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Bachelor of Music in Percussion Performance at the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford
Master of Music in Percussion Performance with a Minor in Ethnomusicology at the University of North Texas
Joe McCarthy is the Latin Grammy® Award Winning founder, leader, producer and drummer of The New York Afro Bop Alliance Big Band, winner of the 2008 Latin Jazz Album of the Year and nominated in the 51st Grammy’s® for “Afro Bop Alliance” featuring Dave Samuels.
Joe's latest release on his independent record label Angelface Records, "The Pan American Nutcracker Suite," has been nominated in the Best Arrangement category for this year's 24th Latin Grammy Awards®.
As an educator, Joe has held positions at George Mason and Georgetown University, created an online platform entitled “BASIC Training” and has presented clinics and masterclasses throughout the world. He has recorded and/or performed with Paquito D’ Rivera, Conrad Herwig, Slide Hampton, Eddie Daniels, Wayne Bergeron, Poncho Sanchez, Arturo O’ Farrill, Linda Oh, Oscar Stagnaro, and countless others.
Joe is a retired Chief Petty Officer formerly with The United States Naval Academy Band, where he served as Chief in Charge/Drummer of the Next Wave Jazz Ensemble - one of the Navy’s two premier big bands.
He proudly endorses Latin Percussion, Zildjian, Yamaha, Remo, and Vic Firth, featuring Joe’s signature drumstick in the Modern Jazz Collection Series, MJC2.
