Marco Pignataro is currently the Managing Director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI) in Boston: Video

02.12. – Happy Birthday !!! 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.