Joe will be sadly missed a legend in jazz drumming for a 12 1/2 year stint with the Dave Brubeck quartet till he got bored probably and wanted to expand his gifted talent.
He had partial sight from birth so over came overwhelming disadvantages so a great role model for drummers who suffer disability and also a role model to those that did not.
He was a master of unusual time signatures solo's 5/4 sticks without drums 7/4
for any up and coming young jazz drummers his stick technique is text book so study it and also his foot work was first rate.
He died aged 82 no cause of death was given.
He served his apprenticeship well too working with good seasoned and up and coming players in the New York jazz scene.....
"After moving to New York City, Morello worked with numerous notable jazz musicians including Johnny Smith, Tal Farlow, Stan Kenton, Phil Woods, Sal Salvador, Marian McPartland, Jay McShann, Art Pepper, Howard McGhee, and others. After a period playing in McPartland's trio, Morello declined invitations to join both Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey's bands, favoring a temporary two-month tour with the Dave Brubeck Quartet in 1955. However, Morello remained with Brubeck for well over a decade, only departing in 1968. Morello later became an in-demand clinician, teacher and bandleader whose former students include Danny Gottlieb, Max Weinberg, Gary Feldman, Patrick Wante, Jerry Granelli, Glenn Johnson and Rich Galichon".(Wikipedia)
"During his career, Morello appeared on over 120 albums, 60 of which were with the Dave Brubeck Quartet. He authored several drum books, including Master Studies, published by Modern Drummer Publications, and made an instructional video for Hot Licks titled The Natural Approach to Technique. Morello was the recipient of many awards, including Playboy magazine's best drummer award for seven years in a row, and Down Beat magazine's best drummer award five years in a row. He was elected to the Modern Drummer magazine Hall of Fame in 1988, the Percussive Arts Society Hall of Fame in 1993, and was the recipient of Hudson Music's first TIP (Teacher Integration Program) Lifetime Achievement award in June, 2010". (Wikipedia)
For more information on Joe Morello look on Wikipedia were you will find his full story....
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