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Joe Mondragon (February 2, 1920 – July 1987) was an American
jazz Jazz is a music genre that originated in the African-American communities of New Orleans, Louisiana in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with its roots in blues and ragtime. Since the 1920s Jazz Age, it has been recognized as a m ...
bassist.


Early life

Mondragon was born in
Antonito, Colorado Antonito is a Statutory Town located in Conejos County, Colorado, United States. The town population was 647 at the 2020 United States Census. History Antonito began life as a sheep herding camp known as San Antonio Junction, referring to its ...
, and raised in the Española Valley region of
New Mexico ) , population_demonym = New Mexican ( es, Neomexicano, Neomejicano, Nuevo Mexicano) , seat = Santa Fe , LargestCity = Albuquerque , LargestMetro = Tiguex , OfficialLang = None , Languages = English, Spanish ( New Mexican), Navajo, Ke ...
. Mondragon was of Apache and
Hispanic The term ''Hispanic'' ( es, hispano) refers to people, cultures, or countries related to Spain, the Spanish language, or Hispanidad. The term commonly applies to countries with a cultural and historical link to Spain and to viceroyalties forme ...
origin.


Career

Mondragon was an autodidact on bass, and began working professionally in Los Angeles. He served in the United States Army during World War II, and then joined
Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...
's First Herd in 1946. Over the next two decades, he became one of the more popular studio bassists for jazz recording on the West Coast, appearing on albums by June Christy,
Shorty Rogers Milton "Shorty" Rogers (born Milton Rajonsky; April 14, 1924 – November 7, 1994) was an American jazz musician, one of the principal creators of West Coast jazz. He played trumpet and flugelhorn and was in demand for his skills as an arrang ...
,
Shelly Manne Sheldon "Shelly" Manne (June 11, 1920 – September 26, 1984) was an American jazz drummer. Most frequently associated with West Coast jazz, he was known for his versatility and also played in a number of other styles, including Dixieland, sw ...
,
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, ...
,
Buddy DeFranco Boniface Ferdinand Leonard "Buddy" DeFranco (February 17, 1923 – December 24, 2014) was an Italian-American jazz clarinetist. In addition to his work as a bandleader, DeFranco led the Glenn Miller Orchestra for almost a decade in the 1960s and ...
,
Marty Paich Martin Louis Paich (January 23, 1925 – August 12, 1995) was an American pianist, composer, arranger, record producer, music director, and conductor. As a musician and arranger he worked with jazz musicians Peggy Lee, Ella Fitzgerald, Stan Kento ...
,
Claude Williamson Claude Berkeley Williamson (November 18, 1926 – July 16, 2016) was an American jazz pianist. Williamson was born in Brattleboro, Vermont, United States. He studied at the New England Conservatory of Music before moving to jazz, influenced mai ...
,
Georgie Auld Georgie Auld (May 19, 1919 – January 8, 1990) was a jazz tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader. Early years Auld was born John Altwerger in Toronto, Canada, and moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1929. Before the family left Canada, Au ...
, Chet Baker, Bob Cooper, Harry Sweets Edison,
Gerry Mulligan Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrum ...
, Art Pepper,
Bud Shank Clifford Everett "Bud" Shank Jr. (May 27, 1926 – April 2, 2009) was an American alto saxophonist and flautist. He rose to prominence in the early 1950s playing lead alto and flute in Stan Kenton's Innovations in Modern Music Orchestra and thro ...
and
Ella Fitzgerald Ella Jane Fitzgerald (April 25, 1917June 15, 1996) was an American jazz singer, sometimes referred to as the "First Lady of Song", "Queen of Jazz", and "Lady Ella". She was noted for her purity of tone, impeccable diction, phrasing, timing, in ...
. Mondragon can also be heard on soundtracks for films such as ''
The Wild One ''The Wild One'' is a 1953 American crime film directed by László Benedek and produced by Stanley Kramer. The picture is most noted for the character of Johnny Strabler, portrayed by Marlon Brando, whose persona became a cultural icon of the 1 ...
'' and '' Pete Kelly's Blues''. Mondragon never recorded as a leader.


Personal life

Mondragon died in
San Juan Pueblo, New Mexico Ohkay Owingeh (Tewa: Ohkwee Ówîngeh ), known by its Spanish name as San Juan de los Caballeros from 1589 to 2005, is a pueblo and census-designated place (CDP) in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. Ohkay Owingeh is also a federally recognized tribe ...
.


Discography

With
Georgie Auld Georgie Auld (May 19, 1919 – January 8, 1990) was a jazz tenor saxophonist, clarinetist, and bandleader. Early years Auld was born John Altwerger in Toronto, Canada, and moved to Brooklyn, New York, in 1929. Before the family left Canada, Au ...
*'' In the Land of Hi-Fi with Georgie Auld and His Orchestra'' (EmArcy, 1955) With Chet Baker *'' Grey December'' (Pacific Jazz, 1953
992 Year 992 ( CMXCII) was a leap year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Worldwide * Winter – A superflare from the sun causes an Aurora Borealis, with visibility as fa ...
*'' Pretty/Groovy'' (World Pacific, 1953
958 Year 958 ( CMLVIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * October / November – Battle of Raban: The Byzantines under John Tzimiskes ...
*'' The Trumpet Artistry of Chet Baker'' (Pacific Jazz, 1953) *'' Chet Baker & Strings'' (Columbia, 1954) With Louie Bellson *''
Louis Bellson Swings Jule Styne ''Louis Bellson Swings Jule Styne'' is an album by American jazz drummer Louis Bellson featuring performances of tunes written by Jule Styne recorded in 1960 for the Verve label.
'' (Verve, 1960) With
Buddy Bregman Louis Isidore "Buddy" Bregman (July 9, 1930 – January 8, 2017) was an American arranger and conductor. Biography Bregman was born in Chicago. His father was an executive in the steel industry. His uncle was songwriter Jule Styne. He spen ...
*''
Swinging Kicks ''Swinging Kicks'' is a 1957 album by the jazz arranger Buddy Bregman. The album was released as ''I Love Listening to Buddy Bregman'' by HMV in the United Kingdom. Reception Scott Yanow reviewed the album for AllMusic and wrote that it was "B ...
'' (Verve, 1957) With
Hoagy Carmichael Hoagland Howard Carmichael (November 22, 1899 – December 27, 1981) was an American musician, composer, songwriter, actor and lawyer. Carmichael was one of the most successful Tin Pan Alley songwriters of the 1930s, and was among the first ...
*''
Hoagy Sings Carmichael ''Hoagy Sings Carmichael'' (subtitled ''With the Pacific Jazzmen arranged and conducted by Johnny Mandel'') is an album by composer and vocalist Hoagy Carmichael recorded in 1956 and released on the Pacific Jazz label.Bobby Darin Bobby Darin (born Walden Robert Cassotto; May 14, 1936 – December 20, 1973) was an American musician and actor. He performed jazz, pop, rock and roll, folk, swing, and country music. He started his career as a songwriter for Connie ...
* ''
Love Swings ''Love Swings'' is an album of standards by American singer Bobby Darin, released in 1961. It remained on the charts for only ten weeks and peaked at number 92. Reception In his Allmusic review, critic JT Griffith called the album "one of the m ...
'' (Atco Records, 1961) * ''
Winners Winners Merchants International L.P is a chain of off-price Canadian department stores owned by TJX Companies. It offers brand name clothing, footwear, bedding, furniture, fine jewelry, beauty products, and housewares. Products are at a 20-60 ...
'' (Capitol Records, 1964) * '' Venice Blue'' (Capitol Records, 1965) * ''
Bobby Darin Sings The Shadow of Your Smile ''Bobby Darin Sings The Shadow of Your Smile'' is an album by American singer Bobby Darin, released in 1966. It included all the Oscar nominated songs from 1966. It was his first album on the Atlantic label after leaving Capitol Records. ''Bobby ...
'' (Atlantic Records, 1966) With
Harry Edison Harry "Sweets" Edison (October 10, 1915 – July 27, 1999) was an American jazz trumpeter and a member of the Count Basie Orchestra. His most important contribution was as a Hollywood studio musician, whose muted trumpet can be heard backi ...
*''
Sweets Candy, also called sweets (British English) or lollies (Australian English, New Zealand English), is a confection that features sugar as a principal ingredient. The category, called ''sugar confectionery'', encompasses any sweet confection, i ...
'' (Clef, 1956) With Herb Ellis and
Jimmy Giuffre James Peter Giuffre (, ; April 26, 1921 – April 24, 2008) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, composer, and arranger. He is known for developing forms of jazz which allowed for free interplay between the musicians, anticipating f ...
* '' Herb Ellis Meets Jimmy Giuffre'' (Verve, 1959) With
Woody Herman Woodrow Charles Herman (May 16, 1913 – October 29, 1987) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading groups called "The Herd", Herman came to prominence in the late 1930s and was active until his dea ...
*'' Songs for Hip Lovers'' (Verve, 1957) With Lena Horne * '' Lena...Lovely and Alive'' (RCA Victor, 1962) With
Harry James Harry Haag James (March 15, 1916 – July 5, 1983) was an American musician who is best known as a trumpet-playing band leader who led a big band from 1939 to 1946. He broke up his band for a short period in 1947 but shortly after he reorganized ...
*'' Harry James and His Orchestra 1948–49'' (Big Band Landmarks Vol. X & XI, 1969) With
Stan Kenton Stanley Newcomb Kenton (December 15, 1911 – August 25, 1979) was an American popular music and jazz artist. As a pianist, composer, arranger and band leader, he led an innovative and influential jazz orchestra for almost four decades. Though K ...
*'' Lush Interlude'' (Capitol, 1958) With Barney Kessel *'' Carmen'' (Contemporary, 1959) With Peggy Lee * '' Things Are Swingin''' (Capitol Records, 1958) * ''
Mirrors A mirror or looking glass is an object that reflects an image. Light that bounces off a mirror will show an image of whatever is in front of it, when focused through the lens of the eye or a camera. Mirrors reverse the direction of the ima ...
'' (A&M Records, 1975) With
Henry Mancini Henry Mancini ( ; born Enrico Nicola Mancini, ; April 16, 1924 – June 14, 1994) was an American composer, conductor, arranger, pianist and flautist. Often cited as one of the greatest composers in the history of film, he won four Academy Award ...
*''More Music from Peter Gunn'' (RCA, 1959) With
Shelly Manne Sheldon "Shelly" Manne (June 11, 1920 – September 26, 1984) was an American jazz drummer. Most frequently associated with West Coast jazz, he was known for his versatility and also played in a number of other styles, including Dixieland, sw ...
*'' The West Coast Sound'' (Contemporary, 1955) With
Warne Marsh Warne Marion Marsh (October 26, 1927 – December 18, 1987) was an American tenor saxophonist. Born in Los Angeles, his playing first came to prominence in the 1950s as a protégé of pianist Lennie Tristano and earned attention in the 1970s as ...
*'' Live in Hollywood'' (Xanadu, 1952
979 Year 979 ( CMLXXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * March 24 – Second Battle of Pankaleia: An Ibero-Byzantine expeditionary ...
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 ...
*'' Can't Hide Love'' (Blue Note, 1976) With
Jack Montrose Jack Montrose (December 30, 1928 – February 7, 2006) was a jazz tenor saxophonist and arranger. After attending college in Los Angeles, he worked with Jerry Gray and then Art Pepper. Montrose also did arrangements for Clifford Brown. He became kno ...
*''
Arranged by Montrose ''Jack Montrose Sextet'' is an album by saxophonist Jack Montrose recorded in 1954 for the Pacific Jazz label.Gerry Mulligan Gerald Joseph Mulligan (April 6, 1927 – January 20, 1996), also known as Jeru, was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, composer and arranger. Though primarily known as one of the leading jazz baritone saxophonists—playing the instrum ...
*'' Gerry Mulligan Quartet Volume 1'' (Pacific Jazz, 1952) *'' Lee Konitz Plays with the Gerry Mulligan Quartet'' (Pacific Jazz, 1953 957 with Lee Konitz *'' Gene Norman Presents the Original Gerry Mulligan Tentet and Quartet'' (GNP, 1953
997 Year 997 (Roman numerals, CMXCVII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Japan * 1 February: Empress Teishi gives birth to Princess Shushi - she is the first ...
With
Oliver Nelson Oliver Edward Nelson (June 4, 1932 – October 28, 1975) was an American jazz saxophonist, clarinetist, arranger, composer, and bandleader. His 1961 Impulse! album ''The Blues and the Abstract Truth'' (1961) is regarded as one of the most signifi ...
* ''Zig Zag'' (Original Motion Picture Score) (MGM, 1970) With Art Pepper *'' Surf Ride'' (Savoy, 1952-1954 956 * '' Art Pepper + Eleven – Modern Jazz Classics'' (Contemporary, 1959) With
Shorty Rogers Milton "Shorty" Rogers (born Milton Rajonsky; April 14, 1924 – November 7, 1994) was an American jazz musician, one of the principal creators of West Coast jazz. He played trumpet and flugelhorn and was in demand for his skills as an arrang ...
*'' Shorty Rogers and His Giants'' (RCA Victor, 1954 956 *'' Collaboration'' (RCA Victor, 1954) with André Previn *'' Afro-Cuban Influence'' (RCA Victor, 1958) *''
Chances Are It Swings ''Chances Are It Swings'' is an album by American jazz trumpeter and arranger Shorty Rogers performing compositions by Robert Allen which was released on the RCA Victor label in 1959.The Wizard of Oz and Other Harold Arlen Songs'' (RCA Victor, 1959) *'' Shorty Rogers Meets Tarzan'' (MGM, 1960) *''
The Swingin' Nutcracker ''The Swingin' Nutcracker'' is a 1960 RCA Victor album by American jazz trumpeter and arranger Shorty Rogers performing compositions adapted from ''The Nutcracker'' by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky.The Fourth Dimension in Sound'' (Warner Bros., 1961) *'' Bossa Nova'' (Reprise, 1962) *'' Jazz Waltz'' (Reprise, 1962) With
Pete Rugolo Pietro "Pete" Rugolo (December 25, 1915 – October 16, 2011) was an American jazz composer, arranger and record producer. Life and career Rugolo was born in San Piero Patti, Sicily. His family emigrated to the United States in 1920 and settle ...
*''
Music for Hi-Fi Bugs ''Music for Hi-Fi Bugs'' (also released as ''Music from Out of Space'') is an album by composer, arranger and conductor Pete Rugolo featuring performances recorded in 1956 and originally released on the EmArcy label as a 12-inch LP.Minn, MMaynard ...
'' (EmArcy, 1956) *'' Out on a Limb'' (EmArcy, 1956) *'' An Adventure in Sound: Reeds in Hi-Fi'' (Mercury, 1956
958 Year 958 ( CMLVIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * October / November – Battle of Raban: The Byzantines under John Tzimiskes ...
*'' An Adventure in Sound: Brass in Hi-Fi'' (Mercury 1956
958 Year 958 ( CMLVIII) was a common year starting on Friday (link will display the full calendar) of the Julian calendar. Events By place Byzantine Empire * October / November – Battle of Raban: The Byzantines under John Tzimiskes ...
*'' Percussion at Work'' (EmArcy, 1957) *''
Behind Brigitte Bardot ''Behind Brigitte Bardot'' (subtitled ''Cool Sounds from Her Hot Scenes'') is an album by composer, arranger and conductor Pete Rugolo featuring performances of tunes associated with the films of Brigitte Bardot, and other French films, recorded ...
'' (Warner Bros., 1960) *'' The Original Music of Thriller'' (Time, 1961) *'' Ten Trumpets and 2 Guitars'' (Mercury, 1961) *'' 10 Saxophones and 2 Basses'' (Mercury, 1961) With Lalo Schifrin *'' Gone with the Wave'' (Colpix, 1964) With
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 ...
*''
The Astrud Gilberto Album ''The Astrud Gilberto Album (with Antonio Carlos Jobim)'' is the debut studio album by Astrud Gilberto. With Antonio Carlos Jobim on guitar and the arrangements by Marty Paich, it was released via Verve Records in 1965. It peaked at number 41 on ...
'' (Verve, 1965) With
Bud Shank Clifford Everett "Bud" Shank Jr. (May 27, 1926 – April 2, 2009) was an American alto saxophonist and flautist. He rose to prominence in the early 1950s playing lead alto and flute in Stan Kenton's Innovations in Modern Music Orchestra and thro ...
*'' Strings & Trombones'' (Pacific Jazz, 1955) *'' I'll Take Romance'' (World Pacific, 1958) With Carly Simon * ''
Playing Possum ''Playing Possum'' is the fifth studio album by American singer-songwriter Carly Simon, released by Elektra Records, on April 21, 1975. It was Simon's third consecutive album to reach the top 10 on the ''Billboard'' Pop albums chart, peaking a ...
'' (Elektra Records, 1975)


See also

*
List of jazz bassists This list of jazz bassists includes performers of the double bass and since the 1950s, and particularly in the jazz subgenre of jazz fusion which developed in the 1970s, electric bass players. The most influential jazz double bassists from the ...


References

* Scott Yanow, Joe Mondragonat
Allmusic AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mondragon, Joe American jazz double-bassists Male double-bassists West Coast jazz double-bassists 1920 births 1987 deaths 20th-century American musicians 20th-century double-bassists 20th-century American male musicians American male jazz musicians United States Army personnel of World War II People from Conejos County, Colorado People from Española, New Mexico