Dominick Farinacci
Dominick Farinacci | |
---|---|
Birth name | Dominick Farinacci |
Born |
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. | March 3, 1983
Genres | Jazz |
Occupations | Bandleader, musician, composer |
Instruments | Trumpet |
Labels | E1 Music |
Dominick Farinacci (March 3, 1983) is an American jazz trumpeter, composer, and big band leader, is currently signed to major label E1 Music. Farinacci was one of 18 artists worldwide invited to be a part of the inaugural class of the Jazz Studies Program at The Juilliard. Farinacci is known for winning the "International New Star Award", Disneys "New Star Award", and topping the charts as one of Japan's #1 jazz musicians.[1]
Overview
Dominick is from Cleveland, Ohio, and began playing trumpet in sixth grade at age eleven in Solon,Ohio. When asked why he picked the trumpet to play, Dominick said, "I really wanted to play drums like my uncle, who was a professional drummer in Cleveland. So my aunt bought me a set of drums and my uncle assembled them for me, but I failed the drum auditions for the band! And the director said he really needed trumpet players, and asked if I would give that instrument a try." Shortly after he began playing trumpet, Dominick started to listen to many trumpet players, including Louis Armstrong and Harry James. "I remember hearing a recording of Louis Armstrong playing A Kiss to Build a Dream On and wanting to sound just like him. Harry James' You Made Me Love You had a similar effect on me, so I learned their interpretations by ear, and tried to make my sound like their sound."[2]
He joined a Saturday music program at Tri-C Community College in Cleveland, which taught him more about playing in big bands, small groups, improvisation, and music theory. He put a band together with some of his friends and mentors in Cleveland and began dropping off demo recordings to local club owners. By eighth grade he had a few steady gigs around town with his own band, and listeners soon became aware of his abilities. "Playing gigs around town allowed me to start hanging out with many of the older musician - some of whom were my teachers in the Saturday program - and they started to see that I was really serious about playing.".[1][2]
Soon, Dominick was working five to six nights a week in the local jazz clubs with his own group, and as a sideman with some of the older musicians in town. As word spread of his talent, he auditioned for the High School Grammy Awards All-Star Big Band in California, and was accepted. Here he met other young musicians from around the country who had similar musical passions, and had an opportunity to play at the Grammy Awards After-party. He was selected to participate in this prestigious band for three consecutive years. He also attended the Berklee College of Music Summer Jazz Program, and was offered a full-tuition scholarship to attend Berklee after he graduated from high school. At age 16 he received the prestigious Yamaha Young Performing Artist Award, which provided him an opportunity to play a solo piece at the University of Illinois for a crowd of more than 2,000 people. He was also selected to perform with the Monterey High School All-star Big Band on a summer tour throughout Japan in 1999.
At 17, Dominick performed at the Tri-C Jazzfest in Cleveland, opening for Wynton Marsalis and his big band. Wynton was informed by one of his band members about Dominick's playing, and he invited Dominick backstage to play for him after his concert. Wynton was very supportive of Dominick, and a few months later, invited him to New York to perform as a special guest with him on a live PBS broadcast, Live From Lincoln Center: A Tribute to Louis Armstrong. It was during this time that Dominick heard about a brand new jazz program that was being initiated at The Juilliard School. He auditioned for the program and was accepted on a full four-year scholarship, and was one of only eighteen musicians selected worldwide to be in the inaugural class of the Juilliard Jazz Program.[1]
In September 2001, Dominick moved to New York to attend Juilliard. Within the first two months of school, Wynton invited Dominick to be featured in a concert at Lincoln Center; a tribute to two of his favorite trumpet players, Freddie Hubbard and Lee Morgan: Night of the Cookers. Here Dominick met the producer of the event, Todd Barkan, who really loved his playing. In March 2002, Dominick received a phone call from Todd with an offer to record as a leader for the Japanese label, M&I Records. In April 2002 he recorded his debut record for Japan, Manhattan Dreams, which featured pianist Mulgrew Miller, bassist Chip Jackson, and drummer Joe Farnsworth... and he would go on to record a total of six records for M&I. So, by the time he graduated from Juilliard, he had received the two aforementioned Gold Disc Awards, the International New Star Award, had won first place in the ITG Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Competition, and had traveled to Japan to promote his records eight separate times.
Upon graduating from Juilliard, Dominick signed with The Jazz Tree, a well-known management company in New York City whose roster of past clients over the years has included Diana Krall, Joshua Redman, Christian McBride, Freddie Hubbard and J.J. Johnson, among distinguished others. In 2006 Dominick was featured at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. on Dee Dee Bridgewater's JazzSet for NPR, as well as at the Tanglewood Jazz Festival. He was a member of Miles to Miles, a band led by Jason Miles, and was featured on various recordings Jason produced: What's Going On: A Tribute to Marvin Gaye, and 2 Grover With Love: a Tribute to Grover Washington Jr. He also performed and recorded with saxophonist Joe Lovano in 2007. In 2008 Dominick debuted his own band at the Montreal International Jazz Festival, the Detroit International Jazz Festival, and the Tri-C JazzFest. He toured Korea and Japan with a Juilliard faculty and alumni quintet, and signed his first major USA recording contract with KOCH Records (E1 Music).[1]
Career
Cleveland native Dominick Farinacci has had a tremendous amount of success both nationally and worldwide. When he was only 17 years old, Wynton Marsalis heard him play in Cleveland and invited Dominick to New York City to perform with him on a special PBS broadcast "Live from Lincoln Center." Shortly after that Dominick was one of 18 artists worldwide invited to be a part of the inaugural class of the Jazz Studies Program at The Juilliard School.[2][2]
While attending Juilliard, Dominick balanced his studies with his professional career, signing a major record contract with a Japanese record label that skyrocketed his career throughout Japan. His CDs placed number 1 on the jazz charts in Japan and garnered him the "International New Star Award," an honor previously awarded to Diana Krall. While enjoying success abroad, here in America he was awarded 1st place honors in the Carmine Caruso International Trumpet Competition, was awarded from Disney the "New Star Award," and has continued to make a name for himself touring the country headlining the major clubs and festivals.[2]
Recently he has opened for British rock stars Jamie Cullum and Jeff Beck at the famed O2 in London, has gained recognition from none other than Quincy Jones who says of Dominick "this kid is 360 degree!", and has performed at Severance Hall with the Cleveland Orchestra. Last February he released his US debut CD "Lovers, Tales & Dances," E1 Music collaborating with the legendary producer Russ Titleman, who has produced hits for Eric Clapton, James Taylor and many others. He will release his 2nd US CD on May 31, 2011, "Twilight Blue."[2]
Honors
Dominick has won various awards over the years in the United States and in Japan. Having previously recorded six albums as a leader on Japan's M&I label, he received Gold Disc awards for two of those recordings from Swing Journal Magazine: Say It and Besame Mucho. In 2003 he received the International New Star Award in Japan, an honor previously awarded to Diana Krall and Christian McBride. Many of his Japanese releases have placed #1 on the Swing Journal Jazz Charts. In the United States, Dominick was the recipient of the ITG Carmine Caruso International Jazz Trumpet Competition in 2003. Over the years he has performed and/or recorded with many high-profile jazz artists such as Joe Lovano, Wynton Marsalis, Ira Sullivan, Mulgrew Miller, Carl Allen, Jason Miles, and Joe LaBarbera.[2]
Releases
Lovers, Tales and Dances Release 2/24/2009,"koche Records" [E1 Music][2]
Tracklisting
- .Don't Explain
- Libertango
- Estate
- Visioni
- Ne me Quitte Pas
- E Lucevan e Stelle
- Erghan Diado (Song of Shopsko)
- Silent Cry
- Love Dance
- Bibo Na Aozoro
- Lonely Woman
- Theme from The Pawnbroker
- Ponyo (Japan bonus track)
References
- Bruening, John C. "Dominick Farinacci Free Times Article | WKHR.org." WKHR.ORG - FM 91.5. Web. <http://www.wkhr.org/Dominick_Farinacci.html>.
- "Dominick Farinacci." Jim Wadsworth Productions - Jazz Agency / World Music Agency. Web. <http://www.jwpjazz.com/farinacci.html>.
- Pulliam, Becca. "LeeBop: Lee Morgan Tribute On JazzSet : NPR." NPR : National Public Radio : News & Analysis, World, US, Music & Arts : NPR. Web. <http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105578576>.
- "EOne Artist Dominick Farinacci." E One Jazz | World - Bob James, Cyrus Chestnut, Dominick Farinacci, Earl Klugh, Gabriela Anders, Jane Krakowski. Jeff Golub, Jenny Scheinman, Jesse Cook, Lauren Kinhan, Nick Colionne, Philippe Saisse, Regina Carter, Robin McKelle, Simone, SOIL & PIMP SESSIONS, Sophie Milman, Terri Lyne Carrington, The Bad Plus, Warren Hill. Web. <http://www.eonejazzworld.com/artists/dominick-farinacci>.
- "Solon Graduate and Jazz Trumpeter Dominick Farinacci to Perform in Tri-C Jazz Studies Benefit | Cleveland.com." Cleveland OH Local News, Breaking News, Sports & Weather - Cleveland.com. <http://www.cleveland.com/chagrinsolonsun/index.ssf/2010/06/solon_graduate_and_jazz_trumpe.html>.
- "Dominick Farinacci at All About Jazz." Jazz - All About Jazz. <http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/musician.php?id=18005>.
- "YouTube - Dominick Farinacci "Lovers, Tales & Dances EPK." YouTube - Broadcast Yourself. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SFkz1IanMUs>.
- "Dominick Farinacci | Zinc Bar." Zinc Bar NYC Web Site. <http://www.zincbar.com/node/215>.