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Marco Pignataro

Italian saxophonist Marco Pignataro has performed extensively across Europe and the Americas in jazz festivals and international music venues, sharing stages and clinics with artists such as Eddie Gomez, Joanne Brackeen, Danilo Perez, George Garzone, John Patitucci , Kenwood Dennard, Rufus Reid, Antonio Sanchez, Ben Street, Billy Drummond, Billy Hart, Billy Drummond, Ray Vega, Oscar Stagnaro, Clark Terry and Jon Faddis, among others. Currently, Marco is a member of the Eddie Gomez Quintet and leader of the Marco Pignataro Jazzet. The Eddie Gomez Quintet just released the CD "Per Sempre" (BMF) receiving outstanding reviews from the press.

The latest Marco Pignataro CD release “Sofia’s Heart” was produced by jazz legend Eddie Gomez and features Marco’s compositions and arrangements. “Sofia’s Heart” was recorded in Philadelphia with a stellar group formed by Eddie Gomez, Bill Drummond, Matt Marvuglio and Mark Kramer.

A native of Bologna, Italy, Marco studied classical music at the Bruno Maderna Conservatory of Music and jazz at the University of Miami and Florida International University, as well as with jazz artists and educators such as Steve Grossman, Gary Campbell, Ed Calle, Gary Keller, Ron Miller, Vince Maggio, Mike Orta, Renato D'Aiello, and Richard Dunscomb.

Marco is currently the Managing Director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) in Boston, a new program designed to foster creativity and musicianship through a variety of musical disciplines. Together with Danilo Perez as Artistic Director, Marco leads the BGJI as a center of musical creativity that emphasizes personalized goal-setting and directed study, experiential and service learning with a special emphasis on nature and the environment, business acumen, and intensive access to world-class visiting artists.

Marco has been the director of the Jazz and Caribbean Music Department and Jazz Saxophone Chair at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. As a dedicated music educator, Marco also participates as jazz faculty in the University of Veracruz International Summer Jazz Seminars. Marco's column, Style & Influence, was regularly featured in the quarterly magazine Jazz Improv.

MARCO PIGNATARO is a RICO Performing Artist, Endorser for Mauriat saxophones and for the Applied Microphone Technology Wireless System

Gear

RiCO Performing Artist Mauriat Saxophone Endorser AMT Microphones Endorser


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3
Album Review

Marco Pignataro: Almas Antiguas

Read "Almas Antiguas" reviewed by Dan Bilawsky


Trying to place the music of saxophonist Marco Pignataro squarely in a single space, musical or otherwise, is a fruitless endeavor. His roots span oceans, his sound draws on myriad sources, and his open approach to influence and association(s) catapults him to another realm entirely. Yet all roads paved by heart and art in tandem tend to lead back to the Mediterranean for this man of passion and purpose. It's in that region, growing in the soil of Pignataro's fatherland, ...

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Recording

New Marco Pignataro album a tribute to 6-year-old daughter with serious heart defect

New Marco Pignataro album a tribute to 6-year-old daughter with serious heart defect

Source: Lauren Rogers

The title of saxophonist Marco Pignataro's new album, Sofia's Heart, has a literal meaning. The record is named after Pignataro's 6-year-old daughter Sofia, who is born with a heart defect often linked to children with Down Syndrome like herself. The stress and gripping fear of seeing his young child undergo three open-heart surgeries is felt throughout the record, not only on the mood-drenched title track but on various cuts such as “Homesick," in which Pignataro's saxophone conveys a wounded ache. ...

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Technology

Marco Pignataro Launches New Web Site

Marco Pignataro Launches New Web Site

Source: Michael Ricci

We're proud to announce the launch of a new jazz web site by saxophonist Marco Pignataro at marcopignataro.net. Here you will find exciting news about Marco's current work in the jazz scene, an updated tour schedule, press photos, educational material by Marco, interesting links, writings, and much more. ABOUT MARCO PIGNATARO Italian saxophonist Marco Pignataro is currently the Managing Director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) a new program designed to foster creativity and musicianship through a variety of ...

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Technology

Saxophonist Marco Pignataro Launches new Web Site

Saxophonist Marco Pignataro Launches new Web Site

Source: All About Jazz


"Produced by jazz legend Eddie Gomez, "Sofia's Heart" is an intimate musical diary recorded with a stellar group including Eddie Gomez and Billy Drummond. It features Pignataro's lyrical jazz conception with roots in ECM Impressionism and modern jazz" (CD Baby)

“With "Sofia's Heart" Marco gives us a vehicle to drop our defenses and feel all the joy and pain we normally suppress. One could not ask for more.” -Kenny Werner

“ Marco crafts melodies and plays the kind of fluid, beautiful lines that make you want to laugh and cry . "Sofia's Heart" is so pretty it hurts.” -Steve Greenlee (Boston Globe)

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