Phil Urso

Phil Urso (2 October 1925, Jersey City, New Jersey — 7 April 2008, Denver, Colorado) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist and composer known for his association with trumpeter Chet Baker.

Urso learned clarinet as a child and switched to tenor sax while in high school. He served in the Navy during World War II and then moved to New York City in 1947. There he played with Elliot Lawrence (1948–50), Woody Herman (1950-51), Terry Gibbs, Miles Davis (1952), Oscar Pettiford (1953), Jimmy Dorsey, and Bob Brookmeyer (1954). In 1955, he first began working with Chet Baker, and was a prominent contributor to Baker's Pacific Jazz releases in 1956. Urso and Baker would collaborate sporadically for some 30 years.

Urso worked with Claude Thornhill late in the 1950s, but receded from national attention in later decades. He moved to Denver and continued performing locally into the 2000s.

Birth and Death Data: Born October 2, 1925 (Jersey City), Died April 7, 2008 (Denver)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1950 - 1957

Roles Represented in DAHR: tenor saxophone, alto saxophone, flute

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Decca 76449 6/7/1950 Once in a while Elliot Lawrence Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 76450 6/7/1950 Star dust Elliot Lawrence Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 76451 6/7/1950 I've got a crush on you Elliot Lawrence Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 76452 6/7/1950 I'm in the mood for love Elliot Lawrence Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 76453 6/7/1950 Laura Elliot Lawrence Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 76454 6/7/1950 Deep purple Elliot Lawrence Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 76455 6/7/1950 East of the sun Elliot Lawrence Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 76456 6/7/1950 I can't get started Elliot Lawrence Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 83154 7/11/1952 T and S, part 1 Terry Gibbs Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 83155 7/11/1952 You don't know what love is-1 Terry Gibbs Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 83156 7/11/1952 T and S, part 2 (Three little words) Terry Gibbs Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 83157 7/11/1952 Flying home Terry Gibbs Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 83458 9/30/1952 T and s Jr. Terry Gibbs Sextet instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 84709 6/12/1953 Big boat whistle Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 84710 6/12/1953 Cecilia Bunny Briggs ; Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 84711 6/12/1953 Eh là bas Bunny Briggs ; Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 84712 6/12/1953 Margie Bunny Briggs ; Neal Hefti Orchestra instrumentalist, tenor saxophone  
Decca 101499 1/29/1957 When did you leave heaven Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, flute, alto saxophone  
Decca 101500 1/29/1957 Fools rush in Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, flute, alto saxophone  
Decca 101501 1/29/1957 A sinner kissed an angel Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, flute, alto saxophone  
Decca 101502 1/29/1957 I married an angel Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, flute, alto saxophone  
Decca 101503 1/29/1957 You're a heavenly thing Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, flute, alto saxophone  
Decca 101504 1/29/1957 Angel child Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, flute, alto saxophone  
Decca 101505 1/30/1957 Angel Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, flute, alto saxophone  
Decca 101506 1/30/1957 Angela mia Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, flute, alto saxophone  
Decca 101507 1/30/1957 The prisoner's song Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, flute, alto saxophone  
Decca 101508 1/30/1957 Goodnight angel Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, flute, alto saxophone  
Decca 101509 1/30/1957 I'll string along with you Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, flute, alto saxophone  
Decca 101510 1/30/1957 And the angels sing Louis Armstrong instrumentalist, flute, alto saxophone  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Urso, Phil," accessed November 3, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/210394.

Urso, Phil. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 3, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/210394.

"Urso, Phil." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 3 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/210394

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