Liberty Records • Jazz in Hollywood Series (II)

Dom Frontiere Sextet

Dom Frontiere And His El Dorado

✤Liberty LJH 6002✤

Dominic Frontiere (1931-2017) had barely turned four when he began learning the basic accordion technique. Having mastered his instrument through his classical studies, Dom became interested in modern music. In 1950, he moved to Hollywood, where he lost no time in establishing himself, not only as the leading accordionist in the movie industry but as a composer and arranger as well. He also appeared playing in several films, but 1955 brought him something special.

In March, Dom was signed to a term recording contract with Liberty Records, which led to his first album recording as a leader in the summer, conducting a sextet made up of renowned fellow Hollywood studio musicians. The album came out in the fall with the title Dom Frontiere and his El Dorado.

 His skill with the accordion was indisputable. "In the hands of a master [the accordion becomes] much more than a polka party instrument", Down Beat magazine admitted.

Starting in 1960 and over twenty years, the scores he penned for popular TV series and films, garnered him awards and international recognition as the firstrate composer he was.

This young instrumentalist and arranger revealed his talent and personal approach to the world, by skillfully blending the harmonies of classical music with the rhythm and improvisation of jazz. Dominic Frontiere and his stimulating musical confreres bring us a varied repertoire of well known melodies and originals in their own spirited, happy and swinging way. *Jordi Pujol*

When LIBERTY gave me the test pressing of this album I took it to the radio station with me and played it for engineers, announcers, salesmen, writers, maintenance men and anyone who might be wandering through the halls. I took it home and played it for my wife. I asked my best friend, a fellow jazz enthusiast, to come over and hear it. We played it along with recordings of other accordionists... we turned it up and listened to every note for musicianship, balance, fidelity... we played it in the background 

for atmosphere effect. After I felt I had thoroughly "tested" this finished product I recalled Dom’s words that "an accordionist is only as good as his instrument". It might be interesting to note that six different accordions were tested before a decision was made as to which produced the best sound. The instrument that won out was the custom-made Gretsch "El Dorado" the prototype which is now in full scale production.

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No matter how you play this album — softly in the background while having dinner, or volume wide open on a hi-fi set — it's great! If you like classical music you'll be impressed with the technique and charmed by the humor; if you're a "pop" fan you'll find this as wonderful for dancing as it is for what might be called "putting on a good stack of records"; and if you're a jazz enthusiast... you'll FLIP! *Jack Wagner (liner notes)*

Side 1

1 - Mr. B

(Bach, Frontiere)

2 - Poinciana

(Simon)

3 - Leap For Joy

(Frontiere)

4 - September In The Rain

(Warren, Dubin)

5 - Perpetual Motion

(Paganini)

6 - Tenderly

(Gross, Lawrence)

Side 2

7 - Nola

(Arnt)

8 - Breeze And I

(Lecuona, Stillman)

9 - I'll Be Seeing You

(Fain, Kahal)

10 - Where's The Melody

(A Variation Of 24th Caprice By Paganini)

(Paganini, Frontiere)

11 - Beguine For Bette

(Frontiere)

12 - My Heart Stood Still

(Rodgers, Hart)

Dom Frontiere (accordion), Abe Most (clarinet), Bill Ulyate (bass clarinet),

Jack Marshall (guitar), Mike Rubin (bass), Nick Fatool (drums).

Recorded at Capitol Records, Hollywood, California, between July and August, 1955