Hays, KS
Multi-woodwind specialist James Pisano’s numerous invitations as a performer and teacher have taken him across the United States, as well as Europe and South Africa. Pisano has shared the stage as a soloist with many jazz luminaries, such as Phil Woods, Frank Foster, Louie Bellson, Clark Terry, Harry “Sweets” Edison, James Moody, Hank Jones, Randy Brecker, Terrell Stafford, The Lionel Hampton Big Band, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra, The Artie Shaw Band, The Cab Calloway Orchestra, and the Dizzy Gillespie Reunion Big Band, among many others. Currently, Pisano maintains an active performance schedule — he recently formed an organ jazz group called Organique that is dedicated to performing, composing, and recording works for this instrumentation. This fall he was selected to be a member of Riff Generation, a Kansas City-based jazz ensemble that performs new music imbued with the improvisational sound and spirit of Kansas City.
He has been member of the saxophone section of the Jazz Heritage Orchestra (Cleveland, Ohio) since 2001. In this capacity he has serves as lead alto and tenor saxophone soloist and has collaborated with vocalists Vanessa Rubin and Nancy Wilson as well as Benny Golson and Clark Terry. Pisano has toured Brazil and performed throughout the São Paulo region and presented master classes at Federal University of Uberlândia and the University of Campinas.
He has appeared as a sideman on more than 10 CDs and has had many of his own compositions and arrangements recorded and performed. All About Jazz States “...Gisbert and Pisano contribute hard-driving solos throughout, both leaning towards an aggressive approach with dazzling technique and soulful ideas.” All Music Guide says, “Dry lets Jim Pisano show what he can do with the sax on his solos, and it's a fine thing he can do, no less.”
James Pisano currently serves as Assistant Professor of Saxophone and Director of Jazz Ensembles at Wichita State University. Pisano also directs the Mid-Kansas Jazz Ensemble, a high school honor jazz ensemble that has been in existence for over 30 years. Prior to his appointment to WSU, Pisano was on faculty at Bethel College and the University of Idaho Lionel Hampton School of Music.
James Pisano holds degrees from the University of New Hampshire and the University of Miami, both in clarinet performance. While studying at the U of M, he was a member and soloist with the award-winning Concert Jazz Band. Currently, he is completing his doctorate in jazz saxophone from the University of Illinois, where he studied with Chip Stevens, Chip McNeill, and Debra Richtmeyer.
Pisano is sought after as an adjudicator and clinician across the nation. Most recently, he served as guest jazz artist/clinician for Mineral Area Technical College, Southeast Missouri State University, Northeastern State University, Oklahoma State University, the University of Wyoming, South Dakota All State, and at numerous institutions of higher learning. He has also served as a clinician for district and state jazz festivals many times and performed at the Jazz Educator’s Conference in New Orleans and Dallas.
Thursday, January 5, 2023
10:00 AM – 10:50 AM US EST