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Joseph Lepore was born in New York in 1967. He began his formal training in Italy at age twelve, after moving to Europe with his family. At fifteen he started playing the doublebass and in 1992 he graduated from the Conservatory of Salerno,with high honors.
In 1995 he moved to Rome, where he soon became a popular bassist on the jazz scene. He also worked for some Pop Italian artists and on some TV Shows in Italy. In 2006 he is in the jazz program at CCNY studying for a while with J. Patitucci. In early 2008 he recorded and is currently playing with Greg Osby. Also in 2008 he was awarded a grant to teach jazz performance in the "ECOLE NATIONALE DE MUSIQUE" in Abidjan, Ivory Coast. He recently recorded his first album as a leader, soon to be available to the pubblic.
He also played with some more prominent jazz musicians over the years, for example: Bob Dorough, Antonio Farao', Roberto Gatto, Joy Garrison, George Garzone, Steve Grossman, Tom Kirkpatrick, David Liebman, Mike Maineri, Bob Mover, Romano Mussolini, Jimmy Owens, Enrico Pieranunzi, Tony Scott, Gary Smulian, Elliot Zigmund, and others.
He has participated in numerous jazz festivals, for example: Gexto Jazz Festival 98 (Spain), Jazz a Liegi 98 (Belgium),
and in Italy: Umbria Jazz Festival 98, Jazz & Image 95-99, Ancona Jazz 95, Marajazz 98, Urbino Jazz 97, Teano Jazz 96, etc.
In September 1997 he competed in the Europ Jazz Contest 97. This is an important competition that is held annually in Brussels. Out of 60 groups, coming mostly from all over Europe, the quartet he was part of claimed first prize as best musical group. Over the years in Italy, he also worked as a professor of the doublebass in various schools in both Salerno and Rome.
In November of 1999, Joseph returned to New York City. Since December of 1999 he has been a member of Trio 65, the house band at Rockefeller Center Rainbow Room in New York, performing six nights a week with pianist Ehud Asherie and drummer Tommaso Cappellato.
In NewYork he has played with: J.D.Allen, Clifford Barbaro, Isaac Ben Ayala, David Berkman, Peter Bernstein, Adam Birnbaum, Otis Brown, Chris Byars, Renato Chicco, Tim Collins, Billy Drummond, Duane Eubanks, Joe Farnswoth, Joel Frahm, Rick Germanson, Dave Gibson, Aaron Goldberg, Ned Goold, Noah Haidu, Tardo Hammer, Rufus Harley, Frank Hewitt, Victor Jones, Michael Kanan, Billie Kay, Ralph La Lama, Brad Leali, Eric Lewis, Jimmy Lovelace, Joe Magnarelli, Pete Malinverni, Ronnie Matthews, Bill McHenry, Eric McPherson, Dado Moroni, John Mosca, Lance Murphy, Cynthia Scott, James Spaulding, Grant Stewart, Richie Vitale, Nasheet Waits, Ben Waltzer, Harry Withaker, Michael Wilner, Michael Weiss, Lenny White, Jeff Williams, Richard Wyands, Leroy Williams, Sam Yahel and others.
In 2004 he tours with singer Cynthia Scott in W. Africa as part of the Jazz Ambassadors program sponsored by the State Department and Kennedy Center.
In 2007 tours with the Charlie Porter Quartet in West Africa as part of the American Music Abroad program sponsored by the State Department and Jazz at Lincoln Center.
Other work completed by Joseph in the winter of 1999 includes a guest performance as the jazz bassist in Anthony Minghella The Talented Mr. Ripley.
Discography
9 Levels, Greg Osby;
Innercircle (USA) 2008, Greg Osby (Saxophones), Sara Serpa (Vocals), Adam Birnbaum (Piano), Nir Felder (Guitar), Joseph Lepore (Bass), Hamir Atwal ( Drums).
Do You Like Cappuccino?, Toru Dodo;
Muzak (Japan) 2008, Toru Dodo (Piano,Synth), Joseph Lepore (Bass), Yasushi Nakamura (Bass & El. Bass), Rodney Green (Drums), David Egger (Cello)
13 Floors, Roberto Tarenzi;
Music Center (Italy) 2007, Roberto Tarenzi (Piano), Joseph Lepore (Bass), Paolo Benedettini (Bass), Luca Santaniello (Drums).
Need For Peace, Fabio Morgera;
Splash Records (Italy) 2007, Fabio Morgera (Tr., Fl., Voc.), J.Jackson (Trb.), Joe Ashlar (P., Keyb.), Joseph Lepore (Db.), Greg August (Db.), Bruce Cox (Dr.), Krystle Warren (Voc.), Miles Griffith (Voc.), Antonio Barbagallo (Voc.).
Dodo 3, Toru Dodo;
JazzCity (Japan) 2006, Toru Dodo (Piano), Joseph Lepore (Bass), Rodney Green (Drums).
Steppin' Out, Steve Cromity;
Cromcake Records (usa) 2004, Steve Cromity (Vocals), Eric Wyatt (Saxophones), Rodney Kendricks (Piano), Joseph Lepore (Doublebass), Emanuel Harrold (Drums).
What I Was Before, Joy Garrison;
YVP Music (Germany) 2003, Joy Garrison (Vocals), Joseph Lepore (Doublebass), Claudio Colasazza (Piano), Dario Deidda (Doublebass), AmedeoAriano (Drums), Rosario Giuliani (Alto Saxophone).
Talkiní Jazz, Nicola Mingo;
Red Records (Italy) 2001, Nicola Mingo (Guitar), Antonio Faraoî (Piano), Joseph Lepore (Doublebass), Luca Bulgarelli (Doublebass), Amedeo Ariano (Drums).
Vol.1 Music By Billy Strayhorn, Trio 65;
NuJazzCity (USA) 2001, Ehud Asherie (Piano), Joseph Lepore (Doublebass), Tommaso Cappellato (Drums).
At the Rainbow Room, Claire Gobin;
Gobin Records (UK) 2000, C. Gobin (Violin) with E.Asherie, J.Lepore, T. Cappellato.
Connotazione Blue, Rosario Giuliani Quartet;
Philology (Italy) 2000, Rosario Giuliani (Saxophone), J.Lepore (doublebass), P.Lussu (piano), L.Tucci (Drums).
Guajon, Fausto Ferraiuolo;
IRD (Italy) 1999, Fausto Ferraiuolo (Piano), Joseph Lepore (Doublebass),Daniele Scannapieco (saxophone), Pietro Iodice (Drums), and others.
Tension, Rosario Giuliani Quartet;
Schema Records (Italy) 1998, Rosario Giuliani (saxophone), Joseph Lepore (Doublebass), Pietro Lussu (Piano & Fender Rhodes), Lorenzo Tucci ( Drums), Fabrizio Bosso (Trumpet).
Flashing Lights, Rosario Giuliani Quartet;
Philology (Italy) 1998, Rosario Giuliani (saxophone), Joseph Lepore (doublebass), Pietro Lussu (piano), Lorenzo Tucci (drums).
Passion, Claudio Colasazza;
YVP Music (Germany) 1998, Claudio Colasazza (Piano), Joseph Lepore (doublebass), Rosario Giuliani (Saxophone),Pietro Iodice (Drums), Joy Garrison (Vocals), Daniela Velli (Vocals), Fabrizio Aiello (Percussions).
So Much, Sergio Esposito;
YVP Music (Germany) 1994, Sergio Esposito (Piano), Joseph Lepore (Doublebass), Bob Fix (Soprano Saxophone),
Pietro Condorelli (Guitar), Vittorio Riva (Drums), and others.
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