We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Joe Fritz. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Joe below.

Joe, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Can you open up about a risk you’ve taken – what it was like taking that risk, why you took the risk and how it turned out?

I was born and grow up in Budapest, Hungary. I lived in a real musician life there, but every year gaves different challenges. I ranked in the best 30 jazz clarinetists in the World in 2012 and won the “clarinetist of the year” poll in Hungary year by year, but the on the other side I needed to find other jobs. I worked massage therapist, driver, courier etc…
The risk: I gave up there and after 28 years in the business, I was able to got the strongest artist visa in the USA. I moved here with my wife and started everything from the first page.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

My mission is finding the perfect balance between the clarinet and the jazz music. Lot of musicians playing on the instrument like a jazz figure, but not very good clarinet players. On the other side a lot of good clarinet players playing not really good jazz feeling. I am trying to find the line when the jazz music listeners and the clarinet players also enjoy my playing and my music.

I have 11 albums on my own name and more than 50 when I was a special guest. Every albums, every songs is different, but I can hear myself and that’s the goal.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

If you have something inside, you need to show it. Forget the money because no Artist in the history who picked up instrument or pencil for money.
Show yourself and your audience will find you.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

I started my career in Hungary. I worked In Austria, Germany, Italy, Switzerland Norway, Slovakia, Romania, France, Croatia Serbia, Poland. Also, I lived in Australia and the USA. All of these countries differences. That means the audience is difference, the reactions is different and the music you play is different atmospherically in a new place. I always need to find how works my instrument and the music in a different and very new places with very new colleagues.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://fritzjazz.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fritzjazz_clarinet?igsh=M21yemdzYzdhd2d0&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1BGgj1M4HQ/?mibextid=wwXIfr
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-fritz-0b16101?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@fritzjazz1?si=-g7Iyg0ki_hLAZLN

Image Credits

Lucas Santana – tenor sax

Allan Vache and Antti Sarpila – clarinets