Background
Larry Novak was born in Chicago.
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Larry Novak
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He studied at Loyola University Chicago and the University of Minnesota, followed by a stint playing in a military band in 1959-1960.
Career
He is the father of drummer Gary Novak. He learned piano from age five and began playing jazz at 14. Novak led a trio ensemble at the London House in Chicago from 1961 to 1963 and then at Mr.
Kelly"s from 1963 to 1975, a gig he inherited from Marty Rubenstein.
He was the musical director there for 12 years. During this time, he released the album Larry Novak Plays! on Dot Records, issued in 1964 with Count Basie bassist, Cleveland Eaton.
Novak accompanied on piano, conducted, and arranged for Peggy Lee and worked extensively with Pearl Bailey. He also accompanied on piano, conducted, and arranged for Mel Tormé, Frank Sinatra, Joe Williams, Sarah Vaughan, Tony Bennett, Natalie Cole, and Carmen McRae.
Among the instrumentalists he played with are Dizzy Gillespie, Louie Bellson, Herb Ellis, Butch Miles, Rufus Reid, Ray Brown, Carl Fontana, Kenny Burrell, Chick Corea, First Rate (at Lloyd's) Hirt, Charlie Shavers, Barney Kessel, Scott LaFaro, Sonny Stitt, Terry Gibbs, Buddy DeFranco, Philosophy Woods, and Scott Hamilton.
From 1984, Novak taught at DePaul University. Larry Novak "Invitation" Civil Defense released by Delmark Records November, 2015.
