Tony Pacini

Tony Pacini Bio: A life in jazz.

The jazz piano artistry of Tony Pacini has been enthusiastically enjoyed by nightclub and festival audiences throughout the West coast as well as in his hometown of Portland, Oregon.

Born in Tokyo, Japan (May, 1970), while his father, (a consumate musician) was on the road at the time; pianist Tony Pacini came to Portland, Oregon as an infant. Tony's exposure to music began at an early age, having the added benefits of growing up in a musical family including three uncles, two aunts and a father all of whom were experienced musicians. A piano student since age 5, Tony led his first trio as a teenager, holding down weekends at a popular jazz spot.

The piano made higher education possible for Tony, including study at Boston's prestigious Berklee College Of Music, courtesy of a all-tuition paid scholarship from jazz critic Leonard Feather.

Upon returning to Portland Tony immersed himself in the jazz scene performing with, most notably: Leroy Vinnegar, Benny Golson, Bud Shank, Mary Stallings, Marlena Shaw, Harry Allen, Ritchie Cole, Antonio Hart, Carl Saunders, Chuck Israels, Chuck Redd, Dan Faehnle, Hadley Calliman, Mel Brown, Ron Steen, Nancy King, Rebecca Kilgore and Terrell Stafford.

In addition to leading the Tony Pacini Trio, Tony Pacini is the pianist and musical director of the Mel Brown Quartet as well as producer of the Mel Brown Quartet's new hit release, “Live: An Evening With The Mel Brown Quartet”.

A Few Concert Highlights:

...Mt. Hood College annual performances and workshops featuring Tony Pacini with Carl Saunders, Terell Stafford, Antonio Hart, and Byron Stripling...

...The Jazz Society of Oregon's First Jazz Concert Series with tenor sax player/BMG recording artist Harry Allen, as well as performances with the Tony Pacini Trio...

...Centrum Jazz Festival Port Townsend, WA. with Dick Berk, Chuck Israels, Dan Faehnle, Phil Baker, and Claudio Roditi...

...The Jazz at Newport Festival with Marlena Shaw and the Mel Brown Quartet...

...The Cathedral Park Jazz Festival with The Tony Pacini Trio, Leroy Vinnegar, Ritchie Cole, Dick Berk, Dan Faehnle, Mel Brown, and Mike Horsfall...

...Mt Hood Festival of Jazz with guitarist Dan Faehnle, Paul Mazzio, and Ron Steen...

A few colleagues Tony has shared bandstands with.

Vocalists: Anette Lowman, Barbara Lusch, Belinda Underwood, Bill Henderson, Carolyn Joyce, Dee Daniels, Eden Atwood, Ernie Andrews, Janis Mann, Jill Seifers, Kacy Colleen, Karrin Allyson, Marilyn Keller, Marlena Shaw, Mary Kadderly, Mary Stallings, Mia Nicholson, Mike Winkle, Nancy King, Ralph Black, Rebecca Kilgore, Robert Hicks, Shelly Rudolph, Shirley Nanette, Steve March-Torme (Mel Torme's son), “Sweet Baby” James Benton, The Four Freshman, Toni Lincoln, Victoria Corrigan.

Saxophonists: Antonio Hart, Benny Golson, Bobby Hernandez, Ben Fowler, Brian Dickerson, Bruce Babad, Bud Shank, Cheryl Alex, Dan Blunck, Dave Evans, Gary Harris, Geoff Fotland, Harry Allen, Hadley Calliman, John Gross, Kirt Petersen, Lee Wuthenow, Marc Fendel, Patrick Lamb, Paul Ostermeier, Pete Crislieb, Pete Peterson, Renato Corranto, Ritchie Cole, Rick Greene, Ricky Sweum, Rob Davis, Rob Scheps, Sam Schlickting, Scott Hall, Steve Frierabandt, Tim Mayor, Warren Rand.

Trumpet Players: Bobby Shew, Bryant Allard, Byron Stripling, Carl Saunders, Claudio Roditi, Dick Titterington, Doc Sevrenson, Gary Barone, Irvin Mayfield Jr, Joe Magnarelli, John Morrell, Paul Mazzio, Terell Stafford, Thara Memory, Randy Brecker, Steve Cannon.

Trombones: Cleve Williams, Dave Bones, Jeff Usitalo, John Moak, Keller Coker.

Bassists: Alvaro Criado, Andre St.James, Ben Jones, Ben Wolfe, Brad Herrit, Chuck Israels, Curtis Daily, Dan Presley, Dan Schulte, Dave Captein, David Friesen, Ed Bennett, Frank Delarosa, Fred Shallanar, Jake Cot, Ken Anoe, Jim Fergusson, Jeff Hallam, Joey Seifers, Kate Davis, Kevin Dietz, Kim Clark, Leroy Vinegar, Matt Garrity, Matt Pavolka, Mike McGuirk, Paul Imm, Paul Unger, Phil Baker, Rob Thomas, Scott Steed, Tim Gilson, Tom Wakeling.

Drummers: Akbar DePriest, Alan Jones, Bernard Purdie, Bobby Torres, Brian Foxworth, Brian Jenkins, Carlton Jackson, Charlie Dogget, Chic Colburn, Chris Hills, Chris Lee, Chuck Redd, Curtiss Craft, Dave Averre, Dave Evans, Dave Weinstock, Dick Berk, Donny Osborn, Eric Powell, Gary Hobbs, Israel Anno, Jeff Cumpston, Jeff Evans, Kenny Johnson, Kevin Frazee, Lawrence Williams, Maria Joyner, Mark Aalto, Mel Brown, Neil Masson, Randy Givens, Rhinehardt Mels, Ron Steen, Steve Moretti, Tim Rap, Todd Strait, Tony Jefferson.

Guitarists: Dale Lawerence, Dan Balmer, Dan Faehnle, Dan Heck, Eli Reisman, Giacomo Gates, Jerry Hahn, John Keyser, John Stowell, John Butler, Matt Schiff, Mimi Fox, Norman Sylvestor, Paul Weeden, Ralph Pritikin, Stevie Zee.

Vibraphonists: Chuck Redd, Mark Sherman, Mike Horsfall.

Other performances of note: Al Criado, Alan Jones, AM Northwest television appearance with Steve March-Torme (mel Torme‘s son); Andre St.James, Art Fair, Bandon Performing Arts Center Jazz Concert featuring the Tony Pacini Trio with tenor sax player Lee Wuthenow, Bellingham, Washington concert series; Ben Fowler, Ben Jones, Ben Wolfe, Bernard Purdie & the Bernard Purdie tribute, Blue Lake Park Concerts, Blue Note Lounge, Bobby Bradford, Bobby Hernandez, Bobby Shew, Bobby Young, Brad Herrit, Bret Malmquist, Brian Dickerson, Brian Foxworth, Brian Jenkins, Bruce Babad, Bryant Allard, Bud Shank, Carlton Jackson, Charlie Dogget, Cheryl Alex, Chic Colburn, Chris Hills, Chris Lee, Cleve Williams, College of Reno, Nevada Festival; composition of original score for a production of W. Shakespeare's “A Mid-Summer's Night Dream” (Northwest Repertory Theatre), Curtis Daily, Curtiss Craft, Dale Lawerence, Dan Balmer, Dan Blunck, Dan Davis, Dan Faehnle's CD “My Ideal” (Pillar Productions 1996; featuring Dan Faehnle, Tony Pacini, Ed Bennett, Mel Brown, Larry Fuller, Tom Grant, Bobby Torres, and Curtis Craft); Dan Heck, Dan Schulte, Dave Captein, Dave Evans Dave Weinstock, David Androsig, Dee Daniels, Diane Mitchell concert series with Jim Fergusson, Dick Titterington, Doc Sevrenson, Donny Osborn, Ed Bennett, Eden Atwood (Concord recording artist), Eli Reisman, Eric Powell, Eric Warren, vocalist Ernie Andrews, Frank Delarosa, Fred Shallanar, Gary Barone, Gary Harris, Gary Hobbs, Geoff Fotland, Giacomo Gates, Glen Eden Beach Concert Series with Harry Allen (Jazz Oregon), Hadley Calliman, Israel Anno, Jake Cot, James Karge-Taylor, Jazz In The Park, Jeff Cumpston, Jeff Evans, Jeff Hallam, Jeff Usitalo, Joey & Jill Seifers, John Gross, John Keyser, John Morrell, John Stowell, Jonathan Butler, Keith Barry, Keller Coker, Ken Anoe, Kenny Johnson, Kevin Cambell, Kevin Dietz, Kevin Frazee, Kim Clark, Kirt Petersen, Lawrence Williams, Lee Wuthenow, Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival (Moscow, Idaho); live radio performances K.M.H.D., K.P.L.U., Marc Fendel, Maria Joyner, Marilyn Keller, Mark Aalto, Mary Kadderly, Matt Garrity, Matt Pavolka, Matt Schiff, Mike McGuirk, Mike Winkle, Nancy King, Neil Masson, Norman Sylvestor, Akbar & Mario DePriest, Pacific Lutheran College Festival; Patrick Lamb, Paul Imm, Paul Mazzio, Paul Ostermeier, Paul Unger, Paul Weeden, Pearl's (San Francisco, CA.), performances onboard The Portland Spirit and The Sternwheeler, Pete Peterson, Petty Cash, Phil Baker, Ralph Black, Ralph Pritikin, Randy Brecker, Randy Givens, Renato Corranto, Reno, Nevada (at the Reno Hilton as musical director and pianist of the Mel Brown Quartet), Rhinehardt Mels, Richard Applegate, Rick Greene, Ricky Sweum, Rob Scheps, Rob Thomas, Robert Hicks, Ron Steen, Salishan Jazz Party, Sam Schlickting, Scott Hall, Scott Steed, Shirley Nannette, Stan Bock, Steve Cannon, Steve Doyle, Steve Moretti, Stevie Zee, Stu Cook, “Sweet Baby” James Benton, Tall Jazz (Dan Presley, Kurt Deutcher, Mike Horsfall), Ted Viera, The Art Abrahms Swing Machine, The Bite, Jazz Alley (Seattle, WA.), The Four Freshman, The Mt.Hood Kicks Band, The Portland Rose Festival, The Red Mitchell Memorial Concert accompanying Bud Shank, Tim Gilson, Tim Mayor, Tim Rap, Tom Wakeling, Tony Jefferson, Tri-cities, Washington Jazz Series (member of the Mel Brown Quintet); Vancouver Wine & Jazz Festival, Victoria Corrigan, Warren Rand, William Thomas.

Awards: