Joey Calderazzo
Joey Calderazzo
Sun 12 Nov 2023
One of the finest pianists of his generation, having recorded thirteen albums as a leader, Joey Calderazzo has traveled the road from child prodigy to in-demand session musician to elite member of the finest ensembles in jazz.
He’s accompanied the music’s geniuses, from Michael Brecker and Branford Marsalis to Jack DeJohnette and Dave Holland. Throughout his journey, Calderazzo has boldly explored his own psyche and his place in the world, as a composer,improvisor, band member, and leader.
Calderazzo’s long running trio, which recently recorded Live From The Cotton Club Tokyo, Volume I, is his place of relaxation and exploration, where improvisation is key, freedom is the norm, and swing is absolute. Joined by bassist Orlando Le Fleming and drummer Donald Edwards, Calderazzo examines original material and choice cover renditions in a live performance inspired by his prodigiously broad approach to jazz.
Early in his career, after groundbreaking records with saxophone legend Michael Brecker and solo recordings on Blue Note Records, Calderazzo experienced an epiphany that affected his piano playing and compositional direction. “In 1997 I made a shift,” Calderazzo recalls. “I found another dimension to my playing. I can’t say why and I don't care to figure it out. You sit at the piano six, seven hundred hours a year, something's going to happen. And I’m always restless. I think, ‘Why am I playing that again?’ “It was right around the time I recorded Tales From The Hudson with Michael Brecker,” he continues. “Then [pianist] Kenny Kirkland died and I ended up in Branford's band (where he remains). I found a looser time feel, different kinds of rhythms, and a more lyrical side to my playing. It was less of that McCoy Tyner-driven sound. My touch got better. My piano sound got better and it continued to get better. I started paying more attention to the sound of the piano.”
He’s accompanied the music’s geniuses, from Michael Brecker and Branford Marsalis to Jack DeJohnette and Dave Holland. Throughout his journey, Calderazzo has boldly explored his own psyche and his place in the world, as a composer,improvisor, band member, and leader.
Calderazzo’s long running trio, which recently recorded Live From The Cotton Club Tokyo, Volume I, is his place of relaxation and exploration, where improvisation is key, freedom is the norm, and swing is absolute. Joined by bassist Orlando Le Fleming and drummer Donald Edwards, Calderazzo examines original material and choice cover renditions in a live performance inspired by his prodigiously broad approach to jazz.
Early in his career, after groundbreaking records with saxophone legend Michael Brecker and solo recordings on Blue Note Records, Calderazzo experienced an epiphany that affected his piano playing and compositional direction. “In 1997 I made a shift,” Calderazzo recalls. “I found another dimension to my playing. I can’t say why and I don't care to figure it out. You sit at the piano six, seven hundred hours a year, something's going to happen. And I’m always restless. I think, ‘Why am I playing that again?’ “It was right around the time I recorded Tales From The Hudson with Michael Brecker,” he continues. “Then [pianist] Kenny Kirkland died and I ended up in Branford's band (where he remains). I found a looser time feel, different kinds of rhythms, and a more lyrical side to my playing. It was less of that McCoy Tyner-driven sound. My touch got better. My piano sound got better and it continued to get better. I started paying more attention to the sound of the piano.”
