Let me introduce myself …

Tony Marino – composer, pianist, recording engineer.

Tony Marino has been captivating audiences with his elegant and eclectic blend of jazz Latin jazz, and world music. From bossa nova to bebop, Tony Marino has crafted a sound that brings together styles from all over the world. His music is perfect for those looking to relax and enjoy some original jazz tunes. With a substantial following on Spotify, Tony Marino has proven himself to be an artist of immense talent and creativity. So, come and discover the magic of Tony Marino’s original music!

Growing up in South Philly …

a 7-year-old Tony heard Leon Russell and decided that he wanted to take piano lessons. Unlike other 7-year-olds, Tony continued playing and eventually began studying, in his early teens, with pianist Bill DelGovenatore – who slowly but surely introduced Tony to the music of jazz legends, beginning with Thelonious Monk.

While absorbing all he could from his lessons with Bill, Tony was also working at a local music store – allowing him the privilege of meeting other jazz musicians such as Frank DiBussolo and Al Stauffer. Eventually, Bill introduced Tony to Tom Lawton, another familiar Philadephia pianist. Lawton became Tony’s last Philadelphia piano teacher.

The final brick in Tony’s jazz wall was an introduction to Ernest (Hoppy) Hopkins; Tony credits all of these musicians as fueling his passion for music, especially jazz.

Professional Work …

In 1975, while a freshman in high school, Marino joined the Philadelphia Italian-American band called Idea ’71. The band played popular Philadelphia and Tri-State area venues. While Marino was with Idea ’71 (1975-1982), they recorded the album Supersano, at Virtue Recording Studios and a record (Medley Records) with the songs Sweet Hometown & We Were Happy (B side) at Alpha International Recording Studios.

Tony debuted his first original work in 1997 …

with Tony Marino & Havana Heat: The Latin Jazz Project. He has been churning out album after album since, to critical acclaim. Tony’s been called “one hell of a talented pianist” and his musicianship has been described as “flawless, skillful and captivating”.

This was followed by a solo project Note for Note. Songs from both cds were played on the local radio station, WBNI FM and in fact, Marino wrote and dedicated a song “WBNI 89.1 FM” before the station changed its name to WBOI 89.1.

April 1999. Marino moved to Folsom, CA for a brief time and while there jammed with some area musicians. November of 2000, Marino moved back to Ft. Wayne, and picked up where he left off but, at this point, renamed the band “Tony Marino’s Latin Jazz Sounds” to better describe the band’s genres. Marino started focusing more on writing, composing and recording and released 4 CDs from 2001 to 2006.

In 2002, Marino published a songbook, that included the sheet music of his original compositions from his first 3 CDs, encompassing various Latin styles of music: samba, bossa nova, frevo, tango, montuno, bolero, bebop, swing, and calypso, for C, Bb, and Eb instruments. The songbook, The Latin Jazz Project was sold through Jamey Aebersold.

From 2008 to 2012, Marino moved to South Jersey and then to North Jersey soaking in all that was offered from the jazz scene in the surrounding areas. In 2012, Marino moved to Santa Barbara, CA. While there, Marino regularly attended Jeff Elliott Jazz Jams sessions at SOhO and was able to play with many notable musicians, including Jeff Elliott, Randy Tico, Lorenzo Martinez, Ruben Martinez, Rene Martinez, Chris Judge, Robert Hart, Vince Denham, Donna Greene, Greg Loeb, Rex Harte, Dennis Berger, Brendan Statom, Alberto Negroni, Frode Holm, Brad Rabuchin and many other great musicians.

Marino’s time in Santa Barbara, from 2012 to 2016, inspired him to continue to write and record music that he would dedicate to friends, family and mentors that had touched Marino’s life over the years. After settling back into Fort Wayne, Marino recorded 101 in 2016 and a Sound Inve$Tment in 2017.

“As a musician it sometimes pays to stop and look back at the reason you became a musician in the first place, to acknowledge those who came before you, whose music inspired you to try to follow in their footsteps. That is exactly what Tony Marino has done with his last album, Thank You For The Music, which includes original compositions honoring and dedicated in turn to Astor Piazzolla, Joao Donato, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker, Thelonious Monk, & James Moody, and each in turn capturing something of each of these jazz greats spirit.”[1]

In 2019, Marino released Tango Silhouette and Family and Friends. Tango Silhouette is an exhilarating tango album inspired by his maternal grandmother’s Argentinian roots and won a Global Music Award.[2] Family and Friends featured some of the best classic elements of Latin Jazz inspired by Marino’s family and friends [3], and the song Gary also won a Global Music Award.

Through the years, Marino managed to experience living in various cities, from the East to the Mid West and the West Coast, carrying his love for music wherever he would go. Along the way, he managed to study with masters of the craft, including Breno Sauer who exposed him to Brazilian Jazz (Samba, Boss nova, Partido alto, Frevo, Baiao, & Tango), Jose Valdez (Afro Cuban and Montuno piano), Jim Trumpeter, Laurence Hobgood, and Mark Soskin, (Harmony, & Improvisation), among others.

All of this has helped Tony Marino to continue creating original compositions released over the years on several albums including Que Pasa [Global Music Award Que Pasa Latin jazz] (2020), Swing Your Thing [Global Music Award big band], (2021), Rhythm and Dues [Global Music Award Broad & Porter] (2021), Cold Pizza (2022).

In 2023, Tony Marino released three new albums: Original Piano Pieces (January 9, 2023), which features 16 tracks including remixes, originals, and more; Low Keyed (January 18, 2023), a tribute to those who maintain calm and peace under any circumstances; and World Music Blues (January 27, 2023), which includes ten compositions that use traditional blues chord progressions but explore a variety of key signatures, time signatures, and musical genres from around the world.

While 2023 began with a musical flourish, a serious injury caused by a neighbor’s unleashed dog in early June left Marino with a torn left bicep. This injury delayed any further projects for the year and into 2024. The road to recovery, which involved surgery and months of painful therapy, was difficult, but Marino faced it with determination.

Before the incident, Marino had already started working on several new songs. During a setback in his physical therapy, he discovered the Taubman Method, a technique designed for injured pianists. This method became a crucial part of his recovery.

After months of hard work and perseverance, Marino was excited to release his collection of 10 original compositions. These tracks not only highlight his musical talent but also exude positivity and tranquility. Despite the challenges, his music served as a source of light during the difficult times.

Marino dedicated Friday Night, his 20th album, to those who supported him throughout this challenging period: his doctors, physical therapist, and wife.

Additionally, Tony Marino’s album Tango Improvisations, released on June 17, 2024, blends passion, precision, and creativity, offering a fresh, improvisational take on the tango genre.

Marino’s latest release, The Rock Album, ventures into instrumental rock, featuring 12 original compositions. This album marks a departure from his earlier works, showcasing a dynamic fusion of energy, innovation, and raw guitar-driven sound.

It is not just his work, his compositions and melodies that has earned Tony respect and love all over the world, but it is also his down to earth nature and creativity that makes him loved by all. Listen to his work once and the experience will leave you in awe of it for a lifetime!

Discography

• The Rock Album (January 9, 2025)
• Tango Improvisations (June 17, 2024)
• Friday Night (April 8, 2024)
• World Music Blues (Jan 27, 2023)
• Low Keyed (Jan 18, 2023)
• Original Piano Pieces (Jan 9, 2023)
• Family and Friends (Remix)(Bonus Tracks) (2022)
• Cold Pizza (2022)
• Rhythm and Dues (2021)
• Swing Your Thing (2021)
• Que Pasa (2020)
• Tango Silhouette (2019)
• Friends and Family (2019)
• Thank You for the Music (2018)
• Sound Investment (2017)
• 101 (2016)
• A Tune For Matt (never released to the public) (2007)
• It’s Not That Complicated (2006)
• 5 (2005)
• Broad Street (2004)
• Samba De Say Party (2001)
• Note For Note (1999)
• Tony Marino & Havana Heat: The Latin Jazz Project (1997)

Books

• Tony Marino’s Latin Jazz Sounds Fake Book (contains sheet music for 1st Three CDs) (2003)

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