JOEY

CALDERAZZO

QUARTET 

Sunday 

July 19

7:00 pm

 DIANA WORTHAM THEATRE, ASHEVILLE

      Joey Calderazzo is one of the leading pianists in the jazz genre. As jazz bible JazzTimes magazine stated, “Joey Calderazzo has shown himself to be a pianist with passionate creative energy and the chops to channel it.” With 25 years of top-echelon experience at the age of 44, Calderazzo’s creativity as a definitive composer, band leader, and accompanist continually grows deeper and more diverse.

      A key member the celebrated Branford Marsalis Quartet for the past 10 years, Calderazzo describes his growth: “I’ve put myself in difficult, intense musical situations, playing music I never previously tried, because difficult situations are what make musicians improve. I’ve also gone backward in the sense of absorbing earlier giants such as Bud Powell, Thelonious Monk, Jelly Roll Morton and James P. Johnson.”

     Calderazzo’s recent recordings reflect innovation while remaining true to the roots of jazz. 2007’s ambitious project Aamamcer” included vocal contributions from Claudia Acuna and drew special praise: “Amanecer just might be the album that gets Calderazzo’s gifts as both a composer and a solo pianist embraced on a greater scale.” JazzTimes Magazine.

     An additional forceful musical association for Calderazzo was his lengthy partnership with another of jazz’s elite, the late saxophonist Michael Brecker. At the tender age of 19, the pianist met Brecker at a clinic, and in 1987 Brecker was introducing Calderazzo to the jazz world as part of the touring Michael Brecker Quintet. “Michael put me on the map,” Calderazzo acknowledges. “There was no philosophy, no metaphysics behind playing…it was just life, just music, and one of the best experiences I’ve had.

     In 1998 Calderazzo, having established a reputation for excellence and innovation, assumed the piano chair in the Branford Marsalis Quartet. The working relationship with Marsalis, which remains active to this day, called upon a new scope and maturity from the pianist that complements his own emergence as both man and musician. “In the last ten years, as I’ve gotten older, I’ve changed my point of view and gained focus. Among the recorded evidence of this period’s triumphs are Joey Calderazzo (Columbia, recorded 1999), his definitive trio recital to date and his contributions to a steady release of highly regarded Marsalis recordings. The latest Branford Marsalis Quartet release, Braggtown, features Calderazzo’s composition “Faith” as well as his piano.

Joey Calderazzo Links

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 Tickets:

$22 for members

$30 for non-members 

$10 for students with ID under age 25

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