Trumpeting the Talent of a Brassman

“It was overwhelming!”

That’s the way trumpeter Conte Candoli, a longtime member of Doc Severinsen’s “Tonight Show” Orchestra who has also played with Woody Herman, Stan Kenton, Howard Rumsey’s Lighthouse All-Stars and Shelly Manne and His Men in his four-decade career, enthusiastically recounted the goings-on Sunday, when he was presented with the Los Angeles Jazz Society’s 8th annual Tribute Award at a gala concert in the Pacific Ballroom of the Los Angeles Hilton Hotel and Towers.

“The day was almost indescribable,” he went on. “Everybody was there that I knew, including all the trumpet players in town, and players from out of town.”

Candoli got a surprise reception from his fellow brassmen at the end of a set he played with pianist Tom Ranier, bassist Jim Hughart and drummer Larrance Marable.

“Chuck Niles was emceeing,” Candoli said, “and after he introduced the cats, he said, ‘Why don’t you play “Billie’s Bounce”? ‘ I played a couple of choruses and the applause was unbelievable. I couldn’t figure it out because I hadn’t played anything that special. I turned around and there were about 10 trumpet players on the stand. They had snuck up while I was soloing and it knocked me out. Then each one--Al Aarons, Warren Luening, Don Rader, Chuck Findley, Oscar Brashear, Bill Berry and Buddy Childers--soloed. It was unreal to see hundreds of people getting up and applauding. It still seems like a dream.”

At the end of the affair, which featured other performances by pianist Cecilia Coleman (winner of the Shelly Manne New Talent Award) and the Leslie Baker trio with Dwight Dickerson and Jack LeCompte, Candoli stood and signed autographs. “That only happens in Europe,” he remarked. “People said the award was long overdo. I said, ‘Hey, I’m just glad it happened.’ ”

Others honored Sunday were reedman Buddy Collette (who garnered the LAJS Lifetime Achievement Award), Nat Pierce (recipient of the Composer/Arranger Award) and Lyle (Spud) Murphy (winner of the Jazz Educator Award).

RIM SHOTS: Trumpeters Candoli and Findley are part of the Hyatt Newporter Jazz Festival, taking place Sept. 21-23 at the Hyatt Newporter Hotel in Newport Beach. Also on board: Bob Florence, Mike Fahn, Poncho Sanchez and Stephanie Haynes. Information: (714) 729-1234 . . . Sanchez, Tito Puente and Celia Cruz are spotlighted on “Raices & Rhythm,” a TV show on salsa airing Sunday, 8 p.m. on KTLA (Channel 5) . . . “Drums and Jazz,” featuring drummer Harold Lott’s African drum troupe and Reggie Waddell’s quartet, will enliven the courtyard of St. Elmo Village (4830 St. Elmo Drive), this Sunday, 1-4 p.m., (213) 931-3409. Proceeds go to St. Elmo’s rehabilitation fund . . . Jazz on the Rocks, the annual bash in Sedona, Ariz., will be held Sept. 22. Supersax and the L.A. Voices, Ernestine Anderson, Ann Patterson’s Maiden Voyage big band, Doug MacLeod and Ronnie Bedford & Friends, with Bill Watrous are on the schedule.

Information: (602) 282-1985.