Artist Home | Jazz | Dixieland | JOSEPH TORREGANO: A Jazzman at 50 with Special Guest Dave Bartholomew
Joseph Torregano, jazz clarinetist and educator was born in New Orleans, on February 28, 1952. He began his musical studies at the age of 4 on the piano, and switched to his present instrument the clarinet at age l2. Joe's first professional job was at age l8 with Ernest "Doc" Paulin's Dixieland Jazz Band. By age 20, he was a regular in Dejan's Olympia Brass Band, and Herman Sherman's Young Tuxedo Brass Band, he studied for 2 years with legendary Preservation Hall clarinetist Willie Humphrey.

Joe received a BA in Instrumental Music Education in 1975 from Southern University In New Orleans, and began his teaching career. Over the years he has taught some of the brightest talents to come out of New Orleans, Trumpeters Dwayne Burns, Christian Scott, saxophonist, Victor Goines (presently Director of Jazz Studies at Julliard School of Music); percussionists Gerald French and Shannon Powell (formerly with Harry Connick, Jr.), trombonists Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews, sousaphonists Kirk Joseph (formerly of the Dirty Dozen Brass Band) and Damion Francois, and jazz vocalists Kim Prevost.

Joe has entertained President Richard Nixon in New Orleans in l974, and President Jimmy Carter at the White House in l978, he also played a BBC Broadcast for Queen Elizabeth's 25th Wedding Anniversary in 1972. He has performed in England, Scotland, Wales, France, Denmark, Holland, Canada, Portugal, Italy, Switzerland, Andorra, Germany, Japan, Austria and Finland. He has appeared on National Geographic Explorer, and in the movie "Undercover Blues" with Kathleen Turner and Dennis Quaid, and has recorded with former Beatle, Paul McCartney.

Often compared to New Orleans clarinetist Pete Fountain, and Artie Shaw and Benny Goodman, Joe has the true New Orleans clarinet sound, and swings on this new CD with his brother Michael Torregano on piano, drummer Herbert Taylor, and bassist, Robert "Da Snowman" Snow with a little help from Rock 'N Roll Hall of Famer Dave Bartholomew on trumpet (formelery of Fats Domino Fame)on track #9.

Over the years Joe has performed with outstanding jazz musicians such as Lionel Hampton, Buddy Rich, Rahsaan Roland Kirk, Harry "Sweets" Edison, Ellis, Branford and Wynton Marsalis, Harry Connnick, Jr., Benny Powell and the world famous Preservation Hall Jazz Band.

Joe was named All Star Traditional Jazz Clarinetist by New Orleans Magazine in its April, 2003 edition, and has also been named to Who's Who Among Teachers in 200l.

Check out the artist's website:
http://www.joetorregano.com

Track List:
1. Shine
2. Dinah
3. Blue Skies
4. The Old Rugged Cross
5. I Can't Give You Anything But Love
6. Home
7. High Society
8. Misty
9. On the Sunny Side of the Street
10. Just a Closer Walk With Thee
11. Night and Day
12. The Milenburg Joys

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