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Revision as of 02:53, 15 October 2003 by Trontonian (talk | contribs)(diff) ← Previous revision | Latest revision (diff) | Newer revision → (diff)Claude Thornhill was an American pianist, arranger, and bandleader.
After playing for Paul Whiteman, Benny Goodman, Ray Noble, and Billy Holliday, and arranging "Loch Lomond" for Maxine SUllivan, in 1938 he took over a band from Gil Evans and began touring under his own name. He organized his own band in 1940. Although the Thornhill band was originally a dance band it was known for its many superior jazz musicians and for Thornhill's innovative arrangements; the band's "Portrait of a Guinea Farm" has become a classic jazz recording.
The band played without vibrato so that the timbres of the instruments could be appreciated, and Thornhill encouraged the musicians to develop cool-sounding tones. The band was popular with both musicians and the public; the Miles Davis Nonet was modelled in part on Thornhill's cool sound. The band's most successful records were "Snowfall," "A Sunday Kind of Love," and "Love for Love."
In the 1950s Thornhill became Tony Bennett's musical director, then toured with small groups.