Sal Mosca

Sal Mosca (left) in 1983

Salvatore Joseph Mosca[1] (April 27, 1927[1] – July 28, 2007)[2] was an American jazz pianist who was a student of Lennie Tristano.[1]

Mosca was born in Mount Vernon, New York, United States,[1] to Italian American parents.[3] He worked in cool jazz and post-bop. After playing in the United States Army Band during World War II, he studied at the New York College of Music using funds provided by the G.I. Bill.[4] He began working with Lee Konitz in 1949, and also worked with Warne Marsh.[1] He spent much of his career teaching and was relatively inactive after 1992, but new CDs were released in 2004, 2005, and 2008.

He died from emphysema in White Plains, New York, at the age of 80.[2]

Discography

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As leader/co-leader

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Year recorded Year released Title Label Notes
1955–59 1969? Sal Mosca on Piano Wave Most tracks solo piano; some tracks duo, with Peter Ind (bass)[5][6]
1959 1969? At The Den Wave Duo, co-led with Peter Ind (bass); in concert[7]
1970–97 2022 For Lennie Tristano Fresh Sound Solo piano
1977 Music Interplay Solo piano[8]
1976–79 1980 How Deep, How High Interplay Most tracks duo, with Warne Marsh (tenor sax); some tracks quartet in concert, with Sam Jones (bass), Roy Haynes (drums) added
1979 For You Choice Solo piano
1979 A Concert Jazz Solo piano; in concert[9]
1981 2015 Too Marvelous for Words Cadence Jazz Solo piano; in concert[10]
1981 Sal Mosca/Warne Marsh Quartet Volume 1 Zinnia Quartet, with Warne Marsh (tenor sax), Frank Canino (bass), Skip Scott (drums); in concert[9][11]
1981 Sal Mosca/Warne Marsh Quartet Volume 2 Zinnia One track solo piano; one track duo, with Warne Marsh (tenor sax); most tracks quartet, with Frank Canino (bass), Skip Scott (drums) added; in concert[9][12]
1991 2004? Recital in Valhalla Zinnia Solo piano; in concert[13]
1992 Trickle Zinnia Solo piano; in concert[14]
1992 2015 The Talk of the Town Sunnyside Solo piano; in concert[15][16]
2004 2008 You Go to My Head Blue Jack Jazz Quartet, with Jimmy Halperin (tenor sax), Don Messina (bass), Bill Chattin (drums)[17]
2004 2005 Thing-Ah-Majig Zinnia Trio, with Don Messina (bass), Bill Chattin (drums)[9][18]

As sideman

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With Lee Konitz

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 295. ISBN 0-85112-580-8.
  2. ^ a b "Obituary: Sal Mosca". The Guardian. 8 August 2007. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  3. ^ "Sal Mosca - Interview". 2 December 2010.
  4. ^ Jason Anken. "Sal Mosca". AllMusic. Retrieved May 9, 2015.
  5. ^ Olewnick, Brian. "Sal Mosca on the Piano: Sal Mosca". AllMusic. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  6. ^ Ind, Peter (1969). Sal Mosca on Piano (LP liner notes). Sal Mosca. Wave Records. LP 8.
  7. ^ Ind, Peter (1969). At The Den (LP liner notes). Sal Mosca. Wave Records. LP 4.
  8. ^ Messina, Don (2021). For Lennie Tristano (CD liner notes). Sal Mosca. Fresh Sound. FSR-CD 5067.
  9. ^ a b c d Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (2008). The Penguin Guide to Jazz Recordings (9th ed.). Penguin. p. 1046. ISBN 978-0-141-03401-0.
  10. ^ "Sal Mosca: Holland, June 1981". JAZZ.FM91. December 7, 2015. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  11. ^ Dupont, David. "Sal Mosca & Warne Marsh Quartet, Vol. 1: Sal Mosca". AllMusic. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  12. ^ Dupont, David. "Sal Mosca & Warne Marsh Quartet, Vol. 2: Sal Mosca". AllMusic. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  13. ^ Staudter, Thomas (December 26, 2004). "From County Pianists, Standards and Originals". The New York Times. p. WE6.
  14. ^ "Zinnia Records Complete Catalogue (2006)". salmosca.com. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  15. ^ Myers, Marc (May 14, 2015). "Sal Mosca: Holland, 1992". jazzwax.com. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  16. ^ "Sal Mosca: The Talk of the Town". Sunnyside Records. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  17. ^ Broomer, Stuart (July 12, 2008). "Sal Mosca Quartet: You Go to My Head". All About Jazz. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
  18. ^ Reiter, Brandt (August 23, 2005). "Sal Mosca: Thing-Ah-Majig". All About Jazz. Retrieved December 30, 2022.
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