From Pop to Bop

Carli Muñoz was given a piano for a birthday gift at age 13 in 1961. After several month of ignoring the instrument and total refusal to take music lessons, Carli says that out of boredom he started playing the piano; "to my amazement the music flowed as if I already knew how play!" Although born and raised in Puerto Rico, his music of choice was jazz, European avant garde and pop American music. "I was a hopeless romantic and adventurer," Carli says, "even at my pre-teens my choice of music ranged between ragtime, early american ballads, boogie woogie and hard core jazz. At the same time I had a particular affinity for the music of Erik Satie and Edgard Varèse".

By age 15, after having experimented with a local neighborhood garage dance combo and a rock´n roll trio of his making, Carli got his shot to play with the jazz veterans that were performing regularly at the jazz city nightspots. Among some of those musicians were; bassist Freddy Thomas, percussionist Sabú Martinez (who had several recording guest appearances with Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers), drummers Monchito Muñoz and Joe Morello (also a regular with the Dave Brubeck Quartet), and late legendary trumpet player Juancito Torres.

From 1965 to 1969, Carli formed an original rock band with 2004 Grammy Award winner Jorge Calderon called "The Living End", aka "Space", performing as a house band at the famed Manhattan night spot Scott Munny´s "Rolling Stone" creating waves in the mid and late 60´s New York City rock scene.

After receiving an invitation from a friend to visit Los Angeles for a weekend (the weekend lasted 16 years), Carli went to LA where soon enough he started getting calls from various artist to perform and record. Some of those artists were: Wilson Pickett, The Beach Boys (11 years), George Benson, Les McCann, Chico Hamilton, Wayne Henderson, Charles Lloyd, Peter Cetera, and Evie Sands.

During the 70´s while working with The Beach Boys, Carli had an experimental fusion group called "Your Own Space". Late night sessions went on in-between tours through the decade at his home recording studio in Mt. Washington, where local jazz musician would often gather to play and record, often until day light. His band (Your Own Space), also performed frequently at the LA underground jazz spots playing Carli’s original songs and alternating regularly with Al Jarreou and Ricky Lee Jones (before they became famous). In those days Carli’s as well as Jarreou’s and Jones band got paid only by the collections from happy patrons, passing the hat. Some of the musicians in Carli’s band were: Duke Mc Vinny (bass), Art Rodriguez (drums), Chris Pinnick (guitar), Michael Turre (horns and flute), Bob Williams (trumpet), Larry “Nasty” Latimer (percussion), and Carli on Fender Rhodes piano.

In 1985 Carli visited Puerto Rico (another long weekend), reestablished home-base, and has been performing with his jazz trio until now. In December 1998 Carli opened Carli Café Concierto, a world class fine dining and live jazz restaurant where he performs. Carli keeps close ties with the mainland where he often goes to record under his own label Pelosenel Q Lo Records. Four of his most recent CDs are: Love Tales (piano solo), Both Sides Now; a series of duets, trio and quartet pieces with bassist Eddie Gomez, drummer Joe Chambers and flautist Jeremy Steig, Live at Carli's Vol. 1, the first of a live series recorded at Carli Cafe Concierto, Maverick, with Eddie Gomez on bass, Jack DeJohnnete on drums and special gueasts Don Byron on clarinet and David Sanchez on tenor sax. Maverick was select among the best of 2006 by Downbeat Magazine (January 2007 issue). In February 24th of 2007 Carli was featured on Marian McPartland's Piano Jazz radio show on National Public Radio, shortly following with the release of Carli Muñoz Trio- Live at Carli's Vol 2.