Quick Facts
Biography
Louis "Lou" Marini, Jr. (born May 13, 1945) is an American saxophonist, arranger, and composer. He is noted for his work in the jazz, rock, blues and soul music traditions, and more popularly, for being an original member of the Blues Brothers band as well as featuring in the movie in 1980.
Early life and range of musical experience
Marini graduated from Fairless High School in Navarre, Ohio. His father, Lou Marini, Sr., was the high school's band director and wrote the school's official song. Every year, Fairless bestows the Lou Marini Award in honor of his father. Lou Marini, Sr. died in May 2008. Both Lou Marini Sr. and Lou Marini Jr. were inducted into the Fairless Alumni Association Hall of Honor in May 2010. In June 2010, Marini, Jr. was named artistic director at the first Brianza Blues Festival, in Villa Reale (Monza, Italy). Marini attended North Texas State University College of Music, where he played in the One O'Clock Lab Band. Following graduation, he performed as a professional musician and became a member of Blood, Sweat and Tears. He was a member of the Saturday Night Live house band from 1975 to 1983 and appeared in the movie The Blues Brothers and in the sequel, Blues Brothers 2000, playing the part of "Blue Lou", a name given to him by Dan Aykroyd. He also played on Frank Zappa's 1977 album Zappa in New York, and has worked with Dionne Warwick, Maureen McGovern, Deodato, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Aerosmith, the Buddy Rich Big Band, and the Woody Herman Orchestra.
As leader
Marini has spent most of his professional life working as a sideman and arranger. In 2001, Marini recorded his first recording as a leader, with Ray Reach and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra, titled "Lou's Blues" (released 2003). This recording features his arrangements and compositions, many of which have become favorites for the Lab Bands at the University of North Texas. The liner notes of the CD were written by Grammy Award winning composer / arranger / producer Bob Belden. Lou is currently working on a new CD project, again collaborating with Ray Reach, with vocals by his son, Lou Marini III.
On March 23, 2010, Marini released Blue Lou and Misha Project - Highly Classified, a collaboration with Misha Segal, an Israeli pianist and composer.
Compositions and arrangements
Marini's work as an arranger and composer has been influenced by Gil Evans, Bob Brookmeyer, Thad Jones, and Don Ellis, as well as rock, pop and avant-garde. For example, his song, "Hip Pickles," written for Blood, Sweat and Tears, is described by reviewer Jack Bowers of AllAboutJazz.com, as follows: "Marini's unorthodox notions surface on 'Hip Pickles,' whose free' intro gives way to a melody played by screaming trumpets and Clapton-like guitar, prefacing a stormy interchange between Marini (alto) and Tom Wolfe [on guitar]."
Bob Hensley of Los Angeles, California, wrote in a review:
Lou Marini, Jr. is an unsung jazz hero. Ask any top New York jazz musician who Lou Marini is, and they will tell you he's one of the absolute best jazz musicians in New York. Yet, because he has made a name for himself as a sideman in various high profile pop groups (Steely Dan, James Taylor, Blood, Sweat and Tears, Saturday Night Live Band, the Blues Brothers, etc.), he is all but ignored by the jazz press. This is wrong, because "Lou's Blues" displays Lou Marini's incredible talent and skill as both a composer and as a multi-woodwind player of the highest possible calibre. Lou has a lot to say, and all should listen.
Discography
Solo
- 2004 Lou's Blues
- 2010 Highly Classified
- 2012 Starmaker
Guest
- Aerosmith – Night in the Ruts 1979
- Larry Applewhite – Larry Applewhite (flute, sax) 1979
- Jesse "Wild Bill" Austin – Baby's Back (sax, arrangements)1995
- Patti Austin – Havana Candy 1977
- Carolyn Blackwell Sings Bernstein (flute, sax)1996
- Blood, Sweat & Tears – New Blood (1972)
- Blood, Sweat & Tears – No Sweat (1973)
- The Blues Brothers – Briefcase Full of Blues (sax, voice) 1978
- The Blues Brothers – Blues Brothers (film soundtrack) (sax, voice) 1980
- The Blues Brothers – Made in America 1980
- The Blues Brothers – Best of the Blues Brothers 1981
- The Blues Brothers – The Definitive Collection 1992
- Boyzz – Too Wild to Tame 1978
- Brecker Brothers – Don't Stop the Music 1980
- Jimmy Buffett – Off to See the Lizard 1989
- Cindy Bullens – Desire Wire 1978
- Ann Hampton Callaway – Bring Back Romance (flute, sax)1994
- Cameo – Feel Me 1980
- Dina Carroll – So Close 1993
- Closer Than Ever – Closer Than Ever 1990
- Freddy Cole – It's Crazy, But I'm In Love1996
- Hank Crawford – Groove Master 1990
- Hank Crawford – South Central 1992
- Deodato – Night Cruiser 1980
- Manu Dibango – Gone Clear 1980
- Manu Dibango – Ambassador 1981
- Amy Drinkwater – 'With All My Heart – A Journey to the Soul (saxophone) 2005
- Cornell Dupree – Coast to Coast 1988
- Eric Essix and the Flight Big Band – SuperBlue (saxophone) 2006
- Donald Fagen – Kamakiriad (clarinet, flute, sax) 1993
- Family Thing – Family Thing 1996
- Robben Ford – Inside Story 1979
- Aretha Franklin – Greatest Hits (1980–1994) 1994
- Michael Franks – Tiger in the Rain 1979
- The J. Geils Band – Freeze Frame
- The J. Geils Band – Houseparty: Anthology 1992
- Michael Gibbs – Big Music (flute, sax) 1988
- Michael Gibbs – Big Music (flute, sax) 1996
- GRP – GRP: On the Cutting Edge 1989
- Levon Helm – Levon Helm & The RCO All–stars 1978
- Lena Horne – Live On Broadway 1981
- Bobbi Humphrey – Good Life 1979
- Denise Jannah – I Was Born In Love With You 1995
- Garland Jeffreys – Guts for Love 1983
- B. B. King – King of Blues 1988
- Eddie King – Another Cow's Dead (arrangements, saxophone) 1997
- D. C. Larue Laso – Laso 1977
- D. C. Larue – Ten Dance 1977
- Love & Money – Strange Kind of Love 1988
- Magnet – Worldwide Attraction 1979
- Mike Mandel – Sky Music 1978
- Lou Marini and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra – Lou's Blues 2001
- Maureen McGovern – Naughty Baby 1989
- Maureen McGovern – Baby I'm Yours (flute, sax) 1992
- Maureen McGovern – Out of This World (flute, sax) 1996
- Maureen McGovern – Music Never Ends (flute, sax) 1997
- Meat Loaf – Dead Ringer 1981
- Elliott Murphy – Night Lights 1976
- Walter Murphy – A Fifth of Beethoven 1976
- Milton Nascimento – Angelus (flute) 1994
- Claude Nougaro – Nougayork 1987
- Laura Nyro – Walk the Dog & Lite the Lite (flute, arrangements) 1993
- Laura Nyro – Stoned Soul Picnic: The Best of Laura Nyro (flute, percussion) 1997
- Jill O'Hara– Jill O'Hara 1993
- One O'clock Lab Band – Best of One O'clock 1992
- Eddie Palmieri – Unfinished Masterpiece 1990
- Tom Pierson – Planet of Tears 1996
- Andy Pratt – Shiver in the Night 1977
- Raw Stylus – Pushing Against the Flow (flute, sax) 1995
- Lou Reed – Sally Can't Dance 1974
- Repercussions – Earth and Heaven (flute, sax) 1995
- Jess Band Roden – Player Not the Game 1977
- Joe Roccisano – Shape I'm In (flute, sax) 1993
- Joe Roccisano – Leave Your Mind Behind (flute, sax) 1995
- Lalo Schifrin – Towering Toccata 1976
- Neil Sedaka – Song (clarinet, sax) 1977
- Carly Simon – Hello, Big Man 1983
- Ray Simpson – Ray Simpson 1992
- Phoebe Snow – Something Real 1989
- Spyro Gyra – City Kids 1983
- Marvin Stamm – Stampede 1983
- Ringo Starr – Ringo's Rotogravure 1976
- Steely Dan – Two Against Nature (sax) 2000
- Sunshine – Sunshine (1972)
- T. Life – That's Life 1978
- Kate Taylor – Kate Taylor 1978
- B. J. Thomas – Songs 1973
- B. J. Thomas – Longhorn & London Bridges 1974 (Flute, sax)
- Harvey Thomas – Highways of Gold (sax) 1995
- Peter Tosh – Mystic Man 1979
- Peter Tosh – Wanted Dread & Alive 1981
- John Tropea – Short Trip to Space 1977
- John Tropea – To Touch You Again 1979
- John Tropea – NYC Cats Direct (flute, arrangements, sax) 1985
- Luther Vandross – Forever, For Always, For Love 1982
- Thijs Vanleer – Nice to Have Met You 1978
- Various Artists – Great Outdoors 1988
- Various Artists – Love Songs 1992
- Various Artists – Tribute to Curtis Mayfield (flute, sax) 1994
- Dionne Warwick – Sings Cole Porter 1989
- Wiz – Wiz 1978
- Frank Zappa – Zappa in New York 1978
- Frank Zappa – You Can't Do That On Stage Anymore, Vol. 6 1992
- Frank Zappa – Läther 1996
- Frank Zappa – Have I Offended Someone? 1997