John Carlini
Encyclopedia
John Carlini is an American
Grammy nominated
jazz guitarist
and arranger based in New Jersey
notable for blending bluegrass
and jazz
. He has performed with David Grisman
, mandolin player Don Stiernberg, singer Bill Robinson, Bucky Pizzarelli, Rio Clemente, flatpicking guitarist Tony Rice
, and many others. He is an orchestrator, conductor, and five-string banjo player, and composes using the piano
. He formed the John Carlini Trio in 2000.
for the New York Philharmonic
and his mother was a concert pianist. Mr. Carlini served in the United States Navy
and later enrolled in the Berklee College of Music
in Boston. He formed a friendship with David Grisman
and was the musical director for Mr. Grisman's Quartet. He appeared in the movie King of the Gypsies as a guitarist with violinist Stephane Grappelli. He toured eight seasons as musical director for the Ice Capades
. He orchestrated an off-Broadway musical entitled Song of Singapore. He's worked with mandolinist and guitarist Todd Collins to create a jazz-bluegrass hybrid sound in their group called Over the Edge. In addition, Mr. Carlini has played with the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble, and was nominated in two categories for the 1997 Nashville Music Awards. At present, he plays with the John Carlini Quartet. He has been a resident of Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
.
, was "amazing how much lead work these two guitarists can fit into a two-minute song like Banister River". Critic Roman St. James in JazzReview.com wrote that Carlini and his band combine "the best elements of both jazz and bluegrass music" and that the "unlikely pairing" works well.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Grammy nominated
Grammy Award
A Grammy Award — or Grammy — is an accolade by the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences of the United States to recognize outstanding achievement in the music industry...
jazz guitarist
Jazz guitarist
Jazz guitarists are guitar players who play jazz music on the guitar using an approach to playing chords, melodies, and improvised solo lines which is called jazz guitar playing. The guitar has fulfilled the roles of accompanist and soloist in small and large ensembles and also as an unaccompanied...
and arranger based in New Jersey
New Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
notable for blending bluegrass
Bluegrass music
Bluegrass music is a form of American roots music, and a sub-genre of country music. It has mixed roots in Scottish, English, Welsh and Irish traditional music...
and jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
. He has performed with David Grisman
David Grisman
David Grisman is an American bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist and composer of acoustic music. In the early 1990s, he started the Acoustic Disc record label in an effort to preserve and spread acoustic or instrumental music.-Biography:Grisman grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey...
, mandolin player Don Stiernberg, singer Bill Robinson, Bucky Pizzarelli, Rio Clemente, flatpicking guitarist Tony Rice
Tony Rice
Tony Rice is an American acoustic guitarist and bluegrass musician. He is considered one of the most influential acoustic guitar players in bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass and acoustic jazz.Rice spans the range of acoustic music, from traditional bluegrass to jazz-influenced New...
, and many others. He is an orchestrator, conductor, and five-string banjo player, and composes using the piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. He formed the John Carlini Trio in 2000.
Career
Mr. Carlini's father was a violinistViolin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
for the New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
and his mother was a concert pianist. Mr. Carlini served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
and later enrolled in the Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music
Berklee College of Music, located in Boston, Massachusetts, is the largest independent college of contemporary music in the world. Known primarily as a school for jazz, rock and popular music, it also offers college-level courses in a wide range of contemporary and historic styles, including hip...
in Boston. He formed a friendship with David Grisman
David Grisman
David Grisman is an American bluegrass/newgrass mandolinist and composer of acoustic music. In the early 1990s, he started the Acoustic Disc record label in an effort to preserve and spread acoustic or instrumental music.-Biography:Grisman grew up in Hackensack, New Jersey...
and was the musical director for Mr. Grisman's Quartet. He appeared in the movie King of the Gypsies as a guitarist with violinist Stephane Grappelli. He toured eight seasons as musical director for the Ice Capades
Ice Capades
The Ice Capades was a traveling entertainment show featuring theatrical performances involving ice skating. Shows often featured former Olympicand National Champion figure skaters who had retired from amateur competition....
. He orchestrated an off-Broadway musical entitled Song of Singapore. He's worked with mandolinist and guitarist Todd Collins to create a jazz-bluegrass hybrid sound in their group called Over the Edge. In addition, Mr. Carlini has played with the Nashville Mandolin Ensemble, and was nominated in two categories for the 1997 Nashville Music Awards. At present, he plays with the John Carlini Quartet. He has been a resident of Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
Berkeley Heights, New Jersey
Berkeley Heights is a township in Union County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township population was 13,183....
.
Music reviews
All About Jazz music reviewer C. Michael Bailey wrote that he had "considerable guitar skills" and music critic Ronnie Lankford in All Music Guide wrote that his River Suite for Two Guitars, in which Mr. Carlini performed with flatpicking star Tony RiceTony Rice
Tony Rice is an American acoustic guitarist and bluegrass musician. He is considered one of the most influential acoustic guitar players in bluegrass, progressive bluegrass, newgrass and acoustic jazz.Rice spans the range of acoustic music, from traditional bluegrass to jazz-influenced New...
, was "amazing how much lead work these two guitarists can fit into a two-minute song like Banister River". Critic Roman St. James in JazzReview.com wrote that Carlini and his band combine "the best elements of both jazz and bluegrass music" and that the "unlikely pairing" works well.