So Longo, Mr. Bongo

Perhaps little noticed in the rush of recent obituaries were the few written for Jack Costanzo.

Jack Costanzo was dubbed "Mr. Bongo," and while he didn't play on Charlie Parker's "Bongo-Beep," he did play with Stan Kenton and jammed, on bongos and congas, with Marlon Brando.

But he is best remembered for his work with the Nat "King" Cole trio, which, after he joined it, became a quartet. Most memorable, for a number of reasons, is their recording of "Lush Life," perhaps the first and certainly the best waxing (as old deejays used to say) of the Billy Strayhorn song ("I used to go to all of the very gay places, those come what may places, where one relaxes on the axis of the wheel of life to get the feel of life and jazz and cocktails"--cue the bongos).

It was an unusual arrangement--written by Pete Rugulo, another Kenton alumnus--with the Nat Cole group backed by a string orchestra, and the use of bongo drums on what is really a lament. But it all worked. And still does.

Are any of those people still around? Maybe not so you can see them. Fortunately, we can still hear them.

So longo, Mr. Bongo.