Spotlight On: Joe Magnarelli

Air Date: 8/2/2026 on 90.5 WICN 9am-12pm ET
 
I have enjoyed the music of Joe Magnarelli since I started as an announcer at WICN in 1995. Yes, that's a long time, and from my point of view, it proves to me that what we have here is an enormous talent. 
 
The other day at a jam session, someone came over to me and wanted to talk about the importance of song selection in the career of a musician. The point being, that it is not enough to be technically competent or even technically superior if the you pick songs that are, well, duds. Or maybe not duds, but nothing very interesting, and you don't make it interesting.
 
But Mr. Magnarelli always has several really great tunes on his releases, usually with some standards mixed in. For example, two of my favorite songs on his 2008 CD Persistence, Ballad for Baretto and Soul Sister, are his original compositions.  As with all of his music, these songs are superb straight-ahead jazz. Both are featured in today's show.
 
His latest effort, the just-released CD Decidely So, follows the pattern: standards mixed with original tunes, played with a superior lineup. For example, trombonist Steve Davis is one of the best around. Where you might expect an alto or tenor saxophone, we have trombone. In several prior releases, Mr Magnarelli has used the baritone saxophone as the second horn.
 
It is a pleasure to feature Joe Magnarelli in this edition of the Sunday Jazz Brunch. I hope you tune in, either live or from the archives, and get to hear this exceptional artist.
 
Best,
 
Marty 
 
Photo: Joe Magnarelli at An Beal Bocht Cafe Bronx NY, 4.30.1995, by Mitch Bleier, mb626rsd@gmail.com or @mitch.bleier on Instagram.   
 

HOUR ONE: Contemplative Morning

🎺Joe Magnarelli-Old New Borrowed Blue 2022-07 The Gypsy
Alan Broadbent-Every Time I Think of You-06 Every Time I Think of You 2006
Jamile with Miki Yamanaka\Pursuit of a Pulse 2025 - Passarinhadeira

🎺Joe Magnarelli-Persistence-07 Ballad for Barretto 2008
Peter Bernstein-Let Loose 2016-08 Blue Gardenia
🎺Joe Magnarelli-Three On Two-10 My Reverie 2015

John Pizzarelli-Double Exposure-06 Rosalinda's Eyes 2012
Josh Nelson\I Hear a Rhapsody\Theme from Chinatown
🎺Joe Magnarelli-My Old Flame-09 McChesney Park 2010
Kandace Springs\Lady in Satin 2025\But Beautiful

HOUR TWO: New For You

Allan Harris\Swingin' Love Songs 2026\Any Moment Now
Anthony Wonsey-The Thang-03 Pamela 2005
🎺Joe Magnarelli\Decidedly So 2026\10th Anniversary
Jon Gold\Anahi 2026\ANAHI

Stacey Kent\A Time For Love 2026\10 E La Chiamono Estate
🎺Joe Magnarelli-Persistence-02 The Village 2008
Cecile McLorin Salvant\With Every Breath I Take 2026\Sophisticated Lady
🎺Joe Magnarelli-Three On Two-08 Central Park West 2015

Dionne Warwick-Only Trust Your Heart 2011-09 Some Other Time
Hendrik Meurkens\Samba Tonto 2026\Lullaby for Benny
🎺Joe Magnarelli\Decidedly So 2026\Decidedly So 
Steve Berndt\Heart of Hearts 2026\The Moment

HOUR THREE: Brazil/World/Groove

Stacey Kent\A Time For Love 2026\09 Carinhoso
Ray Obeido-Slight Accent 2026-02 The Right Move
🎺Joe Magnarelli-If You Could See Me Now-08 Sando Latino 2018

Lindsey Webster-Music In Me 2026-12 Two Hearts
Ali Ryerson\The Ali Ryerson Quartet 2026\06 Começar de Novo (The Island)
🎺Joe Magnarelli-Old New Borrowed Blue 2022-05 Jimmy Mimi and Me
Rick Keller\Heroes 2025\Complexity

Ray Obeido-Slight Accent 2026-05  Fonseca
🎺Joe Magnarelli-Persistence-08 Soul Sister 2008
Rick Braun-Can You Feel It-05-Get Up and Dance

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Image
Let's Talk: Alan Broadbent Air Date: 8/29/2021  With the release of his latest CD Broadbent Plays Brubeck , pianist, arranger, and composer Alan Broadbent solidifies his place as the foremost creator of orchestral jazz today.    Wow, that is a big statement, but it is true. I am not sure of the label, however. "Orchestral jazz" seems too narrow for Mr. Broadbent's expansive vision that melds string orchestra with piano trio into a jazzy but classical kind of sound. I guess if you like comparisons, you might consider George Gershwin. But his music also calls to mind Charles Ives, maybe Aaron Copeland. Now you can add Dave Brubeck to the list.   The only way to understand my inadequate words is to listen to the music. Join me on 8/29/2021 as Mr. Broadbent takes us on a tour of his new release.   The show kicks off with a gorgeous track from Hélio Alves. Then the orchestral focus begins. It's All About The Strings The next few songs feature string or full orchestra...
Read more
Image
The Sunday Jazz Brunch Presents Kim Nazarian: Three Bands Air Date: 9/14/2025 on 90.5 WICN 9am-12pm ET If you miss the air date: click here for the archi ves for up to two weeks . Kim Nazarian Three bands: The New York Voices, El Eco, and Gabriel Espinosa's band. What do they have in common? Vocalist Kim Nazarian. Members of all three bands appeared together recently at the Jazz Forum in Tarrytown New York. Featured on the date, besides Ms. Nazarian, were Darmon Meader voice, tenor sax (NY Voices); Guillermo Nojechowicz drums (El Eco); Gabriel Espinosa bass, composer, and Misha Tsiganov piano (Gabriel Espinosa's band).  New York Voices  Let's start with the New York Voices. This is probably Ms. Nazarian's most visible and well-known project. She is a founding member of the group, which formed in 1987. Ms Nazarian was nominated for a Grammy award in 2008 for Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalists, for the song In The Wee Small Hours of the Morning.  The ban...
Read more
Image
The Sunday Jazz Brunch Presents Musician's Corner: Music Soup Organ Trio Air Date: 10/6/2024 on 90.5 WICN 8am-12pm ET LISTEN TO THE SEGMENT HERE Our guests on the next Musician's Corner are the two founding members of the Music Soup Organ Trio: Nestor Dimopoulos, guitar and Evgenia Karlafti, organ and keys. Hailing from Athens, Greece, and together since 2013, the trio has just released their new CD, Upbeat Mood . The CD contains all original songs, except for one Burt Bacharach number, My Little Red Book. ................................................................................................................................................. Tune in at 9:15 am ET  to hear this edition of Musician's Corner.        ................................................................................................................................................. Evgenia started her musical career as a classical pianist. However, when she met To...
Read more