Joe Diorio: A Guitarist's Guitarist

I first became aware of guitarist Joe Diorio in the1970s, when I bought a pair of Sonny Stitt albums on the Argo label—Move on Over (1963) and My Main Man (1964). I was instantly struck by how tasty Diorio played behind Stitt, especially his driving rhythm figures and fills.

Born in Waterbury, Ct., in 1936, Diorio was inspired to take up the guitar by his uncle and studied in the early 1950s. Arriving on the jazz scene late, just as attention was shifting to soul and pop rock, Diorio recorded with Eddie Harris and Ira Sullivan, among others.

He also recorded nearly 20 albums as a leader but largely for obscure labels. Later he teamed with contemporary guitarists such as Robben Ford, Gary Willis, David Becker and Mick Goodrick, and was an educator at USC and the Guitar Institute of Technology.

Joe Diorio suffered a stroke in 2005, but worked hard to regain his left hand. He died in 2022, at age 85.

As the following clips illustrate, Diorio was terrific, and he was beloved by leading guitarists. It's amazing he wasn't more fully recorded by Blue Note, Prestige and other jazz labels:

Here's an exquisite rendition of All the Things You Are...



Here's On Green Dolphin Street...



Here's F Blues...



Here's Corcovado...



Here's Desafinado...



Here's Bonita...



Here's the Joe Diorio Trio in 1998...



And here's Joe Diorio with David Becker...



Bonus: Here's Joe Diorio with Sonny Stitt and Bennie Green...



And here's Diorio with Stitt playing Move on Over...