Joey Calderazzo

Last updated
Joey Calderazzo
Birth nameJoseph Dominick Calderazzo
Born (1965-02-27) February 27, 1965 (age 59)
New Rochelle, New York, U.S.
Genres Jazz
OccupationMusician
InstrumentPiano
Years active1979–2022
Labels Blue Note, Marsalis Music, Sunnyside

Joseph Dominick Calderazzo (February 27, 1965) is a jazz pianist and brother of musician Gene Calderazzo. He played extensively in bands led by Michael Brecker and Branford Marsalis, and has also led his own bands.

Contents

Early life

Calderazzo was born in New Rochelle, New York. He began studying classical piano at age eight. His brother, Gene, got him interested in jazz. He studied with Richard Beirach and in the 1980s continued his studies at Berklee College of Music and the Manhattan School of Music. At the same time, he was playing professionally with David Liebman and Frank Foster. [1]

Later life and career

At a music clinic he met saxophonist Michael Brecker and became part of his quintet beginning in 1987. [2] In 1990, he signed with Blue Note Records. [1] Brecker produced Calderazzo's first album, In the Door, which featured Jerry Bergonzi and Branford Marsalis, his brother's roommate in Boston. They played on his second album, To Know One, which included Dave Holland and Jack DeJohnette. [3]

Calderazzo appeared on Brecker's albums Tales from the Hudson and Two Blocks from the Edge as pianist and composer. He played keyboard in Marsalis's Buckshot LeFonque and contributed to his album Music Evolution . When pianist Kenny Kirkland died in 1998, Calderazzo assumed his place in the Branford Marsalis Quartet. [2] In 1999 he recorded Joey Calderazzo with John Patitucci and Jeff 'Tain' Watts. [4] He played on Marsalis's albums Contemporary Jazz , Footsteps of Our Fathers , Romare Bearden Revealed , Eternal and on the DVD Coltrane's 'A Love Supreme' Live in Amsterdam. Calderazzo's composition "Hope" appears on Braggtown.

He was one of the first musicians to sign with Marsalis Music, owned by Branford Marsalis. Haiku , his first solo album, appeared in 2002. His album Amanacer featured singer Claudia Acuña and guitarist Romero Lubambo. In 2011, he and Marsalis formed a duo and recorded Songs of Mirth and Melancholy.

Calderazzo developed cubital tunnel syndrome in 2017, resulting in numbness in two fingers of his right hand. [5] Following surgery and rest, he was able to return to playing as before. [5]

Discography

As leader/co-leader

Year recordedTitleLabelNotes
1990In the Door Blue Note With Branford Marsalis (soprano sax, tenor sax), Jerry Bergonzi and Michael Brecker (tenor sax), Jay Anderson (bass), Peter Erskine and Adam Nussbaum (drums), Don Alias (percussion) [6]
1991To Know One Blue Note With Branford Marsalis (soprano sax, tenor sax), Jerry Bergonzi (tenor sax), Dave Holland (bass), Jack DeJohnette (drums) [6]
1993?The Traveler Blue Note Trio, with John Patitucci and Jay Anderson (bass; separately); Peter Erskine and Jeff Hirshfield (drums; separately)
1995?Secrets AudioQuest With various, from trio to octet
1996?Our StandardsGowi
1997?Simply MusicLost ChartTrio, with Sylvain Gagnon (bass), Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)
1999Joey CalderazzoColumbia/Sony MusicTrio, with John Patitucci (bass), Jeff "Tain" Watts (drums)
2002 Haiku Marsalis Music Solo piano
2006 Amanecer Marsalis Music Most tracks solo piano; one track duo with Romero Lubambo (guitar); one track duo with Claudia Acuña (vocals); two tracks trio, with Lubambo and Acuña
2011?Songs of Mirth & Melancholy EmArcy/Marsalis Music Duo, co-led with Branford Marsalis (saxes)
2011Live Sunnyside Trio, with Orlando le Fleming (bass), Donald Edwards (drums); in concert
2015?Going Home Sunnyside One track piano solo; most tracks trio, with Orlando le Fleming (bass), Adam Cruz (drums); one track quartet, with Branford Marsalis (tenor sax) added
2017Live from The Cotton Club, Tokyo, Volume IDot TimeTrio, with Orlando le Fleming (bass), Donald Edwards (drums); in concert

Main source: [7]

As sideman

Year recordedLeaderTitleLabel
1990? Michael Brecker Now You See It… (Now You Don't) GRP
1996 Jerry Bergonzi Fast CompanyBlue Jackel
1996 Michael Brecker Tales from the Hudson Impulse!
1998 Michael Brecker Two Blocks from the Edge Impulse!
1999 Branford Marsalis Contemporary Jazz Sony Music
2001 Branford Marsalis Footsteps of Our Fathers Marsalis Music
2001–2002 Jeff "Tain" Watts Bar Talk Columbia
2003 Branford Marsalis Romare Bearden Revealed Marsalis Music
2003? Branford Marsalis A Love Supreme: Live in Amsterdam Marsalis Music
2003 Branford Marsalis Eternal Marsalis Music
2010?Håkan BroströmRefractionArt of Life
2011 Branford Marsalis Four MFs Playin' Tunes Marsalis Music
2016? Branford Marsalis Upward SpiralOKeh
2018? Kurt Elling The QuestionsOKeh
2018? Branford Marsalis The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul OKeh

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wynton Marsalis</span> American jazz musician (born 1961)

Wynton Learson Marsalis is an American trumpeter, composer, and music instructor, who is currently the artistic director of Jazz at Lincoln Center. He has been active in promoting classical and jazz music, often to young audiences. Marsalis has won nine Grammy Awards, and his oratorio Blood on the Fields was the first jazz composition to win the Pulitzer Prize for Music. Marsalis is the only musician to have won a Grammy Award in both jazz and classical categories in the same year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Elvin Jones</span> American jazz drummer (1927–2004)

Elvin Ray Jones was an American jazz drummer of the post-bop era. Most famously a member of John Coltrane's quartet, with whom he recorded from late 1960 to late 1965, Jones appeared on such albums as My Favorite Things, A Love Supreme, Ascension and Live at Birdland. After 1966, Jones led his own trio, and later larger groups under the name The Elvin Jones Jazz Machine. His brothers Hank and Thad were also celebrated jazz musicians with whom he occasionally recorded. Elvin was inducted into the Modern Drummer Hall of Fame in 1995. In his The History of Jazz, jazz historian and critic Ted Gioia calls Jones "one of the most influential drummers in the history of jazz". He was also ranked at Number 23 on Rolling Stone magazine's "100 Greatest Drummers of All Time".

Buckshot LeFonque was a musical group project led by Branford Marsalis. The name Buckshot La Funke was a pseudonym used by jazz saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley for contractual reasons on the album Here Comes Louis Smith (1958). After playing with Sting, Miles Davis and other artists, Marsalis founded this band to create a new sound by merging classic jazz with rock, pop, R&B and hip-hop influences.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ellis Marsalis Jr.</span> American jazz pianist and educator (1934–2020)

Ellis Louis Marsalis Jr. was an American jazz pianist and educator. Active since the late 1940s, Marsalis came to greater attention in the 1980s and 1990s as the patriarch of the musical Marsalis family, when sons Branford and Wynton became popular jazz musicians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Marsalis Music</span> Record label

Marsalis Music is a jazz record label founded by Branford Marsalis in 2002.

<i>Two Blocks from the Edge</i> 1998 studio album by Michael Brecker

Two Blocks from the Edge is Michael Brecker's fifth album as a leader. It was recorded in 1997 at Avatar Studios in New York City, and released in 1998. It features pianist Joey Calderazzo and drummer Jeff “Tain” Watts, noted for their work with Branford Marsalis.

<i>Braggtown</i> 2006 studio album by Branford Marsalis Quartet

Braggtown is an album released by The Branford Marsalis Quartet in 2006.

<i>Eternal</i> (Branford Marsalis album) 2004 studio album by Branford Marsalis

Eternal is an album by saxophonist Branford Marsalis recorded at Tarrytown Music Hall, Tarrytown, New York in October 2003. It peaked at number 9 on the Top Jazz Albums chart.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ivan Farmakovsky</span> Russian pianist (born 1973)

Ivan Farmakovsky is a Russian jazz pianist, composer and arranger.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Branford Marsalis</span> American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader (b. 1960)

Branford Marsalis is an American saxophonist, composer, and bandleader. While primarily known for his work in jazz as the leader of the Branford Marsalis Quartet, he also performs frequently as a soloist with classical ensembles and has led the group Buckshot LeFonque. From 1992 to 1995 he led the Tonight Show Band.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Jazz Messengers</span> American jazz band

The Jazz Messengers were a jazz combo that existed for over thirty-five years beginning in the early 1950s as a collective, and ending when long-time leader and founding drummer Art Blakey died in 1990. Blakey led or co-led the group from the outset. "Art Blakey" and "Jazz Messengers" became synonymous over the years, though Blakey did lead non-Messenger recording sessions and played as a sideman for other groups throughout his career.

"Yes sir, I'm gonna to stay with the youngsters. When these get too old, I'm gonna get some younger ones. Keeps the mind active."

<i>Music Evolution</i> 1997 studio album by Buckshot LeFonque (Branford Marsalis)

Music Evolution is the second album of Branford Marsalis's jazz/hip-hop/rock group Buckshot LeFonque. Featuring guest appearances from David Sanborn, Guru and Laurence Fishburne, the album peaked at number 8 on the Billboard Top Contemporary Jazz Albums chart. The album is notable in Branford's discography for marking his first collaboration with pianist Joey Calderazzo and bassist Eric Revis, both of whom would go on to record in his quartet in the 2000s and 2010s.

<i>Contemporary Jazz</i> (Branford Marsalis album) 2000 studio album by Branford Marsalis Quartet

Contemporary Jazz is a jazz album by the Branford Marsalis Quartet, featuring Branford Marsalis, Eric Revis, Jeff "Tain" Watts, and Joey Calderazzo which was recorded on December 1–4, 1999 at Bearsville Sound Studios near Woodstock, New York.

<i>Footsteps of Our Fathers</i> 2002 studio album by Branford Marsalis Quartet

Footsteps of Our Fathers is a jazz album by the Branford Marsalis Quartet, featuring Branford Marsalis, Eric Revis, Jeff "Tain" Watts, and Joey Calderazzo, which was recorded December 1–3, 2001 at Bearsville Studios in Woodstock, New York. Marsalis's first recording for his new label Marsalis Music after 18 years on Sony Music, the album features the quartet's recording of four significant works of jazz from the years 1955 to 1964, including works by Ornette Coleman, Sonny Rollins, John Coltrane, and the Modern Jazz Quartet.

<i>Romare Bearden Revealed</i> 2003 studio album by Branford Marsalis Quartet

Romare Bearden Revealed is a jazz album by the Branford Marsalis Quartet, featuring Branford Marsalis, Eric Revis, Jeff "Tain" Watts, and Joey Calderazzo, with guest appearances by Harry Connick Jr., Wynton Marsalis, Doug Wamble, Reginald Veal, and other members of the Marsalis family. The album, which was recorded June 23–25, 2003 at Clinton Studios in New York, New York, was recorded in celebration of a retrospective exhibit of the art of Romare Bearden which opened at the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC and subsequently traveled to San Francisco, Dallas, New York and Atlanta in 2004 and 2005. The album recorded jazz tunes whose names Bearden had used for paintings as well as original compositions.

<i>Upward Spiral</i> (album) 2016 studio album by Branford Marsalis Quartet

Upward Spiral is an album by the Branford Marsalis Quartet with vocalist Kurt Elling. It was nominated for the Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album.

<i>Fi-Fi Goes to Heaven</i> 1987 studio album by Joanne Brackeen and Special Friends

Fi-Fi Goes to Heaven is an album by American pianist Joanne Brackeen recorded in 1986 and released on the Concord Jazz label.

<i>Haiku</i> (Joey Calderazzo album) 2004 recording by Joey Calderazzo

Haiku is a solo piano album by Joey Calderazzo. It was recorded in 2002 and released by Marsalis Music.

<i>Amanecer</i> (Joey Calderazzo album) 2007 studio album by Joey Calderazzo

Amanecer is an album by Joey Calderazzo. It was recorded in 2006 and released by Marsalis Music.

<i>The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul</i> 2019 live album by Branford Marsalis Quartet

The Secret Between the Shadow and the Soul is a live album by the Branford Marsalis Quartet, recorded in Australia in May 2018. The album received a Grammy Award nomination for Best Jazz Instrumental Album.

References

  1. 1 2 Gilbert, Mark (2002). Kernfeld, Barry (ed.). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Vol. 1 (2nd ed.). New York: Grove's Dictionaries Inc. p. 371. ISBN   1-56159-284-6.
  2. 1 2 Yanow, Scott. "Joey Calderazzo: Biography". Allmusic. Retrieved 2010-09-19.
  3. "Secrets". Valley Entertainment-Sledgehammer Blues. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  4. Astarita, Glenn (2000-06-01). "CD/LP Review: Joey Calderazzo". All About Jazz. Archived from the original on 2012-10-17. Retrieved 2010-09-19.
  5. 1 2 Sullivan, Denise (January 2019). "Calderazzo Bounces Back". DownBeat . Vol. 86, no. 1. p. 26.
  6. 1 2 Cook, Richard; Morton, Brian (1992). The Penguin Guide to Jazz on CD, LP & Cassette (1st ed.). Penguin. p. 174. ISBN   978-0-14-015364-4.
  7. "Joey Calderazzo | Album Discography | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved 26 August 2016.