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A native of Southboro,
Massachusetts, Dave Pietro has been on the New York jazz scene
since 1987. He was the lead alto saxophonist for the Toshiko
Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra from 1994-2003, recording six CD's with
the band during this time. He has also toured and/or recorded
with the bands of Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, Maynard Ferguson,
Maria Schneider, The Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, John Fedchock,
Jim Widner and many other ensembles. Dave has worked in the
orchestras of dozens of different Broadway musicals and has
played at jazz clubs, jazz festivals and concert halls in more
than 30 countries throughout Asia, Australia, Europe, North
and South America.
Pietro has also performed with many other well known bands and
musicians including: Paul Anka, Louis Bellson, Blood Sweat &
Tears, Bobby Caldwell, Ray Charles, Rosemary Clooney, Harry
Connick Jr., Michael Feinstein, Liza Minnelli and John Pizzarelli.
In addition, he studies East Indian music and performs in tabla
artist Sandip Burman's group "East Meets Jazz". Dave
was selected as a semi-finalist for the first two Thelonious
Monk Institute of Jazz International Saxophone Competitions
(1991 & 1996) and was a finalist in the 1995 JAZZIZ Magazine
"Woodwinds on Fire" talent search. In 1996 he was
the recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the
Arts and in 2002 he was selected as runner-up in the Second
Annual Jazzconnect.com International Jazz Competition.
Dave's first two CD's "Forgotten Dreams" (A-Records
1996) and "Wind Dance" (A-Records 1998) which both
feature Dave Holland on bass, Kenny Werner on piano, and Bill
Stewart on drums each received excellent reviews and much critical
acclaim. His third CD "Now Becoming Then" (A-Records
1999) which features drummer Brian Blade, bassist Scott Colley
and trumpeter Scott Wendholt among others is a "rich feast
for listeners" according to Bill Bennett of Jazz Times
magazine. Dave's fourth CD "Standard Wonder-The Music of
Stevie Wonder" was voted one of the top 10 jazz CD's of
2001 by Bob Blumenthal of the Boston Globe and received 4 stars
from Downbeat magazine. Bill Milkowski of Jazz Times said "fronting
a stellar septet...Pietro has come up with inspired interpretations
and has rewritten the book of Stevie with intelligence, creative
daring and an arranger's sense of the big picture." Pietro's
fifth CD "Embrace," a Latin flavored project which
features many of New York City's best Brazilian jazz players
will be released in March of 2004.
Pietro holds a bachelor's degree in music education from North
Texas State University where he toured and recorded four albums
with the school's One O'clock Lab Band. He also holds a masters
degree in jazz composition from New York University. Currently
he is an adjunct faculty member for the City College of New
York, Hofstra University, New York University and Long Island
University (CW Post Campus). Dave is sponsored by the Selmer
Instrument Company and has given hundreds of workshops and concerts
at schools around the country. |
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