In Memoriam: Jorge Calandrelli

Dear ASMAC Family, I am at a loss for words learning that my wonderful friend, the extraordinary arranger and composer, Jorge Calandrelli, passed away…

May 6 • ASMAC (Arrangers & Composers)🎶

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Frank Comstock (Part 2)

As was discussed in Part I, Frank Comstock was one of Ray Heindorf’s favorite arrangers. Here are some clips from the films he worked on.

May 3 • ASMAC (Arrangers & Composers)🎶 and Jeffrey Sultanof

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April 2026

Frank Comstock (Part 1)

Frank Comstock was yet another reliable arranger for big bands, vocalists, and movie soundtracks. As is usual with busy arranger/composers during the…

Apr 21 • ASMAC (Arrangers & Composers)🎶 and Jeffrey Sultanof

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Lloyd “Skip” Martin (Part 2)

Martin wrote for the Les Brown band for many years. One day in 1946, Brown recorded an Irving Berlin standard. His was the house band for Bob Hope’s…

Apr 7 • ASMAC (Arrangers & Composers)🎶

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February 2026

Lloyd “Skip” Martin (Part 1)

Another musical workhorse who was all over the top big bands and later the Hollywood and TV studios, Skip (or Skippy) Martin could be called upon to…

Feb 21 • ASMAC (Arrangers & Composers)🎶 and Jeffrey Sultanof

January 2026

Gerald Wilson — A Career Retrospective (Part 3)

Even though he was out of the spotlight as a leader during the fifties, he continued to lead bands in Los Angeles and San Francisco, as well as play…

Jan 28 • ASMAC (Arrangers & Composers)🎶 and Jeffrey Sultanof

Gerald Wilson — A Career Retrospective (Part 2)

Among the excellent musicians who played with Wilson, Melba Liston played trombone and wrote arrangements. He encouraged and mentored her. She wrote the…

Jan 2 • ASMAC (Arrangers & Composers)🎶 and Jeffrey Sultanof

December 2025

Gerald Wilson — A Career Retrospective (Part 1)

Gerald Wilson had an incredible career as a composer, arranger and innovative bandleader, and yet he is rarely thought of in the same category as…

Dec 4, 2025 • ASMAC (Arrangers & Composers)🎶 and Jeffrey Sultanof

October 2025

The Savana That Enchanted Brazil: The Sound Created by José Roberto Branco – Maestro Branco

With a serene demeanor, always smiling and welcoming in every conversation, this was José Roberto Branco (1938–2025), known to many as Maestro Branco…

Oct 18, 2025 • ASMAC (Arrangers & Composers)🎶 and Gabriel DUARTE - Composer

Johnny Mandel, The Arranger (Part 2)

Mandel continued to be an in-demand arranger in addition to his ever-increasing film scores work. Among the scores he wrote are The Sandpiper, The…

Oct 16, 2025 • ASMAC (Arrangers & Composers)🎶 and Jeffrey Sultanof

September 2025

Johnny Mandel, The Arranger (Part 1)

John Alfred Mandel was 94 years old when he left us, and he led an incredible, full life in the professional music world from his teen years to his…

Sep 17, 2025 • ASMAC (Arrangers & Composers)🎶 and Jeffrey Sultanof

August 2025

Happy Birthday, Benny Carter!

Soloist and composer/arranger Benny Carter just celebrated his 118th birthday on August 8th 2025. In 1969, Professor of Sociology Morroe Berger, long a…

Aug 21, 2025 • ASMAC (Arrangers & Composers)🎶 and Jeffrey Sultanof

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