Joe Magnarelli - an interview

Joe Magnarelli was born in Syracuse, NY. At the age of 12 he started to play the piano at home by ear, and a few months later started formal guitar and trumpet lessons in school. His early musical experience came playing the trumpet and guitar in church, through grammar school and high school, and then in college Joe was the pianist and choir director at the Central Baptist Church in Syracuse, NY.

Joe got his bachelors degree from Fredonia St. University, and in 1986 moved to New York City to pursue a career in music.

In 1990 Joe finished as a semifinalist at the Thelonious Monk competition. Joe's credits include working on the bands of Lionel Hampton, Jack McDuff, Toshiko Akioshi, John Hendricks, and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra. In 1994 recorded his first record for Criss Cross Jazz, "Why Not." Since then Joe has recorded four more records for the Criss Cross label as a leader and numerous records as a sideman.

Joe currently works with the Ray Barretto "New Sextet". Their CD release in 2005, "Time Was, Time Is" was nominated for a Grammy. Joe also works with Walt Weiskopf, Dick Oatts, Planet Jazz and Marty Sheller's Nonet. He leads his own small groups around New York City and Europe, promoting his Criss Cross recordings, as well as doing clinics and master classes. Joe is also a regular sub in the Village Vanguard Orchestra.

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Rick Holland: Joe, welcome to JR247. Thanks for taking the time to spend with us and our listeners. In 1994, you signed with Criss Cross Records and recorded your first album, as a leader with Criss Cross entitled,  “Why Not”, since then you have 4 albums as leader and numerous sideman invitations. Talk to us about how your life may have changed musically?

Joe Magnarelli: Recording for 'Criss Cross jazz' has opened doors internationally for me. Because it is a label with a great reputation, and has world wide distribution, Criss Cross put me on the map, so to speak.

RH: Leading up to your Criss Cross deal, you placed as a semi-finalist at the Thelonius Monk competition. Who were some of your important mentors that helped you reach this point?

Mags: Well first, All my trumpet teachers growing up. Then, when I got out of college, Sal Amico and J.R. Monterose changed my life. They both, were great players and teachers. I was VERY fortunate to meet up with them and be part of their family. I played gigs with JR's band the last couple years before he died. Also, Nick Brignola, he was an amazing musician, and was very generous with me, letting me play on his gigs and getting me on other gigs in the Albany area. Sal Amico was one of the most melodic musicians I've ever heard, he was my role model. He had a personal voice on the trumpet. I still think about him all the time.

RH: Being a trumpet player myself, I understand the daily grind of the horn to keep it sharp and fluent. What kind of routine do you need to be doing, to have the confidence to stay sharp?

Mags: Mostly the standard trumpet exercises, slurs, tonguing. I do at least a half hour a day, and some days up to 2 hours.

RH: Joe who do you consider some of your most important influences musically?

Mags: Besides JR and Sal Amico...........Charlie Parker, Pops, Kenny Dorham, etc....etc... Also some of the great bandleaders I worked for, most

notably Ray Barretto.

RH: Who are some players and musicians that really inspire you in today’s music world?

Mags: Tom harrell, John Swana, Eddie Henderson, Dick oatts, harry Whitaker, Charles Davis, Louis Hayes, Cecil Payne, Eric Alexander, Grant Stewart, Peter Bernstien......etc etc..........the list is long.

RH: What are some of the things outside music that contribute to your success as a complete human being and musician?

Mags: Well, the good friends that I have, and working out also helps.

RH: Tell us about your latest last project Hoop Dreams, I noticed a tune for the late-great Ray Barretto?

Mags: Hoop dreams was done June of 2005, it was my first real solo recording since 1999. Barretto's Beat is a tune I wrote for the band (Rays sextet) while we were on the road. We never got to it on the gig, so I recorded it as a straight ahead tune, instead of the original 'cha cha' idea. When ray passed I named it after him, just as a humble thank you for all he did for me.

RH: I love your tunes, do you have a process of composing?

Mags: Yes, when I hear something I write it down, and then play it over and over, tweaking it when necessary And then at some point it becomes a tune. Very simple really.

RH: You seem to be teamed up with Peter Bernstein quite a bit? You guys do have an excellent chemistry. You’re latest project, and Spike Wilner’s Planet Jazz, you guy’s really sound great. Can you talk about your musical relationship with Bernstein?

Mags: The band has been playing since 1993 or so, but the last two years we have been at Smalls every Sunday night, as well as some other local clubs in Manhattan.

RH: Can you also tell us about Spike’s project Planet Jazz? This seemed like such a group effort and it was very successful in Radio play. I know this grew out of a gig in Manhattan?

Mags: I was an original member of the band, Ellis was a good friend of mine. We played a lot together.

RH: Did you get a chance to work with the Late John Ellis? When did you join this group? I noticed 5 tunes were written by him for the Planet Jazz recording.

Mags: Peter is one of my favorite cats, I look up to him musically. We have been playing together for about 15 yrs, on and off in different situations.

RH: I’m not always a fan of two trumpet recordings, but you and John Swana did a fine and very musical recording, was it last year? Can you tell us your experience with this? Will that group perform some more?

Mags: John and I have a gig this Friday, (8/11/06) at the Philadelphia Museum, we do a couple a concerts every year so far. The first CD came about because Gerry tiekens heard about John and I playing a gig in Philly at 'Ortliebs', he got excited about it and wanted to record it. I guess the CD did well because he wanted to do another one. So we have "NY-Philly Junction" and "Philly-NY junction", I wonder what the third one will be called "Jersey turnpike?"

RH: What are some projects your thinking about in the future?

Mags: Just writing music, hoping to get another chance to record, working at trying to develop my playing, that never stops.

RH: Are you a Yankees fan? Or NY sports fan? If so, how will Jeter and the boy’s do in the second half? You heard it hear first, JR247 listeners?

Mags:  I like the Yankees, Jeter is a great ball player. As far as the second half, well, we'll see.

RH: Thanks for spending some time with us at JR247. We wish you even more success in your musical endeavors.