Jazz Guitar Players

Joe Diorio

Technical virtuosity and imaginative improvisation made Joe Diorio (born: Joseph Louis Diorio) one of the busiest jazz session guitarists of the '60s and '70s. Reviewing a mid-'60s performance, influential jazz critic Leonard Feather wrote that Diorio was "one of the most mature and uncompromising (new) plectrists to work the room since Joe Pass."

Waterbury, Connecticut-born Diorio spent much of the early '60s in Chicago, playing with such stellar jazz musicians as saxophonist Sonny Stitt and trombone player Bennie Green. He made his recording debut on tenor saxophonist Eddie Harris' 1961 album, Exodus to Jazz.

Together with trumpet and saxophone player Ira Sullivan, Diorio relocated to Miami, Florida, where he quickly found a place in the city's thriving jazz scene. In addition to playing with top-notch musicians including Stan Getz, Freddie Hubbard, and Stanley Turrentine, he led his own trio, featuring Bob Magnusson and Jim Plank.

Since releasing his debut solo album, Solo Guitar, in 1975, Diorio has gone on to record more than a dozen impressive platters, including tribute albums to Wes Montgomery and Antonio Carlos Jobim.

Starting with a jazz improvisation class that he taught at the University of Miami, Diorio increasingly turned his focus to teaching. Since relocating to Los Angeles in the late '70s, he has taught in the studio/jazz guitar department of the University of Southern California and the GIT (Guitar Institute of Technology).

He has written several instructional books including Fusion and Intervallic Designs.

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The Long Awaited Play What You Hear Volume Two Is Now Here!

It has been many years since the first edition of Play What You Hear (originally released in 2000). Now volume two is here with new ideas and concepts, complete with audio, video, traditional notation and TAB throughout. High resolution pdf available for printing the entire program. For intermediate and advanced players.

  • Part One: Melody

    Focuses on single note soloing. Learn how to effortlessly solo through complex chord changes.

  • Part Two: Harmony

    Focuses on chord melody. Learn new harmonic devices and understand chords in a whole new way.

  • Performances

    Study Chris Standring's six recorded solos, transcribed with audio and high def video.



More great Jazz Guitarists here:

Bill Frisell Charlie Christian Django Reinhardt George Benson George Van Eps Grant Green Jim Hall John Mclaughlin Joe Pass John Scofield Kenny Burrell Larry Carlton Lee Ritenour Pat Martino Pat Metheny Tal Farlow Wes Montgomery