James Chirillo
Landscapeyes
Birth nameJames Louis Chirillo
Birth dateMay 2, 1953 (age 73)
Birth placeWaltham, Massachusetts, U.S.
GenreJazz, big band, swing, classical
OccupationMusician
InstrumentGuitar
Years active1974 – present
Website

james.chirillo.com

James Chirillo
Military serviceyes
AllegianceUnited States
Service years1979–1982
UnitUSMA Band

James Louis Chirillo (born May 2, 1953) is an American jazz guitarist, banjoist, composer, arranger, and band leader.[1]

Career

From 1977 to 1979, Chirillo performed regularly with singers Marilyn Maye, Vic Damone, Joey Heatherton, Lorna Luft, and pianist Roger Williams. From 1979 to 1982, he was a member of The Jazz Knights at West Point, the jazz ensemble of the United States Military Academy Band, a premier band of the United States armed forces. In 1982, he moved to New York City. He studied and performed with Tiny Grimes. From 1985 to 1986, he was a member of Benny Goodman's last band. From 1987 to 1991, he was a member of the Buck Clayton Orchestra and toured Europe in July 1991. He performed with Claude Williams in President Bill Clinton's inaugural festivities, with Bob Wilber and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, Benny Carter, and the Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra directed by Wynton Marsalis. From 1992 to 1999 he was a charter member of the Smithsonian Jazz Masterworks Orchestra, directed by Gunther Schuller and David Baker.

Education

In 1976, with the One O'Clock Lab Band, Chirillo toured the Soviet Union (Moscow, Volgograd, and Yerevan), Portugal, and England — 5 cities, 25 concerts, 77 encores, 82,800 attendees. The tour was sponsored by the US Department of State as part of a US Bicentennial goodwill arts outreach. NBC broadcast the July 4 concert live from Moscow as part of its US Bicentennial commemorative. While on tour, members of the band held jam sessions with musicians from Moscow, Volgograd, and Yerevan.[2][3]

After college, Chirillo studied composition and arranging with John Carisi and Bill Finegan. He also studied guitar with Remo Palmier.[a][4][5]

Discography

As leader

  • Sultry Serenade (Nagel Heyer, 2000)

As sideman

  • Lab '76 (NTSU Jazz, 1976)[b]
  • Lab '77 (NTSU Jazz, 1977)[6]
  • Jazz at Spoleto '77 Left Bank (Jazz Society 1978)
  • Lab '78 (NTSU Jazz, 1978)
  • Eddie Bert, Walk on the Roots (Mothlight Music, 1993)
  • Dan Block, Plays the Music of Duke Ellington (Miles High, 2010)
  • Carter Burwell, The Man Who Wasn't There (Decca, 2001)
  • Evan Christopher, The Remembering Song (Arbors, 2010)
  • Buck Clayton, Swings the Village (Nagel Heyer, 2002)
  • John Cocuzzi, Groove Merchant (Arbors, 2011)
  • Benny Goodman, Let's Dance: A Musical Tribute (MusicMasters, 1985)[7][8]
  • Benny Goodman, Live, State University of New York (Jazz Heritage Society/MusicMasters, 1986)
  • Keith Ingham, Jazz It Up with Bayer (Bayer 1994)
  • Keith Ingham, A Star Dust Melody (Sackville, 1998)
  • Doug Lawrence, Doug Lawrence Trio with Dave Leone and James Chirillo (Do La Di Jazz, 1981)
  • Barbara Lea & Keith Ingham, Celebrate Vincent Youmans (A Records, 2004)
  • Joe Lovano, Rush Hour (Blue Note, 1995)
  • Cécile McLorin Salvant, WomanChild (Justin Time, 2013)
  • Bob Mintzer, Homage to Count Basie (DMP, 2000)
  • Joe Muranyi, Moon Over Marstons Mills (JLX Kiado, 2008)
  • Scott Robinson, Melody from the Sky (Arbors, 2000)
  • Cynthia Sayer, String Swing (Jazzology, 2000)
  • Randy Sandke, The Re-discovered Louis and Bix (Nagel Heyer, 2000)
  • Loren Schoenberg, Just A-Settin' and A-Rockin (Musicmasters, 1990)
  • Loren Schoenberg, Out of This World (TCB, 1998)
  • Dick Sudhalter, Get Out and Get Under the Moon (Stomp Off, 1990)
  • Dick Sudhalter, Melodies Heard ... Melodies Sweet (Challenge, 1999)
  • Pablo Villegas, Americano (Harmonia Mundi, 2015)
  • Bob Wilber & Dick Hyman, A Perfect Match (Arbors, 1998)
  • Bob Wilber & Kenny Davern, Summit Reunion in Atlanta (Jazzology, 2001)
  • Claude Williams, Live at J's Part 1 (Arhoolie, 1993)
  • Claude Williams, Live at J's Part 2 (Arhoolie, 1993)
  • Jack Wilson, In New York (DIW, 1993)

Performances and broadcasts

Church of the Heavenly Rest, Upper East Side, Manhattan
March 1991
Ruby Braff, cornet; Marian McPartland, piano; James Chirillo, guitar
Jimmy died March 13 and Braff played at Marian's request[9]
  • Around New York, CD of radio program broadcast on WNYC; Steve Sullivan (born 1954), host
Stephen Gosling, Zuying Song, piano ; Eddie Bert, trombone; Stephen Roane, bass; James Chirillo, guitar
New York City, August 18, 1994; OCLC 174517506
"Bye Bye Blackbird," arranged by Chirillo[10]
  • Sammy Sherman, Live at Chan's (Arbors, 1997)
(recorded November 7, 1997 at Chan's, Woonsocket, Rhode Island)
Memorial Day Concert, Tribute to Kurt Masur
Live at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine, Manhattan, May 30, 2016
Soloists: Wynton Marsalis (trumpet); Thomas Hampson (baritone voice)
  1. John Rosamond Johnson, James Weldon Johnson, Bob Cole, "Oh, Didn't He Ramble" (1902)
Other musicians: Marcus Printup (trumpet), Vincent Gardener (trombone), Dan Block (clarinet), Ibanda Ruhumbika (sousaphone), James Chirillo (banjo), Joe Saylor (snare drum), Ali Jackson (bass drum)
OCLC 1050431420
Blues and the Abstract Truth: The Music of Oliver Nelson (broadcast on NPR)
  1. Lionel Hampton: "Flying Home," May 20 & 21, 1995
  2. Artie Shaw: "'S Wonderful," June 20 & 21, 1992
  3. Benny Carter: "'Ill Wind," July 19 & 20, 1997
  4. Tommy Dorsey: "Chloe," August 12 & 13, 1995
  5. Artie Shaw: "Begin the Beguine," July 18 & 19, 1998
  6. Duke Ellington: "Sepia Panorama," July 31, 1993
  7. Benny Goodman: "Back Bay Boogie," July 19 & 20, 1997
  8. Glenn Miller: "The Song of the Volga Boatmen," July 25 & 26, 1992
  9. Artie Shaw: "Summertime," July 18 & 19, 1998
  10. Duke Ellington: "Take the "A" Train," June 20 & 21, 1992
  11. Benny Carter: "Back Bay Boogie," July 19 & 20, 1997
  12. Duke Ellington: "Cotton Tail," April 29 & 30, 1995
  13. Tommy Dorsey: "Swanee River," August 12 & 13, 1995
  14. Duke Ellington: "Rain Check," May 9, 1993
  15. Artie Shaw: "Back Bay Shuffle," July 18 & 19, 1998
  16. Duke Ellington: "Just A-Sittin' and A-Rockin'" July 18 & 19, 1998
  17. Tommy Dorsey: "Hallelujah," August 12 & 13, 1995

  1. Jimmie Lunceford: "Blue Blazes," August 12 & 13, 1995

Broadway

  • Come Fly Away, March 1, 2010 – September 5, 2010 (188 performances)

Published music and papers

  • "Prelude (to a minor insensitivity)", for the Gotham Wind Symphony (n.d.)
  • "March, dedicated to the memory of Bill Finegan", for the Gotham Wind Symphony (n.d.)
  • "Love Was Right For Us," lyrics by Tanyayette Charlaisse Willoughby (born 1957), music by Chirillo (1984)
  • "When You're in Mind," lyrics Judy Spencer, music by Chirillo (1985)
  • "Now I know Why" (1989)
  • "Skytime Samba" (1989)
  • "Pulsación No. 1," by Astor Piazzolla, arranged by Chirillo (n.d.)
  • "Work Song Blues" (1991)
  • "God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen," arranged by Chirillo (1992)
  • "Manhattan Work Song," for the Loren Schoenberg Jazz Orchestra (1993)
  • "Bittersweet" (1994)
  • Valse Prismatique, for Warren Vaché and the Scottish String Ensemble
On Warren Vaché's 2006 album, Don't Look Back (see discography)
  • Homage Concerto, for clarinet and jazz orchestra, Val-Doc Music (ASCAP) (1996); OCLC 41312302
Composed and arranged by Chirillo
Written for Ken Peplowski with the Loren Schoenberg Jazz Orchestra[11][12]
  1. "Swing"
  2. "Elegy"
  3. "Driving"
  1. "Sussex Mummers' Christmas Carol"
  2. "Hill-Song No. 2"

Interviews

  • James Chirillo interviewed by Monk Rowe, New York City, January 12, 2007, Hamilton College Jazz Archive (DVD) (2007); OCLC 895052699, OCLC 190787433

Bibliography

Annotations

  1. ^ Helen Hobbs Jordan (1907–2006)
  2. ^ Following Lab '75's Grammy nomination for Best Jazz Performance by a Big Band, Lab '76, received a Grammy nomination for the same category. Both nominations represented the first Grammy nominations to student ensembles of any genre.[13]

Notes

  1. ^ Kennedy (Vol. 1), 2002, p. 433.
  2. ^ Denton Record-Chronicle (Hopkins), Jul. 11, 1976, p. 3A.
  3. ^ Denton Record-Chronicle, Oct. 10, 1976, p. 7B.
  4. ^ New York Times (Wakin), Apr. 28, 2006, pp. 1 & 5.
  5. ^ New York Times (Wakin), Jan 19, 2005, pp. 1 & 5.
  6. ^ Denton Record-Chronicle (Darden), Dec. 8, 1977, p. 7B.
  7. ^ Philadelphia Daily News, Mar. 14, 1986, p. 67.
  8. ^ Lord, Nov. 8, 2018, (Chirillo).
  9. ^ Hustad, 2012, p. 506.
  10. ^ "UNT Electric Guitar Ensemble," Oct. 12, 1998, p. 113.
  11. ^ Carr, Fairweather, Priestley, 2004, p. 144.
  12. ^ Mosbrook, 2003, pp. 207–211.
  13. ^ Denton Record-Chronicle, Jan. 23, 1976, p. 4B.

References

  • Carr, Ian (1933–2009); Fairweather, Digby (born 1946); Priestley, Brian (born 1940) (2004). The Rough Guide to Jazz. 3rd ed. Rough GuidesISBN 1-8435-3256-5; OCLC 762959118.
    1. '"James Chirillo"'. p. 144. – via Internet Archive.
    1. "NT Lab Band Gets Grammy Nomination". Vol. 73, no. 156. January 23, 1976. p. 4 (Section B)
      1. 'Via Portal to Texas History'
    2. Hopkins, Joyce (née Joyce Darlene Black; born 1945) (July 11, 1976). "Lab Band Happy to Be Home". Vol. 73, no. 295. p. 3 (Section A)
      1. 'Via Portal to Texas History'
      2. 'Via Newspapers.com'. Archived May 19, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. – via Newspapers.com
      Note: Hopkins was Education Writer for the Denton Record-Chronicle.
    3. "Lab Band: Members Chosen for Fall Group". Vol. 74, no. 59. October 10, 1976. p. 7 (Section B)
      1. 'Via Portal to Texas History'
      2. 'Via Newspapers.com'. Archived May 19, 2021 at the Wayback Machine. – via Newspapers.com
    4. Darden, Bob (Robert Fulton Darden III; born 1954) (December 8, 1977). "New 1 O'Clock LP a First-Rate Release". Vol. 75, no. 109. p. 7 (section B)
      1. 'Via Newspapers.com'
      Note: From 1984 to 1994, Darden was Gospel Music Editor for Billboard
  • Hustad, Thomas P. (2012). 'Chapter 19: "The Pianists and Growth of Jazz Parties: September 1988–September 1993." Born to Play: The Ruby Braff Discography and Directory of Performances. Lanham, Maryland: Scarecrow Press. pp. 499 & 506. Archived March 11, 2023 at the Wayback Machine. – via Google Books (limited preview) LCCN 2011051806ISBN 978-0-8108-8264-5 (cloth); ISBN 978-0-8108-8265-2 (e-book); OCLC 802531474.
  • Kennedy, Gary William (born 1961). '"Chirillo, James (Louis)"'
    1. Via – Kernfeld, Barry Dean (ed.) (2002). The New Grove Dictionary of Jazz. Vol. 1 (of 3): "A–Fuzz". 2nd ed. London: Macmillan Publishers & Oxford University Press. p. 433. – via Internet Archive (Kahle/Austin Foundation; Manhasset Public Library)

      2. LCCN 2001040794
      ISBN 978-1-5615-9284-5, ISBN 1-5615-9284-6 (US ISBN, 3 Vol. set)
      ISBN 978-0-3336-9189-2, ISBN 0-3336-9189-X (British ISBN, 3 Vol. set)
      ISBN 978-0-1953-8699-8, ISBN 0-1953-8699-X (Vol. 1)
      OCLC 46956628.

    2. 'Via – Oxford Music Online'. 2003. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.J537200 OCLC 5576124149.
    1. Wakin, Daniel J[oseph] (born 1961) (January 19, 2005). "Devoted Students Rally to Help a Music Teacher". Vol. 154, no. 122 (whole no. 53097). pp. 1 & 5 (Section E) Retrieved October 21, 2019.
      1. 'NYTimes.com' (blog ed.)
      2. (print ed.)
      3. (duplicate print ed.)
      4. (blog ed.)
      5. 'Via Internet Archive' (Wayback Machine; archived May 8, 2026)
    2. Wakin, Daniel J[oseph] (born 1961) (April 28, 2006). "Helen Hobbs Jordan, 99, Music Teacher to Generations, Is Dead" (obituary). Vol. 155, no. 223 (whole no. 53563). p. 8 (Section B) Retrieved October 21, 2019.
      1. 'NYTimes.com' (blog ed.)
      2. (print ed.)
      3. (duplicate print ed.)
      4. (blog ed.)
      5. 'Via Internet Archive' (Wayback Machine; archived May 29, 2015)
    1. Nelson, Nels (né Nels Robert Nelson; 1923–1996) (March 14, 1986). "Jazz: 'Benny Goodman': Ch 12. Has a Winner". Vol. 61, no. 255. p. 67 (section B)
      1. 'Via Newspapers.com'. Archived May 19, 2021 at the Wayback Machine.
      2. (print ed.)
      3. (duplicate print ed.)