Frank Catalano
Right place at the right time? Absolutely. Luck? Definitely. But after Frank Catalano stepped in for a no-show tenor sax during jazz organist Charles Earland's set at Andy's Jazz Club in Chicago (a club the then 17-year-old slick-talked his mother into taking him to) it wasnt luck that made him the youngest solo artist signed to the legendary Delmark label, a tour buddy of Tony Bennett, a U.S. Patent-holding sax innovator or the youngest saxophonist ever voted into the DOWNBEAT Critics Poll.
Catalano, who bought his first sax at 12 with the money he saved mowing lawns, is a member of a small, but exclusive club: young musicians who have experienced and worked with the greatness of people like Charles Earland, Tony Bennett, Von Freeman and Randy Brecker. At only 28, his experience which includes a degree in classical composition from DePaulfused with and a raw, natural talent create a saxophonist with missile-speed fingering and a unique styling that has attracted even the likes of Santana, whom he toured with at the ripe age of 18. Stars like John Legend, Jennifer Lopez and Destiny’s Child all have invited Catalano to contribute to some of the top albums of the past 12 months, including Maurice Joshua’s remix of John Legends Grammy award-winning song Ordinary People.
Luck works in strange ways. At 16, while messing around with the engine of a 72 Beetle in front of his mothers house, Catalano severed off his right, middle finger. A career ending move? It could have been. But after reconstructive surgery, Catalano forced his hands to relearn technique, skill and artistry. He triumphed a glistening musician and signed with Delmark to record his first solo album, Cut it Out with trumpeter Ira Sullivan at only 19.
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Album Review
- Bye Bye Blackbird by Angelo Leonardi
- Mighty Burner by Jim Santella
- Mighty Burner by Mark Corroto
- Pins 'n' Needles by Jack Bowers
- Live at the Green Mill by Derek Taylor
August 18, 2014
Saxophonist Frank Catalano And Drummer Jimmy Chamberlin Pay Tribute To...
November 14, 2013
Jazz This Week: Block, Gibson and Recoder, Jim Manley, Frank Catalano,...
October 01, 2009
Jazz This Week: Dee Dee Bridgewater, Ann Hampton Callaway, Eric Person,...
September 25, 2008
Jazz This Week: David Sanborn, Cedar Walton, Vinny Golia Large...
September 21, 2008
Frank Catalano's "Funky Dunky" and "Mighty Burner"
July 09, 2008
Frank Catalano Performs July 16 at NYC Jazz Standard to Celebrate CD...
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Saxophone, tenor
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