Born: June 28, 1962 Primary Instrument: Percussion
JOHN PIETARO: vibraphone, xylophone, frame drums, drum kit, conga, bongos, glockenspiel, drumkit, numerous small percussives; doubles include voice. Leader of THE RED MICROPHONE (http://www.reverbnation.com/theredmicrophone) w/Ras Moshe, Rocco John Iacovone, Nicolas Letman-Burtinovic), and THE DISSIDENT ARTS ORCHESTRA, a large improvisatory ensemble with roving line-up. Frequent collaborations with Ras Moshe, Karl Berger, Cheryl Pyle, Erika Dagnino, others. He has performed for Jazz and New Music events throughout the NYC area, sharing the stage over the years with Alan Ginsberg, John Zorn, Warren Smith, Amiri and Amina Baraka, Fred Ho, Salim Washington, Ken Filiano, Jason Hwang, Matt Lavelle, Elodie Lauten, among many others. He is also a member of Karl Berger’s Improvisers Orchestra. Other projects include Radio NOIR (www.reverbnation.com/radionoir), which released a 4-song EP, The Lost Broadcast (2011).
Pietaro is the founder and director of the annual Dissident Arts Festival, and has spoken on revolutionary culture at Left Forum and other venues. He holds an MA in Music Education and Music Performance (percussion) and a BA in Music Therapy; he also studied at Karl Berger’s Creative Music Studio.
