Pianist Carli Munoz hails from San Juan Peurto Rico. He grew up hearing a wide variety of music, much of it from the BBC, where he heard American standard jazz, ragtime, honky tonk, and pop music.
Though he didn't immediately take to the family piano and refused to take lessons, he became curious in his pre-teen years and began picking out tunes on his own. Despite his lack of musical training, Carli gathered some of his neighborhood friends and put together his own band. Most of the kids had little or no experience playing music, but Carli had the musical ideas in his head and he began teaching his friends how to play their instruments. The group evolved into one of the most popular dance bands in San Juan.
At age 15, following the success of his dance band, Carli was invited to play with a jazz group led by Monchito Muñoz, that included percussionist Sabú Martinez, bassist Freddy Thomas, trumpeter Juancito Torres and occasionally, drummer Joe Morello. A year later, Munoz formed a rock band called The Living End (also known as Space) with a colleague, Jorge Calderon. The group relocated to Manhattan and became the house band and "The Rolling Stone" club.
In 1969, after four years with The Living End, Carli relocated again to LA. What was originally intended as a weekend trip with a friend turned into a 16-year freelance career in which Carli recorded and performed with Wilson Pickett, Jan and Dean, Peter Cetera and The Beach Boys with whom he spent eleven years. Carli also led his own jazz trio and formed a fusion band called Your Own Space. In 1982, Carli made the decision to return full time to playing jazz and found work with jazz artist such as George Benson, Chico Hamilton, Charles Lloyd and Les McCann.
In 1985, Carli returned home to San Juan and formed a new jazz trio. The group has been working steadily since then. The new home for the group is a jazz club and restaurant, owned by Carli himself. Carli Café Concierto features live jazz from Carli in both solo and trio settings as well as guest appearances from visiting jazz artists.
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Set List for Carli Munoz on Piano Jazz:Mia (Munoz)
We'll Be Together Again (Fischer, Laine)
So In Love (Porter)
Stranger In A Dream (McPartland)
Now Is the Time (Parker)
Diaspora (Munoz)
Margot (Jarrett)
A Delicate Balance (McPartland)
Three Little Steps to Heaven (Munoz)
Though he didn't immediately take to the family piano and refused to take lessons, he became curious in his pre-teen years and began picking out tunes on his own. Despite his lack of musical training, Carli gathered some of his neighborhood friends and put together his own band. Most of the kids had little or no experience playing music, but Carli had the musical ideas in his head and he began teaching his friends how to play their instruments. The group evolved into one of the most popular dance bands in San Juan.
At age 15, following the success of his dance band, Carli was invited to play with a jazz group led by Monchito Muñoz, that included percussionist Sabú Martinez, bassist Freddy Thomas, trumpeter Juancito Torres and occasionally, drummer Joe Morello. A year later, Munoz formed a rock band called The Living End (also known as Space) with a colleague, Jorge Calderon. The group relocated to Manhattan and became the house band and "The Rolling Stone" club.
In 1969, after four years with The Living End, Carli relocated again to LA. What was originally intended as a weekend trip with a friend turned into a 16-year freelance career in which Carli recorded and performed with Wilson Pickett, Jan and Dean, Peter Cetera and The Beach Boys with whom he spent eleven years. Carli also led his own jazz trio and formed a fusion band called Your Own Space. In 1982, Carli made the decision to return full time to playing jazz and found work with jazz artist such as George Benson, Chico Hamilton, Charles Lloyd and Les McCann.
In 1985, Carli returned home to San Juan and formed a new jazz trio. The group has been working steadily since then. The new home for the group is a jazz club and restaurant, owned by Carli himself. Carli Café Concierto features live jazz from Carli in both solo and trio settings as well as guest appearances from visiting jazz artists.
Check out this week's Piano Jazz Shorts: the Piano Jazz podcast.
Subscribe!
Set List for Carli Munoz on Piano Jazz: