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A reliable guitarist with a cool tone, a hard-swinging style, and strong technical skills, Al Viola had been an asset to every session that he appeared on, and there have been many. Viola played in a jazz band while in the Army (1942-45), where he met Page Cavanaugh. When they both decided to move to California after their discharge in 1946, they teamed with bassist Lloyd Pratt to form a trio that was very popular during the next three years, appearing in a few Hollywood films (including "A Song Is Born") and recording frequently. The trio accompanied Frank Sinatra on a few occasions during 1946-1947, and when the combo broke up, Viola started working on and off with Sinatra though 1980. In addition, Viola became a very busy studio musician in Los Angeles, performing on the soundtracks of a countless number of films (including playing the prominent mandolin part in The Godfather), television shows, and commercials. Among his more jazz-oriented associations have been engagements with Bo...