The Larry Gareau Trio
The Larry Gareau Trio performs familiar tunes and original music in a lyrical jazz style. The group has performed at the Bushnell’s Belding Theater, New Britain Museum of American Art, Central Connecticut State University, Goff House Gazebo Series, Music in the City Series, Buttonwood Tree, East Hampton Public Library, Douglas Library of Hebron, MCC on Main, Miss Porters School, Hall High School, Avon Old Farms School, Xavier High School and the Baby Grand Jazz Series.
Larry Gareau – trumpet and vocals
Larry Gareau has played supporting performances with Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra Jr., Aretha Franklin, Bernadette Peters, Johnny Mathis, Michael Feinstein, Franki Valli, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Ojays, Mannheim Steamroller, The Irish Tenors, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Don Rickles, Joan Rivers and Regis Philbin. He has performed with the Hartford and New Haven Symphonies and played Broadway shows at the Bushnell, Palace, Shubert and Oakdale theaters, at the Goodspeed Opera House, and at the Harford Stage.
Recent solo appearances with Central Connecticut State University Jazz Ensemble, Southern Connecticut State University Wind Ensemble, Trinity College Jazz Ensemble, Simsbury Town Wide Jazz Festival, Bristol Eastern High School Wind Ensemble, Fitch High School Jazz Ensemble, Avon Old Farms High School Jazz Ensemble, Hartford Pops Band, Farmington Valley Symphony, Colchester Civic Orchestra, and the Nutmeg Symphony. He is on the faculties of Central Connecticut State University and Manchester Community College
Norman Johnson – guitar
Born in Kingston, Jamaica, Johnson moved to Brooklyn, NY and then to Connecticut where he began his music studies. He attended the Hartford Conservatory of Music and the Hartt School of Music, taking classes with Jackie McLean. He studied guitar with Bob Shaw, Allan Spriestersbach, and the award winning guitartist/composer Brian Keane. He has two critically acclaimed solo Cd’s (If Time Stood Still, Get It While You Can) both appearing on the national smooth jazz charts. He has performed on over thirty recordings as a sideman, and played with highly respected musicians such as Dave Brubeck, Bill Mays, Harvie S., Phil Wilson, Steve Gadd, Bernard Perdie and Valerie Ponomarev.
Johnson was on the faculty of Manchester Community College and the Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts. He was the Dean of the Hartford Conservatory of Music and Dance for over nine years. He is also the owner of the recording studio, Manor Recording, where he records local and international artists.
Lou Bocciarelli – bass
Lou Bocciarelli is a member of the Hartford Jazz Orchestra, Al Copley’s Band, Bill’s Seafood Jazz All-Stars, Charlie Holland All-Stars, The Hot Cats Jazz Band, Vince Thompson & TNFT, Johnny and the ECR, Mystic Jazz Ensemble, New London Big Band, can be seen at venues & festivals around the New England area. Lou has had the good fortune to perform in the Jazz world with many wonderful artists including Phil Woods, Louie Bellson, Joe Morello, Dave Bruebeck, Bob Mintzer, Claudio Roditi, Dick Johnson, Tom Kubis, Steve Allen, Donn Trenner, Roger Ingram to name a few. Equally comfortable in the theater, Lou has performed in many pits including performances with the Goodspeed Playhouse in CT, Foxwoods Casino, and the Mohegan Sun Casino. Lou resides in Griswold, CT with his wife Kathryn and two teenage children.