Tony Purrone and Preston Murphy : Jazz

Tony Purrone is considered the world’s greatest guitar improviser because of his “unique musicality” & wide scope of sources & ideas. Blues, many forms of jazz & fusion, ballads & his own compositions make up his one-of-a-kind aural tapestry. Politics aside, many famous guitarists have privately given him high praise for his work; however, world-class authors & music critics have also written well-deserved & amazing things about him for 40 years. Tony also broke interracial records along the way, shattering boundaries unheard of. He was born and raised in Connecticut. His 1st guitar lesson was on January, 8th, 1964. His early ability, expressed across a diversity of styles, led to acceptance by the University of Bridgeport Jazz Ensemble while still in high school. Later, as an undergrad student at UB, he performed with the Don Elliott Quintet & the Gerry Mulligan Sextet. After transferring to New York University, he played w. Jimmy Guiffre & Benny Goodman and then graduated with a BSc in music. In 1978, he came to the attention of Jimmy Heath in Connecticut and was invited to join the Heath Brothers Band, going on to record 5 albums on CBS and Island-Antilles as well as touring 40 states & many foreign countries. In 1982, Tony left to carve his own impressive niche in theeclectic jazz world. He has performed with a Who’s Who of Jazz, including: Frank Foster, Count Basie Band, Jerome Richardson, Lee Konitz, Al Cohn, Pepper Adams, Paquito D’Rivera, Kenny Garrett, Matt Criscuolo, Sal Nistico, Nick Brignola, Bill Barron, Dave Leibman, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie, Randy Brecker, Lew Soloff, Jon Faddis, Donald Byrd, Lionel Hampton, Woody Herman band members, the Jimmy Heath Big Band, Stanley Cowell, Billy Eckstine, Johnny Hartman, the Trio (3) with Pete Levin and Lenny White, and his own groups. He completed an album in July 1991 with Ed Thigpen on Justin Time records called “Mr. Taste”. This received the accolade of a Downbeat magazine 5- star rating. Tony has taught music at Housatonic College and Wesleyan University in Connecticut and at Queens College in New York. He participated in two Grammy nominated albums, “Heath Brothers Live at the Public Theater”, (1980); and Jimmy Heath’s “Little Man, Big Band” (1994). Tony has also recorded with Jimmy Heath on the Landmark, Verve, and Steeplechase labels, Ed Thigpen on the Reaction label and is the featured guitar soloist along with bassist, Stanley Clarke, on the song “Dark”, co- written with Lenny White on Lenny’s CD, “PresentTense” (Hip Bop records). Also on Hip-Bop, he recorded a duo organ CD w. Dr Lonnie Smith & Joey DeFrancesco along w. Grover Washington, Kenny Garrett, Idris Muhammed & Lenny White.. In 1993 Tony released his debut CD as a leader and composer on the B&W label (now, Meltdown-2000) entitled, “Electric Poetry”. It features Bob Mintzer (woodwinds), Dave Anderson(el. bass) and Ray Marchica (drums). His compositions and eclectic diversity figure greatly in this setting. From 1996 to 2005, he recorded 8 CDs as a leader on the Danish SteepleChase label & in 2009, he recorded a trio CD featuring Preston Murphy-acoustic bass & Thierry Arpino-drums called “Evolver”......many live performances have been met w. great response.....in 2014 & 2016, he recorded 2 CDs w. saxophonist Matt Criscuolo, featuring bassists Dave Anderson & Preston Murphy and drummers Ed Soph & Will Calhoun. As usual, Tony’s work on it garnered special praise from Downbeat Mag., etc. As a special guest, he participated in a Jimmy Heath tribute in 2016 @the Kennedy Ctr. in Wash. DC which also featuredpianist Herbie Hancock & drummer Tootie Heath

“In the midst of these excursions, Purrone combined WesMontgomery lyricism with a bite and adventure that Pat Methanywould stand up & applaud”. Boston Herald

“Tony Purrone Trio SET 'EM UP" Guitarist Tony Purrone is a masterful musician. His improvisations border on genius and his chord melodies leave me groping for my guitar (an exercise in futility) tryingto figure out what he's doing”. Jazz Times

“Brilliant virtuoso guitarist/composer Tony Purrone”. Owen McNally-Hartford Courant.

“Frightening musical prowess of the incredible Tony Purrone on guitar”. Owen McNally-Hartford Courant.

“Guitarist/co-conspirator Tony Purrone whose chops are so audacious throughout this session that his solos elicit howls of giddy laughter from grown six string aficionados. In rare form here…his fretboard feats never fail to amaze”. Bill Milkowski-Downbeat Magazine.

“Purrone is consistently stunning, venturing well beyond the fringe, yet with clear direction. His fast picking solo on Giant Steps will trigger coffee- spitting double takes”. Jeff Potter-Downbeat Magazine.

George Benson said @The Blue Note, NYC: “I don’t want to sit in with this guy already playing”.

“Guitarist Tony Purrone was fine-tuned to Jimmy Heath’s creative wavelength. Purrone has super chops but never hides inside the pretentious, fatty folds of virtuosity as so many guitarists do. And like his “boss”, Jimmy Heath, Purrone is a melodic player who likes to work thematically”. Owen McNally-Hartford Courant

Upright bassist Preston Murphy studied jazz bass performance at the prestigious Berklee College Of Music from 1998-2002. He has been playing professionally for over 20 years and has played with such world class musicians such as guitar great Tony Purrone for the past 15 years, Ed Soph, Winard Harper, Steve Davis, Bruce Williams, Garland Cleaver, Frank Tiberi and many others over the years. He also played on a recording which received 4.5 stars in downbeat magazine under the leadership of Matt Criscuolo called "Headin Out." He has played in many different ensemble settings and many different musical genres over the years.

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