Saxophonist, bandleader Koral dies at 79

Friday, Feb. 4, 2005 | 9:04 a.m.

Jazz ran through Marv Koral's veins.

While IVs and sophisticated medical equipment at Sunrise Hospital and Medical Center in recent weeks helped sustain his life, the piece of equipment that his family said gave him quality of life was a CD player and headset.

For many hours, Koral sat in his hospital bed listening to "Charlie Parker with Strings" and John Coltrane's "Giant Steps," and found solace in the rhythmic beat that he had for so long shared with the world as a performer.

Marvin A. "Marv" Koral, an alto saxophonist who began his career during the big band era and for the last 12 years led the Marv Koral & His All Stars jazz band in performances at city parks, bistros and major resorts, died Monday at Sunrise Hospital of complications from recent surgery. He was 79.

Services for the Las Vegas resident of 50 years, who also performed with the Tommy Dorsey and Harry James bands, were Thursday at Palm Mortuary-Cheyenne.

"My husband brought the guys in the bands back together after the Las Vegas hotels switched to canned music," said Marilyn Koral, a former Radio City Music Hall Rockette who danced in several Las Vegas productions, some of which featured her spouse in the orchestra.

"He kept the top musicians from all of the local orchestras working for many years. It was a melting pot of players from the 1950s and '60s with wide and varying talents."

Formed in 1992, Marv Koral & His All Stars first performed their modern traditional style of jazz at Britanny's on Ann Road.

The original members were Koral on saxophone, flute and clarinet; legendary trombonist Carl Fontana, who had backed up Frank Sinatra; bassist Carson Smith, who had backed up Buddy Rich; drummer Tom Montgomery, who had performed with the Woody Herman Band; and pianist Gus Mancuso, who had backed up Quincy Jones.

The venues at which Marv Koral & His All Stars regularly performed included the Manhattan on Flamingo Road, the Melrose on Maryland Parkway, Carollo's on Sunset Road and the Jazzed Cafe on West Sahara Avenue. Koral's final performance with the band was last spring at the Boulder City Art Festival. Shortly after that, the All Stars, minus their ailing leader, worked for the final time at the American Institute of Architects convention at Paris Las Vegas.

Born Jan. 3, 1926, in Oakland Park, Ill., Koral served as an Army sergeant in an anti-aircraft battalion during World War II.

After the war, he formed The Tritones jazz group. In the 1950s, Koral joined Tommy Dorsey's band, replacing Buddy DeFranco, and toured the United States.

Koral also worked with several other bands and was featured on vibraphonist/xylophonist Red Norvo's 1958 album "Windjammer City Style."

Koral settled in Las Vegas in 1954 and was the leader of several orchestras, including the house band at the Dunes, the "Holiday in Japan" production band at the Thunderbird and the band at the Tropicana's Blue Room. He also worked in the Johnny Haig Orchestra and was in the El Rancho orchestra in 1960 when the resort burned down.

In the early 1970s, Koral joined the Harry James band and went on tour, which included a performance at Carnegie Hall in 1972.

In addition to his wife, Koral is survived by a daughter, Deborah Morehead of Noank, Conn.; a son, Gregory Koral, of Las Vegas; and two grandchildren.