AccuRadio Song Of The Day-Kai Winding

 

Artist:Kai Winding

Song:More

Album:Pop Memories of the '60s: Instrumental Gold

Jazz trombone pioneer Kai Winding scored a surprise top ten hit in 1963 with More from the film Mondo Cane. He had one other chart single so he is not a one hit wonder. But he did have a long jazz career. He was born May 18, 1922 in Aarhus, Denmark. His father was a US citizen so his family moved to New York City in 1934. After graduating high school, Winding was in bands led by Shorty Allen, Sonny Dunham and Alvino Rey. He was in the US Coast Guard during WWII. Upon his return, Winding was in Benny Goodman's band and Stan Kenton's band. He was on Miles Davis Birth of the Cool and he played with Gerry Mulligan. In 1954, producer Ozzie Cadena suggested that Winding work with another jazz trombone pioneer J.J. Johnson. They recorded several albums for Columbia. Winding moved to Verve in 1961. By this time, Norman Granz had sold Verve to MGM and Creed Taylor was put in charge. More is from the 1963 album Soul Surfin'. It is the theme from the 1963 film Mondo Cane. Winding's recording reached #8 on the Billboard Hot 100. Taylor produced the album with German pianist Claus Ogerman arranging it. Musicians included Kenny Burrell on guitar and Paul Griffin on electric piano. The electronic instrument that you hear is the ondioline. It was invented in France and it was an early synthesizer. The guy playing it was Jean-Jacques Perrey. After moving to New York in 1960, he recorded and appeared on TV. And I assume either Taylor or Ogerman saw him because he never appeared with other jazz artists. And they tried to keep Perrey's appearance a secret by crediting Winding with playing the ondioline. Later Perrey would take up the Moog synthesizer. After the success of More, Soul Surfin' was retitled More!!! (Theme from Mondo Cane). Your can get More on this various artists budget comp that is part of a Time/Life box set. In 1964, Winding recorded a sequel album called Mondo Cane #2. Winding continued to work with Taylor even after he left Verve and started CTI Records at A&M. After that Winding continued to tour and record for small labels. He died on May 6, 1983 at age 60. Here's a video of More by Kai Winding.