We are delighted to announce Charlie Apicella as our next featured artist for Chats with the Cats.
Growing up in Hudson in upstate New York, it was his father's older brothers that got him into music.
"One uncle went to Woodstock and that became a huge influence on me. My oldest uncle introduced me to people like Yusef Lateef and Archie Shepp. Later, when I entered college, those were the two people I studied with at UMass. Through my dad I became heavily interested in real blues like BB King, Muddy Waters, and Lonnie Johnson."
"I have always been interested in hard bop music and in my opinion, New York and New Jersey are the world capital for that sound. I’m so happy to have been here for the past 10 years and I have had the ability to really grow as a composer and bandleader. I’ve had great success with my band Iron City."
You can hear Charlie and his band Iron City on Thursday Friday and Saturdays at IL Porto: Brick Oven Pizza and Ristorante - and Charlie speaks lovingly about the relationship they have with the venue.
"Il Porto is the best gig I have ever had. It is a nice, busy neighborhood spot and a great sounding room for jazz. I have been Music Director, playing and booking three nights per week since 2013."
"The success I have had at Il Porto would not have been possible without KEYEDUP!. Music is an important part of their business model and they are paying for a band three nights per week. KU! subsidize the cost each night and the ability to play that many nights per week has helped me build a steady business for them while the band is able to focus on playing the music we are interested in."
So whilst we've all been hunkered down, Charlie speaks of his experiences with isolation, whats been on his music playlists and new music. "I’m trying to look at this as a vacation. I have some nice concerts booked for the next 12 months so I hope to come out of this landing on my feet. I find myself starting to practice after 9 PM, trying to keep my New York late night stamina up. Iron City has been in the rotation at Blue Note since 2018. That gig is great because I can add horn players like Joe Magnarelli, Don Braden, or Freddie Hendrix.
I just finished my seventh record which I will release in January as a vinyl-only release.
This is the first time I have made a record of standards, it is not with my band Iron City. My usual format of horns and congas added to the organ trio is where I focus on my original tunes and arranging. This record is bass and drums with tenor saxophonist Stephen Riley on a couple tunes. I collect jazz vinyl records and recently found a bunch by 1950s guitar players. I have rekindled my interest in folks like Johnny Smith, Tal Farlow, Freddie Green, and Bucky Pizzarelli. Also Billie Holiday has come back into rotation heavily. I love her mid-1950s Verve records, all of which are great small groups featuring some of the guitarists I mentioned.