Alvin Stoller, Drums, 1925, New York, NY
Alvin studied the drums with private teachers while growing up in New York. During the late '30s he began working professionally with the pianist Van Alexander ,and before long he was playing with the big band of Raymond Scott and Teddy Powell's group. During the early '40s he worked with some of the most popular bands of the era, including Benny Goodman, Charlie Spivak, Tommy Dorsey, Georgie Auld, Harry James, and Jerry Gray. Around 1958 Alvin became active as a studio musician but still remained on the jazz scene, recording with groups, most of which were produced by Norman Granz. The recording sessions for Granz were with musicians such as; Erroll Garner, Billie Holiday, Roy Eldridge, Harry Edison, Ben Webster, Coleman Hawkins, and Buddy Defranco. Later, during the '70s and '80s, Stoller worked with Stan Kenton and did a considerable amount of recording with Frank Sinatra.
Marty Flax, Saxophone, 1924, New York, NY
Although Marty was known primarily as a baritone saxophonist, he was also well schooled with the alto and tenor instruments which he played on numerous gigs. During the 1950s Marty played with the big bands of Lucky Millinder, Perez Prado, and Les Elgart. He also recorded with Pete Rugolo, Chubby Jackson, Woody Herman, and Sam Most around this time. Always interested in new music, during the late '50s Marty began working with modernists such as Dizzy Gillespie and Lennie Tristano. He toured extrensively in the Middle East and South America with Gillespie, and South America with Woody Herman's band ,under rhe auspices of the U.S. State Dept. During the late '60s Flax performed on the tenor sax with Claude Thornhill and then Buddy Rich. He spent the last part of his working life in Las Vegas. Marty Flax died in 1972.
Larry Young, Organ, 1940, Newark, NJ
