Live at Birds Eye Thad Jones Centennial

• 1 The Interloper 12:35
• 2 Wives And Lovers 12:17
• 3 A Child Is Born 04:59
• 4 Three And One 11:39
• 5 April In Paris 11:01
• 6 I Love You 10:41
• 7 Mean What You Say 11:46
• 8 Quiet Lady (Bonus Track) 07:47
• Total Runtime 01:22:45

Info for Live at Birds Eye

"Live at Bird's Eye" features compositions and arrangements by the legendary composer Thad Jones. It provides classical swinging jazz at the highest level with international acclaimed soloists from New York and Europe. It was recorded live at the The Bird’s Eye Jazz Club in Switzerland and combines the energy of a live-recording with the experience of the band having been on the road.

He came from an extremely musical family, his brothers Hank Jones (piano) and Elvin Jones (drums) also achieved great fame. He himself was self-taught on the trumpet and performed with Sonny Stitt at the age of 16. During the Second World War, he played in various US Army bands, then made several recordings with Charles Mingus and was a member of the Count Basie Orchestra from 1954 to 1963, for which he also arranged. He then worked with Pepper Adams, among others, and founded the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Orchestra with Mel Lewis in 1965, which was an institution on the American jazz scene for the next thirteen years.

Joe Magnarelli (trumpet), Dick Oatts (alto saxophone) and Gary Smulyan (baritone saxophone) are among the outstanding musicians on the New York jazz scene. Joe Magnarelli has been one of the world's leading trumpeters for three decades, working with the Lionel Hampton Big Band, organist Brother Jack McDuff, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Harry Connick, Jr., the Buddy Rich Band, Maria Schneider, the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra and Ray Barretto, among others.

Joe Magnarelli, trumpet
Dick Oatts, alto saxophone
Gary Smulyan, baritone saxophone
Oliver Kent, piano
Aldo Zunino, double bass
Bernd Reiter, drums

Joe Magnarelli
Over the course of a 40+ year career, Joe Magnarelli has emerged as one of the premier trumpeters, improvisers, composers, and educators in jazz.

Initially training as a pianist who accompanied songs sung by his father, Magnarelli took up trumpet as a youth in his native Syracuse. He was inspired by lessons with noted trumpeter Sal Amico as well as performances with esteemed tenor saxophonist J. R. Montrose. He also studied briefly with distinguished trumpeter Louis Mucci at the Berklee School of Music in Boston, and others.

During his first two years as a student at Onandoga Community College, Joe was the choir director and pianist for the Central Baptist Church in Syracuse, which he regards as a pivotal experience. He plays piano to this day, and considers it a key aspect of his creative journey. In 1982, Joe received his bachelor's degree from Fredonia State University.

Magnarelli, known to friends and fans as “Mags,” moved to New York City in 1986, with the goal of a fulfilling life devoted to music.

Things happened fairly swiftly. That year, he joined vibes innovator Lionel Hampton’s Orchestra. That association led to tenures with organist Brother Jack McDuff’s septet; pianist and composer Toshiko Akiyoshi’s Jazz Orchestra; jazz singer laureate Jon Hendricks’s group; pianist Harry Connick Jr.’s Orchestra; conga dynamo Ray Barretto’s New World Sextet; saxophonist Charles Davis’s quintet; pianist Harry Whitaker’s group; the N.Y. Hard Bop Quintet, a co-op band that also included pianist Keith Saunders and tenorman Jerry Weldon; composer/arranger Marty Sheller’s Nonet; tenor saxophonist/composer Walt Weiskopf’s groups; the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra; and many more. Among his appearances on over 125 recordings, many have been with these artists and ensembles.

Additionally, as a freelance trumpet player, Magnarelli has had the opportunity to play engagements in New York and around the world with Aretha Franklin, Rosemary Clooney, Joe Williams, Freddy Cole, Mel Torme, Johnny Mathis, John Pizzarelli, Jane Monheit, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, George Grunz’s European Orchestra, the Clayton/Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, the Smalls Jazz All-Stars, the Carnegie Hall Jazz Orchestra, Chico O'Farrill, Jimmy Cobb's Mob, and Louis Hayes’s Cannonball Legacy Band.

Mags has also performed such jazz and pop luminaries as Dr. John, Leon Russell, Liberace, the Manhattan Transfer, Freddie Hubbard, Art Farmer, Jimmy Heath, Al Jarreau, Jerry Bergonzi, Louie Bellson, Paquito D'Rivera, and Thiago Dimello.

This impressive list of affiliations clearly demonstrates that Magnarelli is in demand as a top-tier trumpet stylist with a warm, open sound and stellar technique.

A potent jazz soloist, Joe is known for his engaging, melodically-rich lines, and his powerhouse rhythm. He says he draws most of his inspiration from jazz recorded between the early 1940s and the early 1960s. He names Charlie Parker, Fats Navarro, and Kenny Dorham as core influences, but also includes Louis Armstrong, John Coltrane, Freddie Hubbard, and several others on that list. Parker remains chief among these. “He’s my hero,” says Joe.

Magnarelli builds his improv style from the over 100 solos he has transcribed by these artists, and many others, but they are just a basis, not an outcome. “I try to be myself,” he says, and succeeds.

In 1994, Joe started his solo recording career with Why-Not on Criss Cross Records, and has since recorded 13 CDs on 6 different independent labels. Notable among these are My Old Flame (Give@Go Records), which features a string section; and Persistence (Reservoir Records), whose title refers to his admirable work ethic. “I pretty much practice all day every day, unless I have a gig that night,” he says. His latest effort is If You Could See Me Now (Cellar Live Records). These albums all boast his lyrical, persuasive originals.

For many years, Magnarelli has been leading or co-leading bands in clubs and concert halls all over the world. He is also a part time trumpet professor at the Julliard School in New York and the Tribecca Jazz Institute. Joe is proud to be an alumnus of Christian Brother's Academy High School, Syracuse, NY, Class of '78.

Joe lives in Brooklyn, N.Y., with his wife, organist Akiko Tsuruga, with whom he often performs, and their cats, Hiroko and Stella. (Text: Zan Stewart)

This album contains no booklet.