Nick Di Maria, a 42-year-old jazz trumpeter, is making a name for himself in New Haven’s music scene. Di Maria’s love for music started when he was in fifth grade, and he chose the trumpet because Chevy Chase looked cool miming playing it in a Paul Simon music video.
A Career in Jazz
Di Maria’s passion for jazz grew as he discovered the music of jazz trumpeter Lee Morgan. He went on to play in drum corps, garage bands, and eventually formed his own ensembles. He also started an organization called the Jazz Underground, which features New Haven combos.
Di Maria recently released an album on vinyl, which he says is a trip back in time to when people listened to full albums on an LP or CD. He believes that with streaming, people often miss out on the full experience of listening to music.
Giving Back to the Community
Di Maria is not only a talented musician but also a dedicated music teacher. He has been teaching at Truman School in the Hill for 13 years and helps his students, many of whom are English-language learners, access the universal language of rhythm and drumming.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
