Joe Puma


Joe Puma was an American jazz guitarist.
Puma was born in the Bronx, New York. His first professional experience came with Joe Roland in 1949–50. He played in the band led by Cy Coleman. He acted as a session musician for many jazz musicians during the 1950s, including Louie Bellson, Artie Shaw's Gramercy Five, Eddie Bert, Herbie Mann, Mat Mathews, Chris Connor, and Paul Quinichette, Lee Konitz, and Dick Hyman; he also recorded extensively as a leader at this time. In the 1960s, he worked with Morgana King, Bobby Hackett, Gary Burton, and Carmen McRae, and between 1972 and 1977 he and Chuck Wayne led an ensemble. He continued to perform and teach into the late 1990s.

Honors

In 1957 he won the New Star Award for Guitar from Metronome Magazine.

Discography

As leader

Joe Puma Wild Kitten The Fourmost Guitars with Jimmy Raney, Chuck Wayne, Dick Garcia Jazz Like Tweet: Jazz Versions of Authentic Bird Calls Interactions with Chuck Wayne Shining Hour with Hod O'Brien, Red Mitchell It's a Blue World with Murray Wall, bass; Eddie Locke, drums

As sideman

With Louis BellsonThe Amazing Artistry of Louis Bellson The Exciting Mr. Bellson Skin Deep
With Chris ConnorThis Is Chris Chris Chris Connor Sings the George Gershwin Almanac of Song A Jazz Date with Chris Connor
With Morgana KingStretchin' Out Looking Through the Eyes of Love Portraits This is Always
With Herbie MannFlamingo Herbie Mann Plays Love and the Weather The Herbie Mann-Sam Most Quintet Flute Soufflé Flute Flight Salute to the Flute Yardbird Suite The Jazz We Heard Last Summer Sultry Serenade Gone Native When Lights Are Low
With Artie ShawArtie Shaw and His Gramercy Five Album #3 Artie Shaw and His Gramercy Five Album #4 The Last Recordings Rare & Unreleased More Last Recordings: The Final Sessions
With others