Hoop Dreams Personnel: Joe Magnarelli (Tp, Flh), Peter Bernstein (G), Gary Versace (P), Paul Gill (B), Tony Reedus (D) Tracks: Genet, Division Street,  Paris In The Spring, Ask Me Now , Hoop Dreams,  I Mean You, Old Folks, Dance Only With Me, Monk's Mood, Barretto's Beat.

Joe Magnarelli
Hoop Dreams

Recorded June 1, 2005 in Brooklyn, NY

    Listening to Hoop Dreams took me back to an era of Jazz. Back when I was preparing for this musical endeavor, I used to listen to Blue Mitchell, Art Farmer, Kenny Dorham, Chet Baker, Donald Byrd, and the like. I loved the master trumpet improvisers who captured harmonic richness and splendid melodic phrasing. Well I have someone else to add to this collection, his name is Joe Magnarelli.
    A little background on Joe. 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.
    In this day in age, it is a rare find, to hear an artist immersed in beauty of sound and translating melodic phrases in the fashion of the master’s before him. It’s refreshing and authentic. Magnarelli has created an unique sound that is true to himself. As a jazz trumpet artist myself, I can’t get enough of Joe’s splendid interpretations. His playing breaths and captures my interest. It is so reliant on what has happened before him, and yet creates a fresh new voice. To me, this is the way jazz is supposed to evolve.
    Magnarelli also contributes some fine original compositions on this recording. They resemble his playing, the phrases are melodic and the tunes breathe fresh air. (Check out Hoop Dreams, Barretto’s Beat, Genet, and Division Street)
The one cut that I really find myself  going back to time and time again, is actually a standard by Thelonius Monk, Ask Me Now. Here guitarist Peter Bernstein joins Magnarelli in beautiful balladry. Joe’s sound is so rich and centered. It creates even more clarity in his improvisational statements.
    The other musicians are great contributors to this recording. NY veterans Tony Reedus (drums), Paul Gill (bass), and Gary Versace (piano) offer swinging listenable accompaniments. There is a very nice group dynamic throughout.
    If your ever in NYC, Magnarelli is making the rounds. He can be heard playing with a variety of great artists, from the Vanguard Orchestra to Spike Wilner’s, Planet Jazz in Manhattan on Sunday nights. I urge you if you’re a fan of trumpets jazz, to go check out Magnarelli. He’s old school artist with a breath fresh of air.
For more information about the music of Joe Magnarelli, please visit:

http://www.joemagnarelli.com