Claude Thornhill (1908-1965) was an American conductor, pianist and composer.
He has distinguished himself mainly in jazz and variety music.
The "sound" of Claude Thornhill's orchestra strongly influenced the musicians of what is sometimes called "cool jazz". It is generally accepted that Miles Davis' famous "nonette" (see the album Birth Of The Cool) has "borrowed" a lot from the aesthetics of the Thornhill orchestra: absence of vibrato, smooth phrasing, use of horn and tuba, ...
The name of the orchestra was Snowfall, a composition of the leader.
