A life long lover and student of music, Tony Marino has delivered his 11th studio album Tango Silhouette. Known as “the quintessential Latin jazz keyboardist”, Tony’s new album is packed with twelve Latin jazz fusion compositions that are guaranteed to carry you away to a space of warm breezes, classy fashion and a venue full of beautiful people enjoying some Tango.
After first hearing Leon Russell on a radio station in Philly when he was 7, Tony began taking lessons almost immediately. Growing and evolving into a young adult, Tony spent his formative years studying under great mentors such as Bill DelGovenatore and Ernie “Hoppy” Hopkins (among other talented jazz musicians). In addition to his studies, Marino began playing in bands further expanding his musical knowledge and experience.
As the years passed and Tony moved around being introduced to new music from a wide variety of people in his life, he continued honing his skills, began recording albums, sharing them with his influencers for feedback and continued his road to master craftsman.
Tony released his first album in 1997 and 2019’s Tango Silhouette is his 11th offering. If you were to do a search for Tony Marino, you will find pages of links to reviews and features from the worldwide jazz community praising and bringing attention to Tony’s catalog. Radio support has further helped Tony reach audiences and jazz enthusiasts across the planet.
If you’re looking for your next Latin jazz fusion instrumental fix, Tango Silhouette delivers. Tony’s composing, playing and performing skills will not disappoint!
Connect with Tony Marino on his official website.
You can grab your copy of Tango Silhouette on CD Baby or Amazon.
Where are you from and what style of music do you create? (In your own words, not necessarily in marketing terms or by popular genre classifications.)
I was born and raised in South Philadelphia on the 2500 Block of Rosewood Street.
The styles of music that I listen to, play and write the most are: Brazilian Jazz, Afro-Cuban Jazz, BeBop and Tango. I also love classical music and I work on playing Bach occasionally.
What led you down the path of becoming known as “the quintessential Latin jazz keyboardist”? What motivates you to keep going?
When I was 7 years old, I heard Leon Russell on a Philadelphia radio station. Around that time, I started taking lessons. When I was in my early teens, I started taking lessons with Bill DelGovenatore. While studying with Bill, he introduced me to Thelonious Monk, Horace Silver, Bill Evans, Gato Barbieri, Jobim, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie and Eddie Palmieri, Glenn Gould and many other Jazz, Classical and Latin Jazz artists.
My father introduced me to his co-worker/ deputy partner, the Rev. Ernie “Hoppy” Hopkins. Ernie was a great musician, a mentor and a dear friend. In 1975, I started high school, working at Sam D’Amico’s Music Store and started playing in “Idea 71”. While all of this was going on, I continued studying with Bill DelGovenatore. Bill introduced me to another great Jazz pianist, Tom Lawton, who I started studying with. Tom expanded my knowledge in jazz improvisation.
In February of 1987. I was introduced to my best friend Kristina and I heard Paquito D’Rivera for the first time. Paquito’s music changed my life. After discovering Paquito, I started listing to Dizzy Gillespie, Claudio Roditi, Arturo Sandoval, Michel Camilo and many other Latin jazz artists.
In 1995, we moved to Ft. Wayne IN. The first week in town, I met Bassist Jim Baker and Drummer Steve Smeltzer who invited me to a monthly jam session and introduced me to many local musicians. I started a band called “Tony Marino And Havana Heat”. During the winter of 1996 I recorded my first CD as a leader entitled “Tony Marino and Havana Heat”. This CD was released in January of 1997.
After releasing my first CD, I sent it to many of my music heroes to get feedback on what I needed to do to improve. I took all the common suggestions to heart and started working very hard to learn various styles of Latin jazz and improve my playing. Once a month I drove into Chicago and took lessons from: Jose Valdes, Breno Sauer, Jim Trompeter and Laurence Hobgood.
We moved several times to California (both north and south), NJ (both north and south) and Back to Fort Wayne where we currently reside.
During this time, I played with many musicians and recorded 10 more CDs.
How is this new release different than previous ones? Were you trying to accomplish anything specific?
The Tango Silhouette CD is very different from my previous recordings, it contains a collection of all original Tango compositions. I was a little nervous about how this CD would be received since all my previous releases contained combinations of BeBop, Brazilian Jazz, Afro-Cuban Jazz, BeBop, Funk and Tango; but not strictly Tango music.
Just before we moved to Fort Wayne the first time, I saw Paquito D’Rivera, he performed Diego Urcola’s composition “Blues For Astor”. This composition inspired me to write my first Tango composition “Philly Tango” that was first recorded on my first CD. When I studied with Breno Sauer his wife Neusa made me cassette tapes of various Brazilian artists and Astor Piazzolla. I instantly fell in love with Astor’s music. My maternal grandmother was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina and this combination of events caused me to dedicate this to Family Members, Friends, Places, My Grandmother, Mother and of course the great Astor Piazzolla.
Name one or two challenges you face as an indie musician in this oversaturated, digital music age? How has technology helped you (since we know it does help)?
Without technology it would be cost prohibitive for me as an independent to record my music. The styles of music that I have dedicated my life to are a very small percentage of music sales.
It is very difficult to get funding to produce original Latin jazz. All of my music is what I have written out of my love for music and is not biased or influenced by external pressure of trying to write for popularity. The technology allows me to record music, mix and master my music on to CDs for distribution and radio play.
What was the last song you listened to?
I have been listening to these CDs recently.
Carlos Franzetti’s – Ricordare
Hermeto Pascoal & Grupo – No Mundo Dos Sons
Which do you prefer? Vinyl? CDs? MP3s?
I prefer CDs. On average I buy around 15 CDs a year.
How about this one…. Do you prefer Spotify? Apple Music? Bandcamp? Or something else? Why?
I listen to CDs mostly; however I do listen to Spotify, Apple Music, Google Play
Where is the best place to connect with you online and discover more music?
- Tony Marino
- https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/tango-silhouette/1462606286
- https://www.amazon.com/Tango-Silhouette-Tony-Marino/dp/B07RBS5L3R
- https://www.jango.com/music/Tony+Marino+Latin+Jazz
- https://www.reverbnation.com/tonymarinojazz
- https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100015667062128
- https://twitter.com/tonymarinojazz
Anything else before we sign off?
I would like to thank my wife, my children, my friends, fellow musicians, music teachers, fans, reviewers, radio stations and everyone who has supported my music over the years. Thank you, too, for taking the time to interview me and keeping the music alive.
