Sal Nistico
Encyclopedia
Sal Nistico, born Salvatore Nistico 2 April 1938 in Syracuse (New York), died 3 March 1991 in Berne, Switzerland, was a jazz tenor saxophonist.
Associated for many years with Woody Herman
's Herd, Nistico played in the 1962-65 group, considered one of the Herman's best lineups, alongside Phil Wilson
, Bill Chase
, Nat Pierce
and Jake Hanna
.
He started playing alto sax, switching to tenor in 1956, starting out on a Buescher before switching to a Conn 10M tenor saxophone, and briefly played baritone sax.
In 1965, he joined Count Basie
but returned on many occasions to play with Herman. Around that time he was also a member of
Dusko Goykovich's sextet, together with other musicians associated with the Herd such as Carl Fontana
, Nat Pierce
, and Michael Moore
. He also played with Nat Adderley
, Don Ellis
, Stan Tracey
, Chuck Mangione
and Buddy Rich
.
Sal's solo work contrasts his big band work. The solo work is more bebop oriented, as heard on the Heavyweights recording.
Associated for many years with Woody Herman
Woody Herman
Woodrow Charles Herman , known as Woody Herman, was an American jazz clarinetist, alto and soprano saxophonist, singer, and big band leader. Leading various groups called "The Herd," Herman was one of the most popular of the 1930s and '40s bandleaders...
's Herd, Nistico played in the 1962-65 group, considered one of the Herman's best lineups, alongside Phil Wilson
Phil Wilson (trombonist)
Phillips Elder Wilson, Jr. is a jazz trombonist, arranger, and teacher. He might be best known as an instructor at the Berklee College of Music and a former chairman at the jazz division of the New England Conservatory of Music.He began on piano, but was advised to switch to trombone due to his...
, Bill Chase
Bill Chase
Bill Chase was an American trumpet player and leader of the jazz-rock fusion band Chase.-Biography:...
, Nat Pierce
Nat Pierce
Nat Pierce was an American jazz pianist and arranger born in Somerville, Massachusetts, perhaps best-known for being pianist and arranger for the Woody Herman band from 1951–1955...
and Jake Hanna
Jake Hanna
Jake Hanna was an American jazz drummer.Hanna first performed in his home town of Boston, and was the house drummer at Storyville for a number of years in the 1950s and 1960s. He played with Toshiko Akiyoshi , Maynard Ferguson , Marian McPartland , and Woody Herman's Orchestra...
.
He started playing alto sax, switching to tenor in 1956, starting out on a Buescher before switching to a Conn 10M tenor saxophone, and briefly played baritone sax.
In 1965, he joined Count Basie
Count Basie
William "Count" Basie was an American jazz pianist, organist, bandleader, and composer. Basie led his jazz orchestra almost continuously for nearly 50 years...
but returned on many occasions to play with Herman. Around that time he was also a member of
Dusko Goykovich's sextet, together with other musicians associated with the Herd such as Carl Fontana
Carl Fontana
Carl Charles Fontana was an American jazz trombonist. Because Fontana rarely recorded under his own name and toured only occasionally after 1958, he is significantly less famous among mainstream jazz fans, although well-known amongst trombonists.-Birth to 1958:Born in Monroe, Louisiana, Fontana...
, Nat Pierce
Nat Pierce
Nat Pierce was an American jazz pianist and arranger born in Somerville, Massachusetts, perhaps best-known for being pianist and arranger for the Woody Herman band from 1951–1955...
, and Michael Moore
Michael Moore (bassist)
Michael Moore is an American jazz bassist.Moore started on bass at age 15, at Withrow High School in Cincinnati, where he performed in various ensembles as well as the Presentation Orchestra in George G. "Smittie" Smith's famed The Withrow Minstrels. He played with his father in nightclubs in...
. He also played with Nat Adderley
Nat Adderley
Nathaniel Adderley was an American jazz cornet and trumpet player who played in the hard bop and soul jazz genres. He was the brother of saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley....
, Don Ellis
Don Ellis
Don Ellis was an American jazz trumpeter, drummer, composer and bandleader. He is best known for his extensive musical experimentation, particularly in the area of unusual time signatures...
, Stan Tracey
Stan Tracey
Stanley William Tracey CBE is a British jazz pianist and composer, most influenced by Duke Ellington and Thelonious Monk.-Early career:...
, Chuck Mangione
Chuck Mangione
Charles Frank "Chuck" Mangione is an American flugelhorn player and composer who achieved international success in 1977 with his jazz-pop single, "Feels So Good." Mangione has released more than thirty albums since 1960.-Early life and career:...
and Buddy Rich
Buddy Rich
Bernard "Buddy" Rich was an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Rich was billed as "the world's greatest drummer" and was known for his virtuosic technique, power, groove, and speed.-Early life:...
.
Sal's solo work contrasts his big band work. The solo work is more bebop oriented, as heard on the Heavyweights recording.
Discography
- 1960: The Mangione Brothers Sextet: The Jazz Brothers- Chuck MangioneChuck MangioneCharles Frank "Chuck" Mangione is an American flugelhorn player and composer who achieved international success in 1977 with his jazz-pop single, "Feels So Good." Mangione has released more than thirty albums since 1960.-Early life and career:...
(trumpet); Gap MangioneGap MangioneGaspare "Gap" Mangione is a jazz pianist, composer, arranger, and bandleader from Rochester, New York, United States.Born and raised in Rochester, Mangione's younger brother is Grammy-winning flugelhornist Chuck Mangione. Members of a music-loving family, both Gap and Chuck took up instruments...
(piano); Sal Nistico (tenor sax); and others. (Riverside RecordsRiverside RecordsRiverside Records was a United States record label specializing in jazz. Founded by Orrin Keepnews and Bill Grauer under his firm Bill Grauer Productions, Inc. in 1953, the label was a major presence in the jazz record industry for a decade...
) - 1961: Hey Baby! - The Jazz Brothers (Riverside Records)
- 1961: Spring Fever - The Jazz Brothers (Riverside Records)
- 1961: Heavyweights - Sal Nistico (tenor sax); Nat AdderleyNat AdderleyNathaniel Adderley was an American jazz cornet and trumpet player who played in the hard bop and soul jazz genres. He was the brother of saxophonist Julian "Cannonball" Adderley....
(cornet); Barry HarrisBarry HarrisBarry Doyle Harris is an American bebop jazz pianist and educator.-Biography:Harris left Detroit for New York City in 1960...
(piano); Sam Jones (bass); Walter Perkins (drums). - 1962: Comin' On Up - Sal Nistico (tenor sax); Sal Amico (trumpet); Barry HarrisBarry HarrisBarry Doyle Harris is an American bebop jazz pianist and educator.-Biography:Harris left Detroit for New York City in 1960...
(piano); Bob CranshawBob CranshawMelbourne R. "Bob" Cranshaw is an American jazz bassist. His career spans the heyday of Blue Note Records to his recent involvement with the Musicians Union. He is perhaps best known for his long association with Sonny Rollins...
(bass); Vinnie Ruggiero (drums). - (Released 1993): Woody Herman Presents: The Four Others Al CohnAl CohnAl Cohn was an American jazz saxophonist and arranger and composer.-Biography:Alvin Gilbert Cohn was born in Brooklyn, New York. He was initially known in the 1940s for playing in Woody Herman's Second Herd as one of the Four Brothers, along with Zoot Sims, Stan Getz, and Serge Chaloff...
(tenor sax); Sal Nistico (tenor sax); Bill PerkinsBill Perkins (saxophonist)Bill Perkins was a cool jazz saxophonist and flutist popular on the West Coast jazz scene, known primarily as a tenor saxophonist. Born in San Francisco, California, Perkins started out performing in the big bands of Woody Herman and Jerry Wald. He also worked for the Stan Kenton orchestra, which...
(tenor sax); Flip PhillipsFlip PhillipsFlip Phillips was an American jazz tenor saxophone and clarinet player. He is best remembered for his work with Jazz at the Philharmonic from 1946 to 1957.-Biography:...
(alto sax) - 1974: (Recorded May 9,10,23, 1974 at Buddy's Place, NY City) "Very Live At Buddy's Place" Sonny Fortune: (alto sax, flute); Sal Nistico (tenor sax); Kenny Barron (piano); Mike Abene (piano on track z); Jack Wilkins (guitar); Anthony Jackson ( electric bass); Buddy Rich (drums); Jimmy Maeulen (conga)
- 1978: East of Isar - The Sal Nistico-Benny BaileyBenny BaileyBenny Bailey, born Ernest Harold Bailey , was an American bebop and hard-bop jazz trumpeter.-Biography:...
Quintet - 1978 (Recorded Nov. 3): Neo Nistico - Sal Nistico (Tenor Sax) - Ted CursonTed CursonTheodore "Ted" Curson is a jazz trumpeter. He is perhaps best-known for recording and performing with Charles Mingus....
(Trumpet) - Nick Brignola (Baritone Sax) - Ronnie MathewsRonnie MathewsRonnie Mathews was a jazz pianist primarily known for his work with other musicians, including Max Roach from 1963 to 1968 and Art Blakey's Jazz Messengers. He acted as lead in recording from 1963 and 1978 - 1979...
(Piano) - Sam JonesSamuel Jones (musician)Samuel Jones was a jazz bassist, cellist, and composer.Sam Jones was born in Jacksonville, FL and moved to New York city in 1955. There, Jones played with Bobby Timmons, Tiny Bradshaw, Les Jazz Modes, Kenny Dorham, Illinois Jacquet, Freddie Hubbard, Dizzy Gillespie and Thelonious Monk...
(Bass) - Roy HaynesRoy HaynesRoy Owen Haynes is an American jazz drummer and bandleader. Haynes is among the most recorded drummers in jazz, and in a career lasting more than 60 years has played in a wide range of styles ranging from swing and bebop to jazz fusion and avant-garde jazz...
(Drumset). Bee Hive RecordsBee Hive Records-Discography:-References:*...
SH7006. - 1988: Empty Room