In early December, when the tree tops were just beginning to glisten and the children were barely beginning to listen, Joe Carello and Frank Grosso, two CNYJAF veterans, were making a trip out to East Tennessee State University to be featured as performers and educators after working with the ETSU Jazz Orchestra. The event was called “Sax-aholics Anonymous” (Names of sax-aholics are confidential and will be released in this article.)
I had the privilege of speaking with Frank about himself, his long-standing connection to CNYJazz, and his experience in Tennessee.
NK: How long have you lived in CNY and how long have you been part of the CNYJO? What experience lead to your becoming part of the CNYJAF?
FG: I’m a lifelong resident of Central NY and have been part of the CNYJO since its inception.
NK: Who are your biggest influences musically and artistically?
FG: There are really so many…On the baritone I heard a Gerry Mulligan record and was completely blown away! That had to be around 7th grade for me. After a while, I found myself drawn to the ABC’s of the bop school (Adams, Brignola, & Cuber). There are so many younger guys out there that sound so wonderful but those would be the baritone influences when I was growing up. Of course Dexter, Johnny Griffin, and Jug are as influential but in another way.
NK: Describe your experience at the residency and why it was important to you personally, and to the community in Tennessee.
FG: Joe and I had a wonderful experience down in Tennessee! Joe gave a saxophone master class & lesson, while my master class was on instrumental music education in the public schools. A significant portion of music majors at East Tennessee state are matriculating in music education. I feel a personal responsibility to pass on knowledge and experiences as they were passed on to me.
As a music educator, in every school setting you will encounter a wide range of student experience and abilities. I believe it’s important for anyone entering the teaching field to be aware of, and have a plan set in place to address that wide range of abilities. To be honest, my class focused not on jazz, but rather on instrumental education techniques along with how to reach special needs children, making their experience with instrumental music more meaningful. We addressed general ideology and then discussed specific situations I have encountered in the past. Boy, we really only scratched the surface!
NK: What were the highlights of the residency and the concert?
FG: For me the highlight was making music and interacting with the young adults of the East Tennessee State jazz ensemble. I enjoy meeting people from other locales. It’s interesting to get their perspective and influences. Every time I play or teach, I pick up a kernel of knowledge to bring home.
NK: What makes the CNY Jazz community so special? In your experience, how is it different from other jazz communities?
FG: Many other communities don’t have the long history of jazz music and musicians like we do here in the central/upstate New York area. Johnson City TN. for example, has a very strong tradition of ‘blue grass’. East Tennessee State actually has the only ‘Blue Grass’ playing degree available in the U.S. The jazz legacy is really just emerging, thanks to folks like Dr. David Champouillon who heads up the Jazz department at ETSU (East Tennessee State University).
I think we have a storied history here in Central New York. Folks like Peanuts Hucko are our icons of the swing era. Of course, Hucko also played regularly with Louis Armstrong, so he has a cross over thing happening. The next era you see guys like Sal Nistico, Joe Romano, and later, Danny Dimperio. And today, of course, we have another current stable of greats like Joe Magnarelli & Walt Weiskopf keeping up the tradition…maybe the next greats will be Collin DeJoseph, Nick Frenay, and this Kellman guy I keep hearin’ about!
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