Joe Magnarelli
Trumpet
About
Joe Magnarelli is a jazz trumpeter, composer, and educator based in New York City. Known to friends and colleagues as "Mags," he has appeared on over 125 recordings and released thirteen albums as a leader, most recently Decidedly So on Cellar Live Records in 2026. His career as a sideman began with Lionel Hampton's Orchestra in 1987, followed by five years with Brother Jack McDuff's group. He has also performed with the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, Harry Connick Jr.'s Orchestra, Jon Hendricks, Maria Schneider, Ray Barretto, and the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, and has accompanied vocalists including Aretha Franklin, Rosemary Clooney, and Mel Torme. He is a professor of trumpet at the Juilliard School and Temple University and was a 1990 semifinalist in the Thelonious Monk International Trumpet Competition.
Trivia
Magnarelli co-founded the New York Hard Bop Quintet in 1991 with pianist Keith Saunders and tenor saxophonist Jerry Weldon. His composition "Persist Until You Succeed" was recorded by Ray Barretto under the shortened title "Mags" on the Grammy-nominated album Time Was, Time Is. Since 2017, he has performed regularly with the Sant Andreu Jazz Band in Barcelona, an educational ensemble directed by Joan Chamorro. His late wife, organist Akiko Tsuruga, was known as the "Queen of the Organ" through her long association with Lou Donaldson; she passed away in September 2025.
Early Life
Joseph Anthony Magnarelli was born on January 19, 1960, in Syracuse, New York. His father was a musician who sang while young Joe accompanied him on piano, and growing up, the family home was filled with records spanning diverse styles. He began studying trumpet as a youth under Sal Amico and also performed with tenor saxophonist J.R. Montrose. Though music was always part of his life, Magnarelli's early focus was on basketball; it was not until he was cut from his college team that he redirected his energy toward music full-time. He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York at Fredonia in 1982, during which time he also served as choir director and pianist at the Central Baptist Church in Syracuse. After several years gigging around Syracuse, he moved to New York City in 1986.
Joe Magnarelli Solos
2018
Trumpet solo - Ornithology - 2018
4/4 swing in G major at 232 BPM
Trumpet solo - Doxy - 2018
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 118 BPM
Trumpet solo - St. Thomas - 2018
4/4 funk in C major at 232 BPM
Trumpet solo - Valse Hot - 2018
3/4 waltz in A♭ major at 110 BPM
Trumpet solo - Green Dolphin Street - 2018
4/4 latin in E♭ major at 187 BPM
Trumpet solo - Oleo - 2018
4/4 swing in B♭ major at 252 BPM
Trumpet solo - Lazy Bird - 2018
4/4 swing in G major at 115 BPM
Trumpet solo - Don't Get Around Much Anymore - 2018
4/4 swing in C major at 97 BPM