Dennis Sandole

American jazz musician

Dennis Sandole (29 September 1913 — 30 September 2000) born Dionigi Sandoli, was an American jazz guitarist, composer, and music educator from Philadelphia.^[1]^[2]^[3]

Biography

Sandole was John Coltrane's mentor from 1946 until the early 1950s, introducing him to music theory beyond chords and scales and exposing him to the music of other cultures. Sandole taught advanced harmonic techniques that were applicable to any instrument, using exotic scales and creating his own.

He taught privately until the end of his life. His students included saxophonists James Moody, Benny Golson, Michael Brecker, Rob Brown and Bobby Zankel; trumpeter Art Farmer; pianists Matthew Shipp and Sumi Tonooka; guitarists Jim Hall, Joe Diorio, Pat Martino, Joe Federico, Kenneth Pyle, Tony DeCaprio, Jon Herington, Bob DeVos, Larry Hoffman and Harry Leahey^[3]^[4] and other musicians such as Rufus Harley and Frank Gerrard.

Sandole recorded Modern Music from Philadelphia, with his brother, Adolf Sandole (1922–1959), which was released by Fantasy Records in 1956 and credited to The Sandole Brothers.^[3]^[5]

Death and interment

Sandole died on September 30, 2000, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and was interred at West Laurel Hill Cemetery.^[6]

References

^ Naturalization Records: Joseph Sandoli (Dennis' father), 15 September 1909, United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, National Archives and Records Administration
^ Oct. 4, 2000 Obituary in Philadelphia Inquirer
^ ^a ^b ^c Ben Ratliff (8 October 2000). "Dennis Sandole, Jazz Guitarist And an Influential Teacher, 87". The New York Times. p. 1 46. Retrieved 1 April 2022.
^ "Dennis Sandole: Coltrane's Mentor Was Legendary Jazz Teacher". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2007-10-15.
^ Brothers Sandole – Modern Music from Philadelphia, Fantasy Records, 1955 OCLC 29617817
^ "Dennis Sandole". www.remembermyjourney.com. Retrieved 5 March 2024.