Tony Monaco Explained

Tony Monaco
Birth Date:	14 August 1959
Origin:	Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Instrument:	Organ, accordion, vocals
Genre:	Jazz, soul
Years Active:	2000–present

Anthony M. Monaco (born August 14, 1959) is an American jazz organist.^{[1] [2]}

Biography

Monaco played accordion from childhood and was heavily influenced by Jimmy Smith in his youth. In 1971, he switched to the organ after hearing Smith play the instrument, and later received personal mentoring from Smith. In the early 2000s, he recorded his debut album in collaboration with Joey DeFrancesco, which reached No. 18 on Jazzweek's Top 100 for the year 2003, and began releasing material on Summit Records. ^[3] Monaco's career continued in the 2000s with frequent touring and performances with guitarist Pat Martino. Down Beat International Critics Poll placed Monaco in the top 5 jazz organists for the years 2005–2011.^[4] His most commercially successful album was East to West which reached No. 4 on Jazzweek's Top 100 for the year 2006.^[5] Monaco is also noted for his efforts in jazz education and holds the position of Artist in Residence in Music at Hope College.^[6]

Playing style and critical reception

Monaco's work, along with several contemporaries, is associated with a minor resurgence of "Chitlin' Circuit" style jazz.^{[7] [8]}

Discography

As leader

• The Monacos Are Moving Up (Blue Ash Records, 1976) with The Monaco Family
• Continentale Disco (The Monacos in Europe) (Blue Ash Records, 1979) with The Monaco Family
• Getting in Touch! (Light 'n Jazzy 103.9fm WBBY, 1989)
• Out of Nowhere (1999) Tony Monaco Organ Trio with Joey DeFrancesco (piano/trumpet), Paul Bollenback (guitar), Byron "Wookie" Landham (drums)
• Burnin' Grooves (Summit, 2001)
• Master Chops 'T' (Summit, 2002)
• Intimately Live at the 501 (Summit, 2002)
• A New Generation: Paesanos on the New B3 (Summit, 2003) with Joey DeFrancesco
• Fiery Blues (Summit, 2004)
• East to West (Summit, 2006) with Bruce Forman
• Live at the Orbit Room (Summit, 2008) Tony and his Toronto Trio with Ted Quinlin, Vito Rezza
• Celebration: Life, Love, Music (Summit, 2012) with Joey DeFrancesco
• Live at Cotton Club Japan (Mocloud, 2013) with Yosuke Onuma, Gene Jackson
• New Adventures (TMHP, 2014) with Howard R. Paul, Jim Rupp
• Groove: Blue (Q-Rious, 2015) with Vinny Valentino, Steve Smith
• Furry Slippers (Summit, 2015)
• At One (Mocloud, 2016) with Yosuke Onuma, Gene Jackson
• The Definition of Insanity (Summit, 2019)
• The Keys of Cool (RCP, 2019) with Richie Cole
• Strollin' (Reid Hoyson Productions, 2021) with Hendrik Meurkens, Reid Hoyson, Mark Lucas
• Four Brothers (Summit, 2022) with Kevin Turner, Eddie Bayard, Willie Barthell III
• Over and Over (Summity, 2024) with Zakk Jones, Reggie Jackson

As sideman

• Moanin' , Nancy Wright (Summit, 2009)
• A Night in Jazz, Ray Mantilla (M.M.C. Produzioni s.r.l., 2010)
• , Pat Martino (HighNote, 2011)

External links

• Official site
  • Tony Monaco at JazzTimes
• Tony Monaco at AllAboutJazz

Notes and References

1. Web site: Details for musician Tony Monaco . at The Hammond Jazz Inventory
2. Web site: Tony Monaco – Biography & History – AllMusic. AllMusic. December 18, 2016.
3. Web site: JazzWeek Year End 2003. Jazzweek. December 31, 2003. November 1, 2016.
4. Web site: Tony Monaco Interview. Jazz Erie . June 26, 2011. November 10, 2016 .
5. Web site: JazzWeek Year End 2006. Jazzweek. December 31, 2006. November 1, 2016.
6. Web site: Anthony Monaco. Hope College Directory. November 1, 2016 .
7. News: Review: MUSIC; Bach Aside, The Organ Swings Again. Waltzer. Ben. The New York Times. December 2002. November 15, 2016.
8. Web site: Review: Artist Biography by Dave Nathan. Nathan. Dave. AllAboutJazz. November 16, 2016.