Prof. Pete Malinverni Turns to Purchase Family on New Recording
When pianist and Chair of Jazz Studies Pete Malinverni MM ’00 makes a new record, he often looks to the Purchase family for assistance.
On his recent trio recording On the Town—Pete Malinverni Plays Leonard Bernstein (PlanetArts), he’s joined by fellow Jazz Studies instructor and bassist Ugonna Okegwo and as well as legendary drummer Jeff Hamilton. The mastering engineer is Silas Brown, assistant professor of music, and the cover art was designed by Marty Scott ’22, a Jazz trombone major.
Malinverni interprets, in new and exciting ways, music from the maestro’s New York-centric works, including the musicals, On the Town, Wonderful Town, and West Side Story.
The album quickly debuted on the Jazz radio charts and received accolades from the press.
“Malinverni and his mates give each song their tender love and care, refreshing a series of masterworks in a way that surely would have brought a smile to Bernstein’s lips and perhaps a tear or two to his eyes. Malinverni is a superb pianist, and there is simply no rhythm section that could lend more earnest and agreeable support than Okegwo and Hamilton. Blend in music by the incomparable Leonard Bernstein, and what’s not to like?”