Lou Marini

Early life

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 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 became a member of Blood, Sweat & Tears. From 1975–1983, he was a member of the Saturday Night Live house band. He was a member of The Blues Brothers and appeared in the movie and the sequel, Blues Brothers 2000, playing the part of "Blue Lou", a name given to him by Dan Aykroyd.

He played on Frank Zappa's 1977 album Zappa in New York, on Cindy Bullens' 1978 album Desire Wire, and has worked with Aerosmith, Deodato, Maureen McGovern, Steely Dan, James Taylor, Dionne Warwick, the Buddy Rich Big Band, and the Woody Herman Orchestra.

Solo work

Marini has spent most of his professional life working as a sideman and arranger. In 2001, he recorded his first recording as a leader, with Ray Reach and the Magic City Jazz Orchestra, titled Lou's Blues (2003). This album 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 album were written by Grammy Award-winning composer, arrange, and producer Bob Belden.

On March 23, 2010, he 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 music. 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]."

Solo

As guest

With The Blues Brothers

With Maureen McGovern

With John Tropea

With Frank Zappa

With others