Larry Vuckovich

Biography

During his childhood in Yugoslavia, Vuckovich received classical piano training. Through listening to radio broadcasts of American Forces Network (AFN), he became interested in jazz. Under President Tito, his family was persecuted and emigrated to the U.S. in 1951. The family settled in San Francisco and received political asylum.

In San Francisco, Vuckovich visited local jazz clubs where he listened to Miles Davis, Dizzy Gillespie, and John Coltrane. He met Vince Guaraldi at a club and became his student. He studied music at San Francisco State University. In 1959, Vuckovich started his career as a professional musician in the band of Brew Moore. Soon after, as an occasional substitute for Guaraldi, he accompanied vocalists David Allyn and Irene Kral. In 1963, he began an association with Mel Tormé and a couple years later with Jon Hendricks, with whom he played in clubs and festivals around the world.

During the 1960s, he led the house band at a club in Munich, Germany, performing with Clifford Jordan, Dexter Gordon, Dusko Goykovich, Lucky Thompson, Philly Joe Jones, Pony Poindexter, and Slide Hampton. When he returned to the U.S., he led a house band at a club in San Francisco, performing with Arnett Cobb, Buddy Tate, Charles McPherson, Eddie "Cleanhead" Vinson, Leon Thomas, and Scott Hamilton.

In 1985, he worked in New York City accompanying Billy Higgins, Curtis Fuller, Milt Hinton, Mel Lewis, and Tom Harrell. Five years later, he was back in San Francisco, performing in concerts and clubs. He became musical director of the West Coast and Napa Valley jazz festivals.

Discography