Take Five With Joe Bagg

AAJ Staff

Contributor since 1995

Various staff members.

Recent articles (1,149 total)

Published: April 25, 2009

Meet Joe Bagg:
Joe Bagg earned his Masters Degree from Rutgers University, studying with Kenny Barron.

He has played, toured, and/or recorded with Bobby Hutcherson, Billy Higgins, Larry Coryell, Anthony Wilson, Madeleine Peyroux, Bud Shank, Jack Sheldon, Alphonse Mouzon, Bill Holman, Arthur Blythe, and many more.

Joe co-leads Option 3, which released its first CD in 2008, consisting of original tunes and guitarist Jamie Rosenn.

Instrument(s):
Piano and Hammond B3.

Teachers and/or influences?
Influences on piano: Bud Powell, Wynton Kelly, Herbie Hancock, Keith Jarrett, Paul Bley and Brad Mehldau.

Influences on organ: Larry Goldings, Larry Young, Dan Wall, Jimmy Smith, Billy Preston and Dr. Lonnie Smith.

The first Jazz album I bought was:
Miles Davis' Kind of Blue (Columbia)—Kind of Predictable.

CDs you are listening to now:
Keith Jarrett, Yesterdays (ECM);
Miles Davis, Live at the Blackhawk (Columbia);
Kevin Hays, Andalucia (Blue Note);
Bloomdaddies, Racer X (Self Produced) ;
Art Tatum, Solo Masterpieces (Pablo).

Desert Island picks:
Bud Powell, Verve Box Set (Verve);
Miles Davis, Plugged Nickel Box Set (Columbia);
Paul Desmond, Complete RCA Bluebird Recordings with Jim Hall (RCA);
Bluebird Keith Jarrett, Live at the Blue Note Box Set (ECM);
James Brown, Star Time (Box Set) (Polydor).

How would you describe the state of jazz today?
In flux. Hopefully getting better eventually.

If I weren't a jazz musician, I would be:
Some kind of scientist.