Frank Comstock was one of the foremost creators of the new sound of progressive jazz and the modern school of popular music. His musical tastes were not indicative of a thinking musician. The modern classical school of Ravel, Stravinsky, Bartok and Hindemith held more interest for him than the old masters. He expressed a special liking for the work of Ralph Burns and the Woody Herman band. Another arranger he had a lot of respect for was Gil Evans, especially the stuff he did for Claude Thornhill.

Born in San Diego, Califoria, in 1922. Comstock wrote his first arrangement while in his early teens and has been writing professionally since then. He played trombone and arranged for Sonny Dunham and Benny Carter in the early 1940’s. Most notably, he has been chief arranger for Les Brown. Among his Les Brown arranging credits are such selections as: “Twilight Time”, “We’ll Be Together Again”, “American in Paris”, “Slaughter On 10th Avenue”, “Nutcracker Suite”, plus about 90% of the Brown book of arrangements.

Comstock is perhaps one of the most versatile composer-arranger conductor in Hollywood of his days. His background runs the gamut from radio, records, and television to motion pictures, string quartets, and symphony arranging. His motion picture credits include: “April in Paris”, “Calamity Jane”, and “The Eddie Cantor Story.” His radio, T.V., and record credits work includes such names as Bob Hope and Doris Day.

Frank Comstock passed away in May 21, 2013

—Jordi Pujol (From the inside liner notes of FSRCD 1070)