A talented bop alto soloist,
Joe Maini was a colorful character whose erratic personal life and senseless early death prevented him from fulfilling his potential. Early on
Maini toured with the big bands of
Alvino Rey and
Johnny Bothwell, and he was briefly with
Claude Thornhill in 1951. Moving to Los Angeles,
Maini was a fixture in both the West Coast jazz movement and in the studios. He often worked with comedian
Lenny Bruce and in big bands, including those led by
Terry Gibbs (the Dream Band),
Gerald Wilson,
Bill Holman,
Louie Bellson and Shelly Manne's Men.
Maini, who was in top form on a pair of jam session albums in 1954 with
Clifford Brown and
Max Roach, also recorded with
Jack Sheldon,
Red Mitchell,
Kenny Drew and
Jimmy Knepper, among others.
Maini, who never led his own recording session, died at age 34 after losing at Russian roulette. ~ Scott Yanow