Sketches of Influence is a 5 piece jazz group made of some of New York’s finest jazz performers. Joe Magnarelli (trumpet) Jon Gordon (saxophone) Dave Solazzo (piano) Lou Smaldone (acoustic bass) and Joe Barna (drummer/composer/musical director) make up this quintet.

Sketches of Influence concept is to play beautiful, exciting and accessible original jazz compositions while maintaining the integrity of the pioneers of jazz both past and present.

Sketches of Influence was created with the sketches being the compositions and the influences being the individuals for which each composition is dedicated.  Every song has its own story that is attached to the important influences in composer, Joe Barna’s, past and his present life.  Every piece has been composed with respect to the ways in which each individual has directly affected his growth as a person as well as musician.