Thanks for visiting! I’ve created this page to let my friends know when and where I’m performing publicly.
***Update*** - I've created a MySpace music site so I can upload my own recordings. There are a few in the playlist now. More information about them is in the "My Profile Playlist Info" section, below.
Upcoming Public Performances
Friday, January 29, Jerry Pia & Slik Stuff
9:30 pm – 1:30 am at Route 22 Restaurant & Bar
1080 W. Main Street, Stamford, CT
203-323-2229
Sunday, January 31, Sonny Carroll Orchestra - classic swing band for dancing or listening
5 – 8 pm at Sciortino’s Restaurant
988 Route 22, Brewster, NY
845-279-9255
Wednesday, February 17, Ken Nigro Group - 4 saxes plus rhythm & vocals playing jazz, motown, funk and more!
8:30 – 11:30 pm at The Red Door
675 Main Street (Route 63), Watertown, CT
203-945-6688
Saturday, February 20, Mia & the Riff
9:30 pm – 1:30 am at Draft House
350 Bridgeport Ave., Shelton, CT
203-402-0525
Some basic info about me: ok, I’m not really 100 years old and my “status” as a “swinger” is meant in the musical sense! MySpace required me to answer some silly questions. I guess I’m old school when it comes to giving out irrelevant personal information.
Instruments I play: I am primarily a tenor and alto sax player. I also double on soprano and baritone sax, as well as clarinet and flute.
Styles of music I perform: jazz, rock, funk, blues, disco, etc! Pretty much anything other than classical saxophone, although I’ve been known to do a little of that too in ensemble work.
Performance background: I’ve played with many different bands in the NY City tri-state area over the past 20+ years. I never wanted to live a musician’s life on the road, so most of my playing has been with local groups. Some of the nationally known musicians and groups I’ve performed with include Sal Salvador, Lew Anderson, Larry Coryell and Larry Chance & the Earls.
Musical education: I have a B.S. in Music Education from the U. of Bridgeport, where I was fortunate to play under the direction of both Neil Slater, just before he left for North Texas State, and Bill Finegan, former leader of the Sauter-Finegan Orchestra and arranger for Glenn Miller. I’ve studied saxophone privately with Bob Kolb, Nathan Davis, Warne Marsh, Gary Klein, Frank Foster, and most recently with Dave Tofani. I also had some excellent early musical experiences that began my lifelong love of jazz and big band music, which included playing with the Staples High School (Westport, CT) Jazz Ensemble under the direction of Tom Alberts, the Fred Robinson Swing Band and the McDonalds High School Jazz Band. My education continues to this day with every rehearsal, gig and lesson, whether I’m the teacher or the student. That’s one of the great things about music! There’s always something new to learn, so it’s never dull.
Major musical influences: John Coltrane, Charlie Parker, Hank Mobley, Dexter Gordon, Cannonball Adderley, Art Pepper, Michael Brecker, Wilton Felder, Grover Washington, Jr., Miles Davis. There are many players I also really enjoy, but these are my main men.
Some of the bands I currently perform with:
Berkshire Big Band – concert big band jazz
Butch Taylor Band - party and club date band
Ken Nigro Group – sax ensemble with rhythm section
New Haven Jazz Orchestra
Sonny Carroll Orchestra – classic swing dance band
My Profile Playlist Info: I finally created a MySpace music page so I could post a few recent recordings of myself and link them here. Unfortunately I haven't done any studio work in a very long time, so these are live recordings and the sound quality isn't so good.
"Impressions" is a 2008 recording that features a big band arrangement written by me. Mike Herman is the tenor sax player on this recording, while I am featured on soprano sax. "Georgia" features a quartet I work with every few months or so. Jim Santucci is on piano, Donn Doucette on bass and Roger Post on drums. This was recorded in April 2008 at Pizzeria Lauretano in Bethel, CT. "Taking a Chance on Love" was recorded as part of a talent show at the China club in 2004. Owen Yost is on bass, the rest of the rhythm section is unknown.
I’ve also added some other recordings I’ve played on over the years that are available through other MySpace sites. The “Them Changes Medley” is a live recording I did - I have a tenor solo on Sly & the Family Stone's "Thank You" about 7:35 in. “I Got the News” is a studio recording from 1985 that features me on all the saxophone parts, including a rare baritone sax solo for me. “I Don’t Wanna Lose You” was a studio effort from 1988 with me on the tenor solo and all backing sax parts. “Premonition” is a more heavily produced progressive "new wave" track from 1983 that features a harmonized alto solo (this kind of playing got me kicked out of some "pop" bands at the time!).
Online Now!
