Joe Muranyi
LOUIS ARMSTRONG and JOE MURANUI (at the Gwiazd Tegorocznego Festival)
Joe Muranyi b. 14 July 1928, Martin's Ferry, Ohio, USA. Muranyi is of Hungarian descent and first played in a balalaika ensemble. He studied for three years with Lennie Tristano and played in New York with a variety of dixieland groups as well as joining the Red Onion Jazz Band (1952-54). He worked as a producer and sleevenote writer for major record labels while playing with trumpeters Max Kaminsky, Yank Lawson and Jimmy McPartland. Between 1967 and 1971 he played with Louis Armstrong's All Stars, providing just the kind of elegant support Armstrong then required. Since Armstrong's death he has played with Roy Eldridge, the World's Greatest Jazz Band (1975) and the Classic Jazz Quartet (1983) as well as continuing his career as a record producer. With the recent passing of bassist Arvell Shaw on December 5, 2002, Joe is the last surviving member of the Louis Armstrong All Stars. It was quite a thrill for the Big Easy Rythm band, and especially for Bobo, to have Joe Muranyi and Red Balaban sit in with them at Bill's Seafood on December 19th!