“I know I have bitterly disappointed all of you,” Woods said. “I have made you question who I am and how I have done the things I did.”
Trumpet phenom Joey Pero rocked the casbah last night at the ultra-elegant Feinstein's in New York. And, judging from the packed-full house that was there, he probably rocked the cash bar, as well. This was a spectacular - yet truly fun - virtuoso performance by a brilliant young trumpet artist.
In one exciting extended set (which included a deja vu double performance of "Crazy," displaying Pero's vocal skills) the group offered up selections from Pero's widely acclaimed CD, Resonance. Covering an incredibly wide range of tune types from straight ahead jazz ("A Fine Romance"), brilliantly performed classical trumpet literature (the Arutunian Trumpet Concerto and Bach's Goldberg Variations) to Broadway (Wicked's "Defying Gravity"), Pero and Team simply electrified the audience.
Pero's mature-beyond-his-years display of trumpet skill spewed sparks from his trumpets. He has the scream chops of Maynard Ferguson, the technical wizardry of an Allen Vizzutti, and the jazz-tech chops of Clifford Brown (displayed in a near-flawless rendition note-for-note of Clifford's classic solo on "Cherokee"). Pero's rhythmic energy and dynamic subtleties mirror Wynton Marsalis (who gifted Pero with one of his magnificent Monette trumpets). Pero's fine comp skills as witnessed by his original "Wrapt" lead me to believe that there are probably more in the hopper - or should be.
Joey's boyishly engaging onstage persona (almost Elvis-like with tux and scarf donned, spit curls draped over forehead) seems to add nicely to the entire Resonanceconcept (which Pero discussed between tunes).
Pero was supported by a fine quartet of young musicians (Jon Ware, Piano; Pete Abazia, Drums Jeff Little, Bass) including marimba performer Simon Boyar, whose technical and rhythmic skills on the instrument were show-stopping stroboscopic. Wow!
I had the pleasure of being introduced to Joey's parents and some Family who attended. They surely must have been wet-eyed proud of this terrific young man and player whose future has got to be white-hot bright. As I mentioned to them after the wonderful show, "Mr. and Mrs. Pero, I think you can be incredibly proud of Joey. This kid is truly an honest-to-goodness 'American Idol.'"
And he really is, too.
The performance is on Thursday, September 17th in NYC at the Metropolitan Room. We will begin promptly at 9:30pm. Tell your friends, the more the better!
Please make sure to buy tickets online at www.metropolitanroom.com or call 212 206 0440 to make your reservations.
Looking forward to seeing you all!
Much love,
Joey
A dear friend of mine shared an experience she had at a Jazz club in Boston in the early 70’s. On the bandstand was the masterful Duke Ellington billed together with the illustrious Count Basie. True to form, the duo came together resonantly, creating an awe-inspiring show for the packed house. What set this particular show apart was the presence of legends Mel Torme’ and Ella Fitzgerald, who had come to watch. Towards the end of the show, the Velvet Fog and the first Lady of song were invited up to share their word. What followed was a barrage of musical and technical prowess completed with the trading of fast lyrical scat lines. “At that moment” my friend said, “it was abundantly clear that every one in the room had been privy to deep and powerful music moment.” When the stars align and incredible music happens, you know it! You don’t have to have aficionado status to understand the waves of experience, talent, knowledge, heart and catharsis that the artists send to the listener.
The recording of “Resonance” added several peek experiences to the list of wonderful moments in my career. Among these moments, was the recording of Alexander Arutunian’s trumpet concerto with friend and guitarist extraordinaire, Jack Antonoff. Jack is a founding member of the break out classic rock band Steel Train. Steel Train (who are signed by Drive Thru Records) has made many waves throughout their ten-year existence, including a rigorous national tours and appearances on “Late Night with Conan O’Brian.”
The original sketch of “Resonance” included my vision of a restyling of Arutunian’s popular Trumpet Concerto. This proved to be one of the only tunes to remain a solid contender on the list of music that was to be recorded. Through the process, of planning a record, tunes are added, subtracted, and added again as part of the trial period for maximum expression. Although of Armenia descent, Arutunian’s trumpet concerto always whispered sounds of a diverse ethnic spectrum. I immediately gravitated towards the simple yet edgy voicing of electric guitar and trumpet. Producer/arranger Peter Fish and I worked together to make salable cuts and reduce (the reduction) of Arutunian’s flashy work.
Watching Jack perform is an incredible experience. His electric stage presence exceeded only by his remarkable musicianship and ease on the guitar, is simply viral! Due to his heavy schedule, we had small “spots” of rehearsal time to prepare for our recording date. With arrangement and trumpet in hand, I walked into our first rehearsal. It was immediately clear that Jack’s learning style is incredibly organic. His amazing style and agility, aid in his quick response to musical comprehension; he can pick anything up by ear. We slowly worked through the once traditional concerto with much excitement, as new sounds emerged. We’d rehearsed three times throughout several months, gaining momentum each time. Partially by design but mostly by accident, our rehearsals led up to “peeking” at the recording session. What happened for me at the session was irreproducible. Jack and I played off each other as if we'd been playing the piece for years. I vividly remember our takes of the slow section; we had honed into each other on a wavelength that happens only on rare occasions. The focus and delicate intensity reeled in everyone present. The colors emoting from Jack’s guitar painted a whole new picture and interaction. Listening to the play back, the stage is set on a hot summer day in a small village in a Mediterranean land. A small group of friends sit and gaze at a calm, dreamy sunset. One listener remarked, “It sounds like Quentin Tarantino meets the trumpet.” The majority of “Resonance’s” sixth track (Arutunian) ended up being our first takes. The magic of this experience resonated as vividly as my friend’s experience at the Jazz club in Boston. These emotions can supersede any unwanted criticism or outside influence, truth lies at a core level within each of us. I encourage everyone to reach for truth within you, and feel the empowerment and perpetuated energy that follows. Best wishes on your journey.
Sincerely yours,
Joey
A long over due greeting to all readers! I’m sorry it’s been such a long time since I’ve blogged. It has been a very exciting time for us, and things are moving forward at a blinding pace. Below are a few quotes (with links) to recent reviews of “Resonance.” I’d like to put a public thank you out there to the gentlemen below who took the time to listen and review the record. With so many sounds waves passing through their ears, we were so happy they took the time to listen. These latest reviews found “Resonance” to be exemplary.
As most of you know, the process of artistry is all we have. I’ve been hitting the shed pretty heavily lately, the main reason being that I’ve received inspiration to write several original songs for our next record. For my process, writing down the vivid bursts of songs and melodies that come to me proves to be the easy part. One step further for me, means recreating the sounds and instruments as they occur naturally. Incorporating what we have available to us in order to give the artistic sub-conscious stream justice. I will continue to work toward my goals (as I hope you all do) and keep in communication. Keep following your dreams!
Joey
“Pero follows in the footsteps of trumpeters such as Wynton Marsalis, who are equally at home with the classics or jazz.”
John Henry – Audiophile
Read the rest of John's review here:
“Consider Wynton Marsalis; talented trumpeter, equally adept at playing classical and jazz music. Grammy award winner in both categories and a household name. Now consider Joey Pero. Talented trumpeter, equally adept at playing classical and jazz music. Relatively unknown. For now.”
“This is his debut CD, and it’s an impressive one.”
Jeffery Siegel – Straight No Chaser jazz blog
“Listeners simply need to tighten their seat belts and settle in for a wild ride.”
William Ruhlmann – allmusic.com
And just because... here's a horse that can really boogie! Enjoy.
I will be the first to admit that I’ve never been likened to anything remotely athletic, let alone an Olympic athlete. Nick Mondello of www.allaboutjazz.com wrote a powerful review of “Resonance” on the highly esteemed jazz site, stating “Citius, Altius, Fortius-faster, higher, stronger. That is the Olympic motto representing the philosophical and performance goals of its participating athletes. Incredible, fascinating and tremendous are not only the goals, but the results of phenom trumpeter Joey Pero’s Resonance. This is a bravura musical performance of incredible musicianship, “virtu-artistry” and superior production values.” I’d like to send a very special thanks to Mr. Mondello and the All About Jazz staff for the fabulous words and humbling review. We will continue to strive for excellence, and creation for your enjoyment!
www.allaboutjazz.com was founded in 1995 by Mr. Michael Ricci and has over 100,000 pages of content. It is an advocacy site and aims to raise the awareness of jazz music, its history and its players. All About Jazz has been awarded “The Best Web-Site concentrating on Jazz” seven times by the Jazz Journalist Association. Once you visit the site, its no surprise why AAJ is a tour de force among jazz aficionados worldwide.
Buy a hard copy of “Resonance” at: www.JoeyPero.com
Download “Resonance” on Itunes.
Visit me on MySpace.
Hey friends,
I just posted new videos with information and tips on some of my favorite orchestral excerpts. Visit our YouTube page for a full list of videos. We will continue to post videos and blogs for your viewing/reading pleasure, stay tuned!
This clip is from October, 21st 2005 in Erie, PA.
After my stint with Maynard’s Big Bop Nouveau Band, I got a few opportunities to visit the band when they came through my neck of the woods. It was always great to see my friends and watch their ever-electric performance! My friends involved with the Erie Thunderbirds drum & bugle corps www.eriethunderbirds.com (hailing from Erie, PA) had brought in “the Boss” to perform at their milestone banquet.
Maynard played to a packed house and wowed the crowd with his usual stratospheric swagger. To my surprise, Maynard invited me up to sit in on the “MF Hit Medley”; and perform the opening solo “MacArthur Park”. Absolutely cold, I blew a few notes and was off to the races! Maynard’s energy was in me that night.
Years later, a short clip has surfaced from the archives of Mr. Joe Miller. A thousand thanks to Joe for sharing this and allowing me to relive this amazing moment. Little did I know that this would be one of the last times I’d hang with “the Boss”. Please enjoy!
In previous blogs, I’ve talked about the profound impact Mayanrd Ferguson had (and continues to have) on me. After wearing out the grooves in his records as a kid, I had the honor of touring with him and the Big Bop Nouveau in 2005. What an experience!
Throughout the tour, I got to witness first hand, the incredible inspiration that was Maynard Ferguson. Night after night, the “Boss” would play his heart out. Oddly, I got the sense that when he came out on stage, he was transported back to his youth in mind and spirit; I think the audience felt it too. That tour had posed many challenges for Maynard. Despite any physical ailments, he’d always give the audience what they came for! One of the most profound moments was watching Maynard shock and awe the audience with his power and artistry after fracturing a bone in his hand and using a wheel chair for that particular show. There was no challenge to big for the “Boss”.
Maynard would often quote melodies we had discussed on the bus, giving us all a big smile during the show. I specifically remember the band doing a listen through of Maynard’s recording of Ol’ Man River (which is one of my favorites). The following show, he threw 3 or 4 quotes of the tune into “Birdland” as he traded solos with tenor sax player, Matt Parker. I about busted a gut on the bandstand!
Aside from Maynard’s musical prowess, he was a model human being. Humility, communication, respect and integrity are all adjectives he projected to his friends, fans and band members. Today he is still sorely missed, but his legacy lives on through people he touched. Maynard was only disappointed when members left his band and didn’t pursue their own musical careers. To me, his “we’re all in this together” attitude impacted me at the deepest level of being. Maynard never preached. With a kind and loving gesture, he’d lead by example and wasn’t afraid to call anyone out if they got out of line; after all, that’s what friends do!
This is one of my favorite interviews of all time. His humble attitude, respectful demeanor and honesty are incredibly apparent in this clip.
Maynard was always spoke candidly regarding his techniques and imperatives. Please enjoy this clip of him attempting to teach Regis Philbin the trumpet.
A huge part of Maynard’s imperative was education, frequently giving master classes or clinics.
Here’s to us all carrying on his prodigious tradition! Cheers.
