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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZLA PORTA John(b 1 April 1920, Philadelphia PA) Reeds, composer, teacher. Played with Woody Herman, Charles Mingus ('54 sides with Mingus on Savoy, Period have been widely reissued); contemporary classical with Leonard Bernstein, Igor Stravinsky. Albums included appearances in Anthropology on Spotlight, Rare Broadcast Performances on Jazz Anthology (both airchecks from late '40s with Lennie Tristano, others); quintet LPs '54 on Mingus's Debut label; an LP made in Venezuela '56 with local musicians and The Clarinet Artistry of John La Porta '57, with trio tracks on one side, a Brahms sonata on the other, both on Fantasy; and a quartet LP with Ron Carter on Everest '58. He joined Boston's Berklee School (later College) of Music, from '62 in charge of instrumental performance of students; published books through Berklee as well as album Berklee Saxophone Quartet. |