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Joe Traina has been leader of the Joe Traina Quartet and Quintet since 1990 performing extensively throughout the New York Tri-State area in such notable establishments as The Rainbow Room, Tavern On The Green, The National Arts Club, Sardi's, Metronome, the Mamaroneck Country Club and The Savoy Grill.

The Joe Traina Quintet returned to a triumphant eight-week engagement last September to world-famous Sardi's Restaurant located in the heart of New York's theatre district. The group held forth for over two years in Sardi's Club Room during the 1990s.

Many vocalists from Broadway shows, cabaret and the world of jazz have joined the Quintet in performance including Howard McGillin ("The Phantom Of The Opera"), Darcie Roberts ("Curtains"), Angel Desai (“Company”), Robyn Hurder (“Grease”) and Terri White (“Barnum”).

An accomplished clarinetist and saxophonist, Mr. Traina has studied with Caesar Di Mauro, William Blount (former principal clarinetist of the Orchestra Of St. Luke's) and clarinet virtuoso Jon Manasse.

Traina credits his earliest appreciation and knowledge of jazz to his longstanding relationship with late trumpet legend Don Joseph. Joseph was a constant influence on Traina's development of a singing and melodic voice on both instruments.

Mr. Traina has also presented numerous jazz concerts in New York over the past fifteen years featuring original contemporary compositions in his MOSTLY JAZZ series at the Greenwich House, the Hayden Planetarium and the Irish Arts Center.

Traina's third CD of jazz standards entitled "Tea For Two" was released to wide critical acclaim in January 2007 and a fourth recording entitled "Ten By Ten" featuring a 10-piece jazz orchestra will be available in December 2008.

The Joe Traina Quintet currently features tenor saxophonist Michael Karn, who has worked with Ray Charles and Harry Connick, Jr., bassist Sean Smith, who has accompanied both Rosemary Clooney and Peggy Lee, drummer Scott Neumann who has performed with the Broadway productions of "Xanadu” and "Avenue Q" and pianist Tim Regusis who has teamed with vocalists Patti Austin and David Byrne and jazz artists Chuck Mangione and Tony Kadleck.

E-mail for Joe Traina:   joetraina1219@verizon.net