Gene J. Bertoncini (born 6 April 1937) is an American jazz guitarist.

Biography

Bertoncini was born in New York City, where he was raised in a musical family. His father, Mario Bertoncini (1901–1978), played guitar and harmonica. Gene began playing guitar at age seven and by age sixteen was appearing on television. He graduated from high school and attended the

University of Notre Dame The University of Notre Dame du Lac, known simply as Notre Dame ( ) or ND, is a private Catholic university, Catholic research university in Notre Dame, Indiana, outside the city of South Bend, Indiana, South Bend. French priest Edward Sorin fo ...

, where, in 1959, he earned a

Bachelor of Science A Bachelor of Science (BS, BSc, SB, or ScB; from the Latin ') is a bachelor's degree awarded for programs that generally last three to five years. The first university to admit a student to the degree of Bachelor of Science was the University o ...

degree in

Architectural Engineering Architectural engineers apply and theoretical knowledge to the engineering design of buildings and building systems. The goal is to engineer high performance buildings that are sustainable, economically viable and ensure the safety health. Archi ...

.Summerfield, Maurice. 1998. ''The Jazz Guitar: Its Evolution, Players and Personalities Since 1900''. United Kingdom: Ashley Mark Publishing Early in life, Bertoncini had lessons with Bob Scilingo and

Johnny Smith Johnny Henry Smith II (June 25, 1922 – June 11, 2013) was an American cool jazz and mainstream jazz guitarist. He wrote "Walk, Don't Run" in 1954. In 1984, Smith was inducted into the Alabama Jazz Hall of Fame. Early life During the Great D ...

. After college Bertoncini moved to Chicago where he became immersed in the jazz scene, working with

Carmen McRae Carmen Mercedes McRae (April 8, 1920 – November 10, 1994) was an American jazz singer. She is considered one of the most influential jazz vocalists of the 20th century and is remembered for her behind-the-beat phrasing and ironic interpre ...

. He returned to New York and played with vibraphonist

Mike Mainieri Michael T. Mainieri Jr. (born July 4, 1938) is an American vibraphonist, known for his work with the jazz fusion group Steps Ahead. He is married to the singer-songwriter and harpist Dee Carstensen. Biography Mainieri was born in The Bronx, Ne ...

and then played in one of

Buddy Rich Bernard "Buddy" Rich (September 30, 1917 – April 2, 1987) was an American jazz drummer, songwriter, conductor, and bandleader. He is considered one of the most influential drummers of all time. Rich was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, ...

's ensembles. Bertoncini's career has included playing with Benny Goodman,

Wayne Shorter Wayne Shorter (born August 25, 1933) is an American jazz saxophonist and composer. Shorter came to prominence in the late 1950s as a member of, and eventually primary composer for, Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. In the 1960s, he joined Miles Dav ...

Hubert Laws Hubert Laws (born November 10, 1939) is an American flutist and saxophonist with a career spanning over 40 years in jazz, classical, and other music genres. Laws is one of the few classical artists who has also mastered jazz, pop, and rhythm- ...

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Tony Bennett Anthony Dominick Benedetto (born August 3, 1926), known professionally as Tony Bennett, is an American retired singer of traditional pop standards, big band, show tunes, and jazz. Bennett is also a painter, having created works under his birt ...

, Lena Horne, Nancy Wilson, Chet Baker,

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, Ethel Ennis, and

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. Bertoncini had a long-running duo with bassist Michael Moore. He was part of the staff orchestras on shows featuring

Merv Griffin Mervyn Edward Griffin Jr. (July 6, 1925 – August 12, 2007) was an American television show host and media mogul. He began his career as a radio and big band singer, later appearing in film and on Broadway. From 1965 to 1986 he hosted his own t ...

and Jack Paar, and most famously ''

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson'' was an American late-night talk show hosted by Johnny Carson on NBC, the third iteration of the ''Tonight Show'' franchise. The show debuted on October 1, 1962, and aired its final episode on May 22, ...

''. After hearing a Julian Bream record at the advice of

Chuck Wayne Chuck Wayne (February 27, 1923 – July 29, 1997) was an American jazz guitarist. He came to prominence in the 1940s, and was among the earliest jazz guitarists to play in the bebop style. Wayne was a member of Woody Herman's First Herd, the f ...

, Bertoncini began studying classical guitar and brought the instrument into playing jazz. For some eighteen years, Bertoncini played Sunday and Monday evenings at the Bistro La Madeleine on West 43rd Street in New York City. Bertoncini has been on the faculties of

Eastman School of Music The Eastman School of Music is the music school of the University of Rochester, a private research university in Rochester, New York. It was established in 1921 by industrialist and philanthropist George Eastman. It offers Bachelor of Music ...

, the New England Conservatory,

New York University New York University (NYU) is a private research university in New York City. Chartered in 1831 by the New York State Legislature, NYU was founded by a group of New Yorkers led by then- Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. In 1832, th ...

and the Banff School of Fine Arts in

Alberta Alberta ( ) is one of the thirteen provinces and territories of Canada. It is part of Western Canada and is one of the three prairie provinces. Alberta is bordered by British Columbia to the west, Saskatchewan to the east, the Northwest Ter ...

, Canada. Currently Bertoncini is on the faculty of William Paterson University in Wayne, New Jersey. He is also on the staff of the Tritone Jazz Fantasy Camps.

Discography

As leader

* ''Evolution'' (Evolution, 1969) * ''Bridges'' with Michael Moore (GJB Music, 1977) * ''The Guitar Session'' with

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Toots Thielemans Jean-Baptiste Frédéric Isidor, Baron Thielemans (29 April 1922 – 22 August 2016), known professionally as Toots Thielemans, was a Belgian jazz musician. He was mostly known for his chromatic harmonica playing, as well as his guitar and whistl ...

, Richard Resnicoff (

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, 1977) * ''Crystal & Velvet'' with Bobbi Rogers (Focus, 1981) * ''O Grande Amor'' with Michael Moore ( Stash, 1986) * ''Close Ties'' with Michael Moore ( Musical Heritage Society, 1987) * ''Strollin' '' with Michael Moore (Stash, 1987) * ''Two in Time'' with Michael Moore (

Chiaroscuro Chiaroscuro ( , ; ), in art, is the use of strong contrasts between light and dark, usually bold contrasts affecting a whole composition. It is also a technical term used by artists and art historians for the use of contrasts of light to achi ...

, 1989) * ''Jiggs & Gene'' with

Jiggs Whigham Jiggs Whigham (born Oliver Haydn Whigham III; August 20, 1943) is an American jazz trombonist. Biography Born in Cleveland, Ohio, United States, he began his professional career at the age of 17, joining the Glenn Miller/Ray McKinley orchestra ...

(Azica, 1996) * ''Someone to Light Up My Life'' (Chiaroscuro, 1996) * ''Interplay'' with Fred Haas (JazzToons, 1997) * ''East Meets Midwest'' with Kenny Poole (J-Curve, 1998) * ''Gene Bertoncini with Bill Charlap and Sean Smith'' (Chiaroscuro, 1999) * ''Just the Two of Us'' with

Jack Wilkins Jack Rivers Lewis (born June 4, 1944), known professionally as Jack Wilkins, is a jazz guitarist. Career A native of New York City, Wilkins grew up listening to his parents' music, such as Ella Fitzgerald, Frank Sinatra, and Billie Holiday. He ...

(Chiaroscuro, 2000) * ''Autumn Leaves at Astley's'' with Frank Vignola (True Track, 2001) * ''Meeting of the Grooves'' with Frank Vignola (Azica, 2002) * ''Acoustic Romance'' with Akira Tana and Rufus Reid (Sons of Sound, 2003) * ''Just Above a Whisper'' (Stellar Sound, 2005) * ''Concerti'' (Ambient, 2008) * ''Smile'' with

Roni Ben-Hur Roni Ben-Hur is an Israeli jazz guitarist who immigrated to the United States in 1985. His parents were Tunisian-Jewish from Tunisia. Biography Roni Bohobza grew up in Dimona, Israel. He is the youngest of seven children and one of two born a ...

( Motéma, 2008) * ''2+2=1'' (Blueport, 2009)

As sideman

Monty Alexander Montgomery Bernard "Monty" Alexander (born 6 June 1944) is a Jamaican jazz pianist. His playing has a Caribbean influence and bright swinging feeling, with a strong vocabulary of bebop jazz and blues rooted melodies. He was influenced by Louis ...

, ''Spunky'' (Pacific Jazz, 1965) * Duke Pearson, ''Prairie Dog'' (Atlantic, 1966) * Meredith D'Ambrosio, ''Silent Passion'' (Sunnyside, 1997) *

David Amram David Werner Amram III (born November 17, 1930) is an American composer, arranger, and conductor of orchestral, chamber, and choral works, many with jazz flavorings.

, ''On the Waterfront on Broadway'' (Varese Sarabande) * Chet Baker, ''The Best Thing for You'' (A&M, 1989) * Irwin Bazelon, ''Music of Irwin Bazelon'' (1992) *

, ''A Place Over the Sun'' (Columbia, 1969) * Tony Bennett, ''I've Gotta Be Me'' (Columbia, 1969) * Peter Bernstein, Mundell Lowe,

, ''We Remember Tal'' (J-Curve, 1999) *

Phil Bodner Philip L. Bodner (June 13, 1917 – February 24, 2008) was an American jazz clarinetist and studio musician who also played flute, oboe, saxophone, and English horn. Career A native of Waterbury, Connecticut, Bodner worked as a studio musician ...

, ''Clarinet Virtuosity: Once More with Feeling!'' (Arbors, 2006) *

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, ''Swingtime!'' (RCA Victor, 1995) * Earl Coleman, ''Love Songs'' (Atlantic, 1968) *

Dolly Dawn Dolly Dawn (born Theresa Maria Stabile; February 3, 1916 – December 11, 2002) was an American big band singer. She was vocalist with George Hall (musician), George Hall's Hotel Taft Orchestra in the 1930s, and later had a solo career. Life She ...

, ''Memories of You'' (Dawn, 1981) *

, ''Bridge Over Troubled Water'' (A&M, 1970) * Paul Desmond, ''Skylark'' (CTI, 1974) *

Trudy Desmond Trudy Desmond (October 11, 1945 – 19 February 1999) was a Canadian jazz singer. Career After moving from New York to Toronto, she worked as an actress, interior designer, club manager, and theatrical producer. She was one of the 16 original me ...

, ''Tailor Made'' (Jazz Alliance, 1992) *

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, ''It's Time'' (Atlantic, 1997) *

Ronnie Foster Ronnie Foster (born May 12, 1950) is an American funk and soul jazz organist, and record producer. His albums recorded for Blue Note Records in the 1970s have gained a cult following after the emergence of acid jazz. Early life Foster was born ...

, ''Two-Headed Freap'' (Blue Note, 1972) *

Nnenna Freelon Nnenna Freelon (born July 28, 1954) is an American jazz singer, composer, producer, and arranger. Early life and education Freelon was born Chinyere Nnenna Pierce to Charles and Frances Pierce in Cambridge, Massachusetts, where she was raised. ...

, ''Nnenna Freelon'' (Columbia, 1992) *

Johnny Frigo Johnny Frigo (December 27, 1916 – July 4, 2007) was an American jazz violinist, bassist and songwriter. He appeared in the 1940s as a violinist before working as a bassist. He returned to the violin in the 1980s and enjoyed a comeback, recordin ...

, ''Debut of a Legend'' (Chesky, 1994) *

Astrud Gilberto Astrud Gilberto (; born Astrud Evangelina Weinert, March 29, 1940) is a Brazilian samba and bossa nova singer. She gained international attention in the 1960s following her recording of the song "The Girl from Ipanema". Biography Astrud Gilbe ...

, ''Gilberto with Turrentine'' (CTI, 1971) * Astrud Gilberto, ''That Girl from Ipanema'' (Image, 1977) * Bob Hammer, ''Beatlejazz'' (ABC-Paramount, 1967) *

Jane Harvey Jane Harvey (born Phyllis Taff, January 6, 1925, Jersey City, New Jersey – August 15, 2013) was an American jazz singer, known for recording several tracks with famous musicians such as Duke Ellington and Benny Goodman during the 1940s. Harv ...

, ''Jane Harvey'' (RCA 1974) *

Bobbi Humphrey Barbara Ann "Bobbi" Humphrey (born April 25, 1950) is an American jazz flautist and singer who plays jazz fusion, funk, and soul-jazz. She has recorded twelve albums and founded the jazz label Paradise Sounds Records. In 1971, she was the first ...

, ''Flute-in'' (Blue Note, 1971) * Bobby Hutcherson, ''Natural Illusions'' (Blue Note, 1972) * Rufus Jones, ''Five On Eight'' (Cameo, 1964) *

Roger Kellaway Roger Kellaway (born November 1, 1939) is an American composer, arranger and jazz pianist. Life and career Kellaway was born in Waban, Massachusetts, United States. He is an alumnus of the New England Conservatory. Kellaway has composed commissi ...

, ''Meets the Duo Gene Bertoncini and Michael Moore'' (Chiaroscuro, 1992) *

Rebecca Kilgore Rebecca Kilgore (born September 24, 1949) is an American jazz vocalist based in Portland, Oregon. She has been called "one of the best interpreters of the Great American Songbook." She has performed with jazz pianist and composer Dave Frishberg, ...

, ''Rebecca Kilgore with the Keith Ingham Sextet'' (Jump, 2001) *

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, ''Miss Morgana King'' (Mainstream, 1965) * Morgana King, ''A Taste of Honey'' (Mainstream, 1991) *

Peggy King Peggy King (born February 16, 1930) is a jazz vocalist and television personality. She was a member of big bands led by Charlie Spivak, Ralph Flanagan, and Ray Anthony. Career "Pretty Perky Peggy King", as she was called, appeared on ''The Geo ...

, ''Oh What a Memory We Made...Tonight'' (Stash, 1984) * Peggy King, ''Peggy King Sings Jerome Kern'' (Stash, 1985) *

Michel Legrand Michel Jean Legrand (; 24 February 1932 – 26 January 2019) was a French musical composer, arranger, conductor, and jazz pianist. Legrand was a prolific composer, having written over 200 film and television scores, in addition to many son ...

, ''After the Rain'' (Pablo, 1983) * Michel Legrand, ''Twenty Songs of the Century'' (Bell, 1974) *

Jay Leonhart Jay Leonhart (born December 6, 1940) is a double bassist, singer, and songwriter who has worked in jazz and popular music. He has performed with Judy Garland, Bucky Pizzarelli, Carly Simon, Frank Sinatra, and Sting. Leonhart is noted for his cle ...

, ''Great Duets'' (Chiaroscuro, 1999) *

Herbie Mann Herbert Jay Solomon (April 16, 1930 – July 1, 2003), known by his stage name Herbie Mann, was an American jazz flute player and important early practitioner of world music. Early in his career, he also played tenor saxophone and clarinet (inclu ...

, ''The Roar of the Greasepaint, the Smell of the Crowd'' (Atlantic, 1965) *

Susannah McCorkle Susannah McCorkle (January 1, 1946 – May 19, 2001) was an American jazz singer. Life and career A native of Berkeley, California, McCorkle studied Italian literature at the University of California at Berkeley before dropping out to move to ...

, ''How Do You Keep the Music Playing?'' (1986) * Susannah McCorkle, ''Dream'' (Pausa, 1987) * Charles McPherson, ''Charles McPherson'' (Mainstream, 1971) * Bette Midler, ''Some People's Lives'' (Atlantic, 1990) *

Tony Mottola Anthony C. Mottola (April 18, 1918 – August 9, 2004) was an American jazz guitarist who released dozens of solo albums. Mottola was born in Kearny, New Jersey, Kearny, New Jersey and died in Denville, New Jersey, Denville. Career Like ...

, ''A Latin Love-in'' (Project 3, 1967) * Mark Murphy, ''Satisfaction Guaranteed'' (Muse, 1980) *

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, ''Facets'' (Native Language, 2004) * Duke Pearson, ''Prairie Dog'' (Atlantic, 1966) * Doc Severinsen, ''The Great Arrival!'' (Command, 1969) *

Marlena Shaw Marlena Shaw (born Marlina Burgess, September 22, 1942) is an American jazz, blues and soul singer. Shaw began her singing career in the 1960s and is still singing today. Her music has often been sampled in hip hop music, and used in television ...

, ''From the Depths of My Soul'' (Blue Note, 1973) *

, ''Odyssey of Iska'' (Blue Note, 1971) *

Lonnie Liston Smith Lonnie Liston Smith Jr. (born December 28, 1940) is an American jazz, soul, and funk musician who played with such jazz artists as Pharoah Sanders and Miles Davis before forming Lonnie Liston Smith and the Cosmic Echoes, recording a number of ...

, ''Renaissance'' (RCA Victor, 1976) * Lonnie Liston Smith, ''Watercolors'' (BMG/Novus/RCA 1991) * Sonny Stitt, ''When Sonny Blows'' (Blue Jamal 1970) *

Harvie Swartz Harvie S (born Harvie Swartz; December 6, 1948) is an American jazz double-bassist. He learned piano as a child and did not begin playing bass until 1967, when he was nineteen years old.Scott Yanow, Harvie Swartzat Allmusic He attended Berklee ...

, ''In a Different Light'' (Bluemoon, 1990) * Sylvia Syms, ''She Loves to Hear the Music'' (A&M, 1978) * Clark Terry, ''Clark Terry Sextet'' (Cameo, 1962) * Clark Terry, ''Tread Ye Lightly'' (Cameo, 1964) *

, ''Toots'' (Command, ABC 1968) * Toku, ''Chemistry of Love'' (Sony, 2002) *

Michal Urbaniak Michal (; he, מיכל , gr, Μιχάλ) was, according to the first Book of Samuel, a princess of the United Kingdom of Israel; the younger daughter of King Saul, she was the first wife of David (), who later became king, first of Juda ...

, ''Jam at Sandy's'' (Jam, 1981) * Michal Urbaniak, ''My One and Only Love'' (SteepleChase, 1982) * Grover Washington Jr., ''All the King's Horses'' (Kudu, 1972) * Harold Wheeler, ''Black Cream'' (RCA Victor, 1975) * Nancy Wilson, ''But Beautiful'' (Capitol, 1989) *

Paul Winter Consort The Paul Winter Consort is an American musical group. Bassist Eliot Wadopian has been a member. Discography Films *''Canyon Consort'' (1985) References External linksLiving Music- Paul Winter's record label {{Authority control American j ...

, ''The Winter Consort'' (A&M, 1968) * Paul Winter, ''Something in the Wind'' (A&M, 1969)

References

External links

Tritone Jazz Fantasy CampsAudio interview with Gene BertonciniWPUNJ.edu
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bertoncini, Gene 1937 births Living people American jazz guitarists Musicians from New York City Notre Dame School of Architecture alumni Eastman School of Music faculty New York University faculty American male guitarists 20th-century American guitarists Jazz musicians from New York (state) 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians The Tonight Show Band members Paul Winter Consort members Motéma Music artists Chiaroscuro Records artists MPS Records artists Concord Records artists