Joe Licari (born January 10, 1934, in

Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...

, New York) is an American jazz clarinetist. Known as an especially "hot" player with an exuberant and always emotive attack, Licari is considered, by critics and peers alike, to be in the front rank of contemporary "classic" jazz musicians. He is also among the most immediately recognizable. The renowned

Bob Wilber Robert Sage Wilber (March 15, 1928 – August 4, 2019) was an American jazz clarinetist, saxophonist, and band leader. Although his scope covers a wide range of jazz, Wilber was a dedicated advocate of classic styles, working throughout his caree ...

, with whom Licari studied for nearly a year, said of him: “You hear the influence of

Benny Goodman Benjamin David Goodman (May 30, 1909 – June 13, 1986) was an American clarinetist and bandleader known as the "King of Swing". From 1936 until the mid-1940s, Goodman led one of the most popular swing big bands in the United States. His co ...

in his playing…also the Chicago players

Frank Teschemacher Frank Teschemacher (March 13, 1906 – March 1, 1932) was an American jazz clarinetist and alto-saxophonist, associated with the "Austin High" gang (along with Jimmy McPartland, Bud Freeman and others). Early life and education He was born in ...

and Pee Wee Russell, plus the

New Orleans New Orleans ( , ,New Orleans
Merriam-Webster. ; french: La Nouvelle-Orléans , es, Nuev ...

clarinetists

Johnny Dodds Johnny Dodds (; April 12, 1892 – August 8, 1940) was an American jazz clarinetist and alto saxophonist based in New Orleans, best known for his recordings under his own name and with bands such as those of Joe "King" Oliver, Jelly Roll Morton, ...

, Sidney Bechet and

Jimmie Noone Jimmie Noone (April 23, 1895 – April 19, 1944) was an American jazz clarinetist and bandleader. After beginning his career in New Orleans, he led Jimmie Noone's Apex Club Orchestra, a Chicago band that recorded for Vocalion and Decca. Classical ...

. He has used some of their ideas and rejected others to come up with his own style. To achieve our ownidentity is the goal of all serious azzplayers. When you hear icari'sclarinet you know it's him.” JOE LICARI

In a 60 plus-year career Licari (who also plays the soprano and alto saxophones) has worked alongside Roy Eldridge, "Wild" Bill Davison, Conrad Janis,

Big Chief Russell Moore "Big Chief" Russell Moore (August 13, 1912 – December 15, 1983) was an American jazz trombonist. Moore, a Pima tribe member, grew up on a Native American reservation before moving to Chicago and then Los Angeles where he learned to play vario ...

Connie Kay Conrad Henry Kirnon (April 27, 1927 – November 30, 1994) known professionally as Connie Kay, was an American jazz and R&B drummer, who was a member of the Modern Jazz Quartet. Self-taught on drums, he began performing in Los Angeles in the mid ...

Bob Haggart Robert Sherwood Haggart (March 13, 1914 – December 2, 1998) was an American dixieland jazz double bass player, composer, and arranger. Although he is associated with dixieland, he was one of the finest rhythm bassists of the Swing Era. Music c ...

Vic Dickenson Victor Dickenson (August 6, 1906 – November 16, 1984) was an American jazz trombonist. His career began in the 1920s and continued through musical partnerships with Count Basie (1940–41), Sidney Bechet (1941), and Earl Hines. Life and care ...

, Pee Wee Erwin, Doc Cheatham and the vocalist

Julie Wilson Julie May Wilson (October 21, 1924 – April 5, 2015) was an American singer and actress widely regarded as "the queen of cabaret". She was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical in 1989 for her performance in ''Leg ...

. He's also appeared in films, on The Today Show, on

Jim Lowe James Ellsworth Lowe (May 7, 1923 – December 12, 2016) was an American singer-songwriter, best known for his 1956 number-one hit song, " The Green Door". He also served as a disc jockey and radio host and personality, and was considered ...

's radio show (eight years), and in venues that have included The Algonquin,

Eddie Condon Albert Edwin Condon (November 16, 1905 – August 4, 1973) was an American jazz banjoist, guitarist, and bandleader. A leading figure in Chicago jazz, he also played piano and sang. Early years Condon was born in Goodland, Indiana, the son of J ...

's, Jimmy Ryan's and Michael's Pub (where he was a stand-in for

Woody Allen Heywood "Woody" Allen (born Allan Stewart Konigsberg; November 30, 1935) is an American film director, writer, actor, and comedian whose career spans more than six decades and multiple Academy Award-winning films. He began his career writing ...

). In addition to three recordings under his leadership, Licari has been a featured player on albums b
The Red Onion Jazz Band
Julie Wilson, "Big Chief" Russell Moore
Herb GardnerDick Voigt’s Big Apple Jazz Band
Jim Lowe,

Dorothy Loudon Dorothy Loudon (September 17, 1925 – November 15, 2003) was an American actress and singer. She won the Tony Award for Best Lead Actress in a Musical in 1977 for her performance as Miss Hannigan in ''Annie''. Loudon was also nominated for To ...

Betty Comora
The Grove Street Stompers (with whom he's been a prominent fixture at Arthur's Tavern in Greenwich Village on Monday nights for decades), The Speakeasy Jazz Babies, The Smith Street Society Jazz Band and Swing 39..Mark Shane. Delta Five, Jon-Erik Kellso's Hot Four, The Galvanized Jazz Band..

Discography as Leader

''Haunting Melody'' (with pianist Larry Weiss), Claril Productions
''That's A Plenty,'' Claril Productions
''Jazz Quartets, Waiting for Katy,'' Claril Productions

References

Marty Grosz: Liner Notes, ''That's A Plenty'', Claril Productions
Clarrie Henley: Liner Notes, ''Jazz Quartets'', Claril Productions
Joe H. Klee: “Joe Licari: An Impressive Body of Work,” Mississippi Rag, September 2000
Bob Wilber: Foreword, ''The Invisible Clarinetist'' by Joe Licari, Xlibris, 2004
http://www.joelicari.net {{DEFAULTSORT:Licari, Joe American jazz clarinetists 1934 births Living people 21st-century clarinetists