Joe Salzano

"Joe Salzano has been a professional performer, teacher, and recording artist since 1970. He has studied Classical Clarinet with Nate Agnello (M.S. Julliard) and Stanley Hasty (Eastman School of Music), Jazz saxophone with Gerry Niewood, Joe Romano, Sonny Stitt, and Joe Salzano Sr., Composition with Chuck Mangione, Bill Reichenbach, Thad Jones, and C.Q. Price. Salzano’s playing credits include: Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, The Temptations, Clark Terry, Sammy Davis Jr., Mary Lou Williams, and most recently performed and recorded with bassist John Patitucci. Joe grew up in a musical family and, as a young man, had the wonderful opportunity to sit in with such greats as Dizzy Gillespie, Max Roach, Roy Haynes, James Moody and learn ‘‘Blue Bossa" from Kenny Dorham. As a bandleader, he led the Joe Salzano Big Band from 1978-1993 and the acclaimed swing band Blue Devils from 1996-2000 plus Jazz Combos and numerous other groups. He has recorded 4 albums under his own name. As composer/arranger, Salzano has written for Maynard Ferguson, Woody Herman, Nancy Wilson, Lena Horne, Bottom of the Bucket Dancers, plus the entire 125 song repertoire of Joe Salzano Big Band (15-piece) and 140 song repertoire of The Blue Devils (8-piece). Salzano has taught at University of Buffalo, Cornell University in Ithaca, Hochstein School of Music in Rochester, Community School of Music in Ithaca, N.Y.S. BOCES school programs, plus special university classes and private lessons. Besides his Jazz work, Joe is also an established traditional Native American flutist and listed in the 'Who’s Who’ of the ‘Reference Encyclopedia of the American Indian’. He also worked as substance abuse counselor and is active in church music both locally and nationally. Joe Salzano has throughout his career carried a deep dedication to imparting the love of Jazz to others either as a performer, bandleader, mentor or teacher. His greatest joy comes from seeing others develop their unique individual potential as creative musical artists."