Meet Joe Diorio

Craig Jolley

Interviewer since 1999

Recent articles (68 total)

Published: July 24, 2006

I love him. Dominic is just incredible, a big leaguer. He lives in Arizona. He teaches at the University of Arizona and plays around that area. Dominic and I have some things in the making. He can cook that Italian food—you go over to his house, you'll walk away with about three pounds on you.

Electronics

It's not part of my bag. I've tried a chorus a couple of times, but I lose something of my own sound. It works great for a lot of people. I was listening to Mike Stern yesterday. I thought he sounded great, exceptional. All those electronics work for him. Same thing with Sco [John Scofield]. The minute you hear it you know it's him. I think maybe Pat Metheny, too—the early Pat. I think he's playing a lot clearer now. I'm a staunch jazz musician from the old school.

Antonio Carlos Jobim

My interest is in the beautiful melodies that come from the culture. I recorded a beautiful album, To Jobim with Love. When I play Brazilian tunes I swing 'em—I just go straight ahead. Every now and then it's OK to do a Latin tune, but it seems limited. The bossa nova for me gets boring. It's the same kind of rhythm over and over—especially American bossa nova. It's not jazz—the harmonies are limited, and if you put a bossa nova rhythm on a piece it stays in the same place all the time. I don't even know the "right" bossa nova rhythm—I'm always thinking about swinging.

Stateside (new trio CD)

We have a business here, my son and I, my wife and his wife. There's a web site for people to order my products. We decided to do a play along (Timeless Standards) with [bassist] Bob Magnusson and [drummer] Jim Plank. While we were recording it I realized, I've got these great players here. I might as well just play some—let's do an album. We called them back the next day and did it. We just said, "You know this tune?" "Yeah." "OK—this key." We just went for it. Usually it was one take; two at the most.

Future projects

I'm writing a book to simplify jazz. I've been teaching this system around the world the last couple of years, and I've had a lot of results—a big light goes on. I'm thinking about developing a course in jazz. You write for the lessons every week or every month. I want to do another album with the trio from Stateside. Hod and I thought about doing an album together, possibly this summer. I have another friend, Bob Mover. He plays alto, and I've known him since he was a kid. He's coming out this summer, and we're talking about doing something. I'm thinking about doing an acoustic guitar album—maybe with just bass or solo. Those are all in the making. I don't know what's coming first. I got interrupted when I got sick, but that's OK.

Wrap up

I think guitar players should try to find which way they want to go and commit to it. I see people trying to do too many things. Each style takes a great commitment.