magazine - Magazine - Page 10
FRANK COMSTOCK
THE ARRANGERS TOUCH
By Martin Eaton
The unsung heroes of big band music are the arrangers. You can have the finest
musicians in the world on stage yet with a poor arrangement they can do nothing to
save the situation. The top orchestrators set the style of a band and know the
strengths of the players.
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and since I purchased a double album of Les
Brown's 1953 album Live At The Hollywood Palladium in the 1970's I was introduced
to the genius of Frank Comstock.
Not as well known as Nelson Riddle, Billy May et al Comstock was a master of his
craft and, in my opinion this was his finest hour.
Les Brown & His Band Of Renown were a favourite of musicians who wanted to be
based in Los Angeles after the 2nd World War and in the early 50's was home to 4 top
line soloists. Ronnie Lang on alto, Dave Pell on tenor, Ray Sims ( Zoot's brother) on
trombone and my personal favourite Don Fagerquist on trumpet.
Now, add in some excellent sight reading section players.
Put this together with a stellar rhythm section where guitar and piano were an
integral part of the written ensemble Roly Bundock( top studio bass player and
formerly with Glenn Miller) and the superb Jack Sperling driving on drums.
As the icing on the cake the excellent Jo-Ann Greer, trombonist'Stumpy' Brown and
baritone saxist Butch Stone covered the vocals.
So now, imagine being an arranger in this situation. It's a bit like an artist with
everything he needs for a perfect painting on his palette.
What Comstock does, is make the music come alive and the band sound fresh and
exciting.
