New York native, Joey Calderazzo’s first big break came after meeting and jamming with legendary saxophonist Michael Brecker at a clinic. Deeply impressed by the young pianist, Brecker offered him the piano chair in his touring quintet after Kenny Kirkland left the group in 1987. Just over ten years later, Calderazzo joined the Branford Marsalis Quartet, replacing Kirkland a second time after the pianist’s untimely passing.

Joey’s work has been just as notable in the studio as on stages around the world. He recorded three albums for Blue Note Records in the early 1990s and one on Columbia Records before signing to Branford’s Marsalis' Music record label in 2002.

The fact that Joey Calderazzo views his recent performances and recordings with a trio as an experiment should highlight the fact that he wants to continue to hone his craft and progress as a musician. Going Home released in 2014 is a tremendous document of his musical process and a milestone of his progress, synthesizing his decades of creativity into something new, sublime, and supremely centered as a composer, improviser and bandleader.

His recent release, “Live From The Cotton Club, Tokyo Vol 1", on Dot Time Records, is a live recording. Taken from his four night run at the iconic Cotton Club Tokyo, Japan in February 2017, is Joey at his best. The spontaneity, virtuosity and playfulness of the trio is found throughout his five original compositions and one cover. This is a shining example of a piano trio format, full of expression, musical charm and just plain fun!

With firm roots planted in North Carolina, Joey currently splits his professional time between teaching as an adjunct professor at North Carolina Central University, working with Marsalis and company, and pushing his own trio art to new heights.