Eastern Illinois University will be treated to one of New York City’s premiere jazz trumpet players, Joe Magnarelli, Friday to kick off the 45th annual EIU Jazz Festival.

Magnarelli has been known for being a great jazzman and jazz educator since 1986. The trumpet has been in the hands of Magnarelli since he was in the sixth grade. His interest came when he heard his teacher playing.

“I heard my teacher playing and he had a great sound, and I wanted that sound,” Magnarelli said.

His playing skills grew with his experience playing with artists such as Lionel Hampton, Harry Connick Jr. and Jack McDuff.

This is Magnarelli’s first visit to Eastern. He said the closest he’s been was in Peoria when he performed with Harry Connick Jr.

It was Sam Fagaly, associate professor of music, who thought to bring Magnarelli to Eastern’s jazz festival. “I learned about him on a trip to New York where I saw him play at the Village Vanguard,” Fagaly said.

“Performing with him is a great experience for students, to hear his story and how he performs,” Fagaly said.

J.B. Fairs, a graduate student in instrumental performance, will be performing with Magnarelli on Friday. “It will be interesting to hear his angle on jazz and how he plays,” he said. Fairs has played with artists such as Count Basie and Joe Williams.

Magnarelli has released four albums; his most recent, “New York-Philly Junction,” was released this February.

The Star Ledger from New Jersey describes him as “The bebop-based trumpeter Joe Magnarelli has it all: a warm, friendly sound, a splendid melodic imagination, a knack for writing memorable themes and for picking the best works by others, and a no-nonsense swing feel.”

He also is featured in the book “Trumpet Kings: The Players Who Shaped The Sound Of Jazz Trumpet” by Scott Yanow.

Magnarelli will be performing on Friday and will be the visiting artist in clinics being hosted by the EIU Faculty for high school and junior high bands performing on Saturday.

The EIU Jazz Festival is at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the Martin Luther King, Jr. University Union Grand Ballroom. Admission is $2 for students and seniors.