Mostly hired as a jazz trumpeter, Joe Kaminski’s background is in the orchestra – the Seoul Philharmonic in Korea (1988-90, including 1988 Seoul Summer Olympics recordings), Maracaibo Symphony in Venezuela (1979-81), Manhattan School of Music B.M. & M.M. (1974-79).  As a jazz player he was in Buddy Rich’s Band (LP and Video "Mr. Drums: Live on King Street" and DVDs "The Lost West Side Story Tapes" and “The Channel One Set”), Lionel Hampton’s Orchestra, Illinois Jacquet’s Big Band, the Glen Miller Orchestra, and show bands for Tony Bennett, Cab Calloway, Sarah Vaughan, Anita O’Day, Della Reese, and the Four Freshman.  His main livelihood has been freelance trumpet, playing on Gloria Gaynor’s world tours, recordings for Mini Records, work for Ray Rapetti on Holland America World Cruises, the Fifth Dimension, the Four Tops, Donna Summer, Marc Anthony, Gloria Estefan and Thalia.  He is currently principal trumpeter in the Bridgeport Symphony Orchestra, lead trumpeter in the Latino Orquesta la Sociedad, the Israeli Neginah Orchestra, the Italian Red Mike Festival Band, and the rock band The Brooklyn Horns.  He is professor of musicology and ethnomusicology at Fordham University, Lehman College, the College of Staten Island, Long Island University, and Wagne r College.  As an improviser, he works with Hindustani and Arabic musics, as well as the Blues.  He has researched Asante ivory trumpet music in Ghana and is well published in that area.  He earned a Ph.D. in ethnomusicology from Kent State University (2006).