Carmen Mastren

Infobox musical artist
Name = Carmen Mastren

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Background = non_vocal_instrumentalist
Birth_name = Carmen Mastren
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Born = 6 October 1913
Died = 31 March 1981
Origin = flagicon|New YorkCohoes, New York
Instrument = guitar
banjo
violin
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Genre = Jazz
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Associated_acts = Tommy Dorsey
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Carmen Mastren (6 October 1913–31 March 1981), born Carmen Mastandrea, was an American jazz guitarist, banjoist and violinist born in Cohoes, New York. Mastren is most noteworthy for his work from 1936-1941 with the Tommy Dorsey orchestra as a guitarist.

Biography

Mastren's first professional work as a musician came in 1934 when he joined the Wingy Manone and Joe Marsala band. Mastren worked with a variety of musicians during his career, including Raymond Scott, Ray McKinley and Mel Powell. In the 1940s Mastren recorded with the Sidney Bechet and Muggsy Spanier "Big Four". During World War II he played with the Glenn Miller "Air Force Band". During the 1940s Mastren also worked as musical director and conductor for Morton Downey, and from 1954-1970 Mastren played for The Today Show and The Tonight Show on NBC. Mastren died at 68 from a heart attack on March 31, 1981 at his home in Valley Stream on Long Island, NY.

elect discography

As bandleader
*"Banjorama" (Mercury Records)

With Wingy Manone & Joe Marsala
*"The Delta Four" (Decca Records)

With Dick Hyman And His Orchestra
*"Satchmo Remembered: The Music Of Louis Armstrong At Carnegie Hall" (Atlantic Records)

With Bobby Hackett
*"Jazz Impressions Of Lionel Bart's "Oliver!" (Epic Records)

With Quincy Jones
*"The Wiz Soundtrack" (Universal/MCA)

With Tommy Dorsey
*"Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra" (Victor Records)
*"The Song Is You" w/ Frank Sinatra (RCA Records)
*"Blue Orchids" (Victor Records)

With Sidney Bechet & Muggsy Spanier
*"Bechet-Spanier Quartet" (Allegro Elite)

With Bud Freeman
*"Jazz Vignettes" on "Tea For Two" (Mercury Records)

With the "Wolverine Orchestra"
*"Sensation" (Gennett Records)