Home » Jazz Musicians » Joe Baione

Joe Baione

Biography The relative rarity of vibraphonists in the history of jazz remains one of the musical genre’s true mysteries. Despite the natural beauty of the instrument’s sound and the historical importance and celebrated popularity of its most famous players " Lionel Hampton, Milt Jackson and Bobby Hutcherson " comparatively few artists have chosen to make the vibraphone their primary means of expression. Fortunately, Joe Baione has and on Oh Yeah!!! - his second outing as a leader and impressive successor to his distinguished debut The Superhero " he shows that the vibes and the mallets with which he plays them are in very good hands.

A native of the state of Delaware, Baione grew up in a jazz drenched musical environment. His father, the clarinetist-saxophonist-educator Jim Baione, is a graduate of Philadelphia’s prestigious Combs Conservatory of Music, where he earned both his B.A. and B.Mus.Ed. degrees and first met Joe’s musician mother, Barbara. The other musical members of the Baione family include Joe’s two older brothers, bassist Tom and guitarist Jimmy. Following in his father’s foot steps, Joe studied both music education and jazz performance, graduating from the University of Maryland in 1995. Since then he has gone on to become a passionate and creative band teacher by day and an energetic and innovative band leader and performer at night. Baione is also President of Delaware Charitable Music, Inc. and serves as producer of the annual Jazz, Blues & BBQ in the Park, a festival he co-founded with the mission of bringing live jazz and blues to the young people of his community.

In 2003, Joe had the good fortune to meet saxophonist/composer Benny Golson, when the jazz legend participated in a series of clinics and benefit concerts in Delaware. The two forged a lasting friendship and Golson became an important mentor to the vibraphonist, encouraging him to pursue his dual dream as a jazz musician and music educator. Golson’s appraisal of Baione as “a young man with vision who is able to realize the future today” is one that has inspired the young veteran vibist to reach for the stars. Following the release of his first album in 2005 the eminent jazz critic Dr. Herb Wong noted that ”Baione's CD is refreshing and not the same old rinky-tink sound you hear in vibe players today.” This disc delivers on the promise of that first effort and demonstrates the continued development of one of the most gifted mallet men in jazz today.

Read more

Tags

270
Live Review

Great vibes in Cape May N.J.

Read "Great vibes in Cape May N.J." reviewed by Sandy Ingham


Cape May Jazz FestivalCape May, NJNovember 12-14, 2010 Just a few bars into his first tune, “All Blues," I knew Joe Baione would make my day. Or night, as it were.Vibraphonist Baione's quartet wasn't a headliner at the 34th semiannual Cape May Jazz Festival. Those honors belonged to Les McCann with Javon Jackson, to the Yellowjackets, to Terell Stafford and Tim Warfield, to Ralph Peterson. Their sets had been enjoyable. But this listener, at ...

Read more articles
Quotes:

"In addition to being one of the hardest swinging members of his generation of vibers, Joe consistently reaches his listeners with the distinctiveness of his musical voice as both a truly creative virtuoso on his instrument and an increasingly compelling composer. In short , both his playing and his tunes speak more and more clearly and strongly to us." -Todd Barkan, Record Producer, Artistic Manager, Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola

"In him you have a young man with vision who is able to realize the future today." -Benny Golson, Legendary Jazz Performer, Educator and Composer

"Joe Baione is an excellent example of the new breed of jazz musician — well educated in the form and its tradition and equally at home on the bandstand or the classroom. Thanks to him and his young colleagues, the commonly asked question of whether there is a future for this music can be answered with a resounding Oh Yeah!!!." -Russ Musto, All About Jazz- New York

Read more

Primary Instrument

Vibraphone

Willing to teach

Advanced only

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

OH YEAH!

Indie Recordings
2008

buy

Similar

Get more of a good thing!

Our weekly newsletter highlights our top stories, our special offers, and upcoming jazz events near you.