For those who do not know Dom Minasi, he is a New York Jazz Guitarist who has branched off from the traditional to the free. He is a guitarist who heeds no master but himself and who continues to break new ground in the realm of Free Jazz or more distinctly, improvised music at it’s purest form. Some get it and some don’t, which is cool, because Dom is satisfying his own musical soul and if you hang on for the ride, all the better.

That being said, I had the pleasure of meeting Dom last year (2006) during the Montreal Jazz Festival where he played to a sold out crowd. It was a pleasure to meet the man, and his wife Carol, and to walk in their world for a few hours. Suffice it to say it was very cool as I got to hear some great stories and to make new friends. So it was with deep sadness that I heard about Dom’s fight with prostate cancer. I called him when I found out and we spoke about his being very weak and having to go through serious bouts of radiation alongside hormone therapy. It had been a couple of months since we last spoke and I was curious as to how he was making out but felt I should hold off the questions until I heard more. Well, today I am happy to report that he is fighting back and doing well. He sent out an email that I would like to post here and I have his blessings. So without further ado, here’s Dom!

“Many of you have asked why there hasn’t been any activity posted on my website on the ‘Gigs Page’ since the end of March. In November of 2006, I was diagnosed with Prostate Cancer. On January 23, 2007 I had my prostate removed. By the end of February I felt well enough to work again. I had a great time working with Katie Bull, Cameron Brown and Lou Grassi at the 55 Bar. Then in March my Trio played The Stone and then The Goat, this time featuring saxophone great, Sabir Mateen. I thought I was on a roll and cancer free, but in April, blood tests revealed that surgery did not get all the cancer. Most of my time for that month was spent going back and forth to doctors, and by June, I began radiation (5 days per week) along with hormone therapy. Each had its own set of side effects. To say the least it was the worst seven weeks of my life. The radiation ended the second week in August, but the hormone therapy continues till the end of the year. All of this has left me too weak to practice, and I actually had to turn down gigs! (a musicians nightmare). Fortunately, I picked up two composing gigs, which allowed me to work but kept me still & seated - using mostly mental energy. By mid-September, I will be back in shape and I’m looking forward to the release of my new CD, The Jon Hemmersam/Dom Minasi Quartet featuring guitarist Jon Hemmersam, Ken Filiano and Kresten Osgood. Then in October, the opening of Almost Normal, a new play by Sally-Jane Heit, directed by Gretchen Cryer with music & sound by yours truly, and at the end of the month, The Jazz Improv Convention, where I will do a workshop: The Art of Taking It Out….hope to see some of you there! So the future looks bright and I intend to be around long time.
And thanks to all of you who sent good wishes and concerns…I appreciate it more than words can express.
Dom Minasi “

So there you have it. He’s coming back and coming back strong. I just hope New York and the World are ready…;)

If you would like to know more about Dom Minasi, check out an interview I did with him for Jazz Guitar Life by clicking here or visit his website. And make sure to check out his CD reviews on my reviews page.