Guitarist Dom Minasi — born on the same day as Wes Montgomery, and claiming an affinity with New York’s fabled “downtown scene,”
recorded his first albums for Blue Note Records in the 1970s; long out of print, they’ve become collectors’ items. He and his wife vocalist Carol Mennie were regular attendees of the Jazz Journalists Association’s public, issues-oriented meetings held in a New School Jazz (NYC) concert room during the ’00s, and he joined the organization in that era. Dom has continued to be, simultaneously a creative musician and observant reporter writer. His most recent recording is Me Myself and I.
JJA: We think of Dom Minasi as a musician, a guitarist. When did you start writing about music, and why?
DM: I started writing a newsletter about my gigs in 2OO1, which graduated to a blog called Thoughts of the Day around 2012. In this blog I wrote little stories about my family, music, and all kinds of things.
JJA: Was it hard to find a place to publish?
DM: No. I just went to Google and asked how to start a blog, and I took it from there.
JJA: What led you to the JJA?
DM: Jim Eigo [publicist, Jazz Promo Services] suggested I join as an associcate member, 20 years ago. I just had the newsletter back then. I think it was important because it gave me access to journalists around the world. As a recording musician, those contacts were important to me and my career.
In my blog, I wrote an article called: What’s The Point. Mike Ricci [publisher, online-entrepreneur] read it and invited me to write for All About Jazz. An extended What’s The Point became Parts One and Two and I’ve been writing for All About Jazz since then.
JJA: What do you mostly write about?
DM: For All About Jazz, it is strictly jazz-related topics. Interviews and different subject matter all related to jazz. In my blog, I write about anything: Family, friends, fictional stories and, most recently, guitarists who I feel need more exposure.
JJA: Do you have any rules you stick to?
DM: The only rules I have are my own.
- Make it interesting.
- Stick to the point.
- Spell check every word.
- Have my wife, Carol, read it and make some suggestions if the article needs help.
JJA: What kind of responses have you gotten?
DM: The response has been great. Some of my articles for All About Jazz have had close to 40,000 readers. My blog is slowly getting the readership it deserves.
JJA: How do you assign your time to writing, or to playing?
DM: I do my best work in the morning, usually 5:30 am Eastern Time, whether it’s practicing or writing. Since the pandemic there aren’t many playing gigs, and for the kind of music I play it’s hard to find paying gigs. Most venues in New York City are door gigs, which I won’t do, but I’ve created a nice online teaching practice which keeps me busy.
JJA: Are the two activities complementary in some way?
DM: Definitely. Both are creative and at my age, creativity is very important to me. I have put a lifetime into this music and I am still learning and creating.
JJA: And how are they very different?
DM: To me, creativity in any form is the same.
JJA: I understand you’ve been dealing with serious health issues. How have you been able to sustain yourself, creatively, during such times?
DM: I did have some health issues that have been resolved. My wife, my music, and great doctors saved me.
JJA: Has your writing brought you unexpected benefits?
DM: Yes. I’ve learned how to spend my time wisely.
JJA: Do you have any big projects planned?
DM: Yes. I have written new music as a dedication to my dear friend. Pat Martino for my organ group. I have written music for my string group with added drums: Guitar, Bass, and Cello. All the pieces are named after the doctors that have saved my life.
My quartet was ready to record when the pandemic hit, so I am hoping to record in the next six months
JJA: And then what?
DM: I have written enough new music to be recording for the next few years. Hopefully, I will feel safe enough to get back in the studios and finish my projects.
JJA: We expect to read — what you write — all about it.
