Ray Pizzi
.
Woodwinds, Concert Artist, Composer, Arranger, Educator
Box 8137   Van Nuys,  Ca.   91409      email: RPizzi2@aol.com
  Refresh  all pages ~ updated ~ May 2008

" I've  listened to this stuff.....grateful it was me doing it".....Ray Pizzi

                                  "Ray Pizzi's harmonically sophisticated, introspective style on saxophone, flute, clarinet and bassoon is the
                         highest level of communication. It's music music, combined with openness, clarity, simplicity, substance, lyricism
                         and energy that always communicates with the listener. He is a true to life master of instrumental timbres and
                         sonic realism. Ray Pizzi will resonate in your ears with truth, wisdom and inspiration" Tim Price Tim Price Jazz.com

                                  Ray has enjoyed a long and fruitful career  in the music industry, working with such diverse artists as:
                     Dizzy Gillespie, Frank Zappa, Ravi Shankar, Henry Mancini, (wrote "Piece for Jazz Bassoon and Orchestra" for Ray),
                         John Williams, Alan Silvestri, Quincy Jones, Jack Elliot, Lalo Schifrin, Sarah Vaughn, Nancy Wilson, Madonna,
                         Stevie Wonder, Chaka Kahn, Barbra Streisand, Bill Conti, Burt Bacharach, Bobby McFerrin, Horace Silver,
                         Joe Henderson, Lou Rawls, Willy Bobo, Michael Feinstein, Moacir Santos, Fred Myrow, Woody Herman etc. 

                                  He can  be heard on numerous movie soundtracks and recordings, including albums of his own. (scroll down)  
                         His international concert\festival performances as a headliner include: The Hollywood Bowl, L.A. Music Center,
                         Disney Concert Hall, Davies Symphony Hall, The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra, American Orchestra,
                         Rochester Symphony Orchestra and the Playboy, Monterey, Mobile and various European Jazz Festivals.

                                    The 1984 Olympics saw figure skater Rosalyn Sumner performing her skating program to Rays rockin'
                         sax solo on "We Go Together" (from the movie, "Grease") winning her the silver medal.  click: mp3 page (#21) 

                            As an actor, Ray starred in the leading role of the highly acclaimed, award winning short subject movie,
                        "End of the Rainbow." to view movie click: End of the Rainbow starring Ray Pizzi 

                                  His outstanding level of musicianship and versatility, has garnered him many awards, including:
              "Most Valuable Player Emeritus"(4 consecutive years) from NARAS, "Musician of the Year" Jazz Podium Magazine, Germany.
              "Talent Deserving of Wider Recognition"Downbeat Magazine,"Grammy nominations"  "Album of the Year"Hi-Fi Mag.
        "Silver Microphone Award"Ad Music, "Jazz Pioneer Award"BMI, "John Phillip Sousa Award"Quincy High School, Baritone Sax,
        "Honorary Citizens Award"Mobile Alabama, is also included in both Groves Music Dictionary and Encyclopedia of Jazz.

                                  Receiving his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Boston Conservatory and Berklee School of Music,
                         Ray successfully taught public school Junior High Band, Chorus and Classroom Music in Randolph
                         Massachusetts. (1964-69).  "A wonderfully memorable and personal growth period of my life, but I needed to
                         fulfill an urgent desire to play music professionally." In 1969, he moved to Los Angeles to realize his dream.
                  .......Those former students, still contact him to express their acknowledgment and gratitude..............
                        "the best gift a teacher can receive"

                                  Ray respectfully credits and thanks his most influential teachers: Simon Kovar, Irving Kams, Joe Viola,
                         Jim Progris, Jimmy Mosher, Herb Pomeroy, George Gaffney, Ivar O. Nelson and Albert Harris.
 
                                   He holds the highest regard and love for his bassoon teacher, Simon Kovar, "The Father of the Bassoon" 
                         who on his death bed, asked his wife Rose, to "call Ray Pizzi.....tell him no lesson today" and passed away.

                                    Still a dedicated music educator, Ray is often called upon to share his musical knowledge and vast
                         experience with music students throughout the world, recently celebrating 10 years as artist in residence
                         at the prestigious Henry Mancini Institute-UCLA, successfully teaching his unique method of improvisation
                         to hundreds of college level musicians.

                                   Another educational project that Ray is particularly proud is his involvement with Paul Astin and his 6th
                         grade classes at Topanga Elementary School, where the kids learn how to Compose, Play, Record CD's of their
                         own music. Proceeds of their records go to worthy worldwide causes. Check out the inspirational contributions
                         these kids have made  throughout the world  with their music. click: 6th grade  Music Projects

                            Ray is also involved with various community outreach programs and performs regularly with the Bobby
                         Rodriguez "Jazz Adventure"  for school assembly programs throughout the LAUSD. Bobby Rodriguez.com

                                  As a composer, "Ray Pizzi is dedicated to bringing today's BASSOONISTS the awareness and experience of
                         the various styles of music the versatile bassoon is so capable of rendering. "Original pieces, Written for the
                         Bassoon by a Bassoonist," run the gamut of  modal jazz, be-bop, swing, salsa, bossa-nova, blues, bluegrass, etc.
                         Fun to play, melodically expressive, whimsically soulful, honest musical statements. "An alternative resource
                         for professional bassoonists, teachers, and students, "featuring various combinations of accompaniment
                         and styles, incl: Solo Bassoon, Bassoon and Piano, Bassoon with Strings, Bassoon Quartet, Woodwind Quintet
                         and 2 play-along CD's for Bassoon  click: Ray Pizzi Music-Audio Samples

                                                  ØQuotes× 

       "Ray Pizzi  turns his woodwind instruments into magic wands, bringing a sparkling
           quality of originality and freshness that peels away the familiar, enabling us to hear
the soul and the music with new ears."  Carl Snyder, Playboy Magazine

"This is CREATIVE and PERSONAL  SAXOPHONE AT IT'S BEST. Along with Pizzi's composition, you have world-class artistry......listen......listen to the MUSIC (without the pictures).   It's music-music, no grand-standing or mimicking.......Ray Pizzi is a CREATIVE  ARTIST unto to HIMSELF.......This is where the Tenor Saxophone  should be taken,  some place PERSONAL,  NOT playing someone else's STALE CLICHES,
BUT, creating a refreshing new approach to MUSIC..............
GET IT???..........I hope so,........because the state of the tenor saxophone is in endangered  species!"
Marilyn Walter, YouTube
   
       "Ray Pizzi,  a high level performer on sax, flute and bassoon has been a persistently
           adventurous voice, performing his characteristic blend of cutting edge imagination and
           melodically lighthearted  whimsy."  Don Heckman, L.A. Times 

        "Ray Pizzi???.............oooooh! Can he play!   Dizzy Gillespie, L.A. Times

       "If the future is contained within the present.....then Ray Pizzi is the epitome  of
progressive, contemporary jazz music."  Frankie Nemko, -Downbeat Magazine

"Ray Pizzi is like an actor doing Shakespeare and Neil Simon simultaneously.From soft
           textured ballads to  blistering soliloquies, he gives his all to the music and the people
           absolutely love it."  Johnny Jazz.com

       "Ray Pizzi, who's repertoire of original compositions achieve melodic lyricism to
rhythmically  propulsive exuberance, receives "Musician of the Year" award." 
Jazz Podium, Germany
       
        "Ray instantly wins the profound confidence of all ages, not only with his command of the
          music, but with the love, love, love he has for performing."
Diane Voltz-Ojai Music Festival
        
       "If you are interested in musicianship, quality and something a bit unusual, listen to the   
           brilliantly crafted music of Ray Pizzi."
Melody Maker, England

"I am particularly blown away by the lack of inhibition in your playing. It's easy to sacrifice expression in the name of control.  You gave me a great lesson - your playing is beautiful,  emotional and expressive"
Beth Wheeler-oboist

"A  real "THUMBS UP!" You can't find another saxophone player with a tone like Ray Pizzi, real thick, round and fat. You hope for the solos to be repeated over and over to listen to again and again. Ray has several albums released. Try to find the album- "Conception" You will be blown away by the power of the songs, very  avant garde,  yet melodious.
A collector's treasure!" Heng Fong, Amazon.com
 
                  "Ray Pizzi  continuously surprised us with his music.....engaging sense of humor and relaxed demeanor.....all connecting well with the audience and  adding to the success of the evening."  
Harvey Barkan, L.A. Jazz Scene
                               
"Ray Pizzi truly embodies the philosophy that an artist should have his head in the conservatory and his feet in the street. It's a privilege to call this extraordinarily soulful musician my friend."
 Tony Horowitz

m
ïJ   Quips   Jð    
  

(Henry Mancini)     
"Hey, Pizzi, What's your range on the bassoon?............3,000 yards???"

(Pizzi  masterclass)
"Mr. Pizzi, What is most difficult about  playing the bassoon?"
   Pizzi replies: "Getting it past Homeland Security"

 (Conductor to Pizzi)
"Bassoon player... you are wearing a Hat... will you be able to see me conduct?"
Pizzi replies: "I am happy to remove my hat, maestro, but I play with my eyes closed anyway"
       
(Pizzi to a Conductor)
"Excuse me maestro.........Where was  I  when you cued me in?"

        (A telephone call from Madonna)......
             "Hello, Ray?..... this is Madonna"      Pizzi replies:....."Madonna who?"
       
        (Ray calls Mama Pizzi and excitedly announces)
"MA !..... Dizzy Gillespie asked me to play in his band!!!"   
 Mama Pizzi replies..... "Thatsa'  wondaful.......He's a Italian Boy???"

       "Mr. Pizzi, would you please play my son's  Bah Mitzvah?      Pizzi replies:  "Sorry......
"I have Anger Management Class that night ..... and they get really pissed off if I'm absent."

(Pizzi on band uniforms)
            "Can we wear black suits instead?...... My tuxedo has been confiscated by "Greenpeace."


(Pizzi reviews a music critic)
"Another Malodorous Melange of Miasmic Mediocrity"
 

 Maestro Pizzi,  Do you have some advice for female bassoon players?
 Pizzi replies:  Yes.....Dress sexy, but keep your knees together.


(Pizzi introducing the next tune)
"Now we'll play one of my early compositions.....
a piece I composed long before hair began growing out of my ears and nose.

During a concert, a Percussionist  drops his cowbell which noisily bounces off 
            various cymbals and drums,      Pizzi replies: "Sounds like Mad Cow Disease."

(Jack Sheldon announces)
"Now we'd like to feature Ray Pizzi... and see if his saxophone
            survives another solo."

(Pizzi on procrastination)
"I have a tendency to procrastinate..........can we talk about this later?"

(Pizzi, on the benefits of a higher education)
"What's  a  Kiosk and  where's my  Stipend?"

"Mr. Pizzi, are you available to work a Polka-Party  next weekend?
                  Pizzi replies:  "Nope, I'll be on the Witness-Protection-Program."
       
Pizzi  teaching the Blues Scale to a High School Band,  when suddenly a student exclaims: 
            "Finally!...... a scale I can use!"

(Marilyn Pizzi, wife)
"You are better than good......You are a fucking genius.........
So tell me...when are you going to get a real  job ?" ..
 

ïJ    My Bassoon Audition~Practical Joke     Jð

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Orchestra announces auditions for a bassoon vacancy.
Bassoonists from all over the world will try out for this prestigious position.

The Auditions Committee consists of principal players from each section of the orchestra.
Woodwinds, Brass, Strings, and Conductor, Esa-Pekka Salonen will make
 the final choice as to who will win this coveted bassoon position.

Unknown to the Auditions Committee, except the regular bassoon section,
(David Breidenthal, Alan Goodman, Patti Kindel), an unusual event is about to take place......
Ray Pizzi, jazz bassoonist, is surreptitiously invited to join the audition finals.
He will be the 75th audition the committee will have evaluated in the past 2 days.....
 ......listening to the same audition pieces, played over and over and over again.

With everyone in place, Ray Pizzi, dressed in black, wearing a wide brim black fedora
hat, walks out on stage, sits behind the music stand, nonchalantly looks through the
required music excerpts, then arrogantly shoves the music stand aside.
The Auditions Committee gasps! Wow! he doesn't need the music? Very impressive!
Ray starts the audition with the difficult opening solo to Stravinsky's "Rite of Spring"
.....when suddenly, he launches into a  funky, bouncy, swamp blues
solo bassoon piece of his own, called  "Ode to a Toad."

As Ray continues to play, the Auditions Committee members start giggling,
......they've been had.....victims of a practical joke......
 .......except for one person......the Chairman of the Auditions Committee.....
 ........who jumps out of his front row seat, clipboard in hand, and attempts to stop Ray,
who is certainly NOT playing the required material!

Suddenly, the entire bassoon section jumps up and pushes him back into
his seat and is respectfully, yet forcibly, advised to shut up and listen!
 
 By this time, Ray is really huffing, puffing, stomping, building the intensity to the
big finish, the Committee is applauding,  laughing, howling, whistling, cheering.

Finally...... the last note...... a humongous low B flat......
So humongous, that it causes a large yellow rubber glove to fill with air and slowly 
emerge from the bell of his bassoon......defiantly displaying the middle digit finger!

With his elite audience in total hysterics, Ray, taking advantage of the situation,
slowly turns and flips this gigantic "bird" at the Chairman of the Auditions Committee,
who is now laughing and applauding wildly along with the rest of the audience......
.......On his final encore bow, Ray shouts out........"Did I get the gig???"


ïJ ØThe L.A. Scene× Jð

Los Angeles is definitely where the action is.
If you're going to make this move, you want to aim for the music industry sector:
Movies, Recordings, Television, Ad Music, Road Bands etc.
Earning a living playing your instrument alongside the best in the world.
This is what the LA music scene has to offer.

Start saving your money now, so you won't have to work a day job.
Day jobs fuck with your spirit, talent and mostly......your commitment.
It is very important that you have the free time to meet people, hustle gigs,
practice, make auditions, rehearse etc. The Hollywood rule is:
"You need to make yourself available."
The jazz scene here, is barely inadequate. Lots of great players, minimal gigs for
    minimal money. Unfortunately, the majority of the general public listens to
music with their eyes, not their heart.

BUT.....YOU'LL LOVE LIVING IN LA......
The weather here is.....Sunshine.....Sunshine.....Sunshine!
Constantly-Boring...Relentlessly-Oppressive...Throat-Parching,
Melanoma-Provoking..........Retina-Frying.........Sunshine!
"BUT".....they say....."it's a comfortable dry heat"........
Yah right!  Especially if you're a friggin' LIZARD!!!

When it does Rain.....You can depend on your house cascading
down the side of a hill in a Torrential Flow of Liquefied Mud......
.....but that's not as bad as it seems, because now
you're living in a much nicer neighborhood and closer to the
"Health Food Organic Market\Bo-Tox Treatment Centre."

And the TRAFFIC.......Traffic like you've never seen before.......
SIG Alerts.....Amber Alerts.....Police Pursuits.....Construction Zones,
Executives in Mercedes speeding at 75 mph while reading the stock report.
Ladies in SUV's applying makeup in a  "radically skewed"  rear view mirror.....
Meanwhile, others cruise in a near Comatose-State listening to "Smooth Jazz Radio"
creating a multitudinous of middle-finger gestures and inciting full-blown civic road
rage. The traffic has become so heavy, it takes at least 45 minutes just to get to a
drive-by-shooting!

And then there's the stucco.....stucco.....everywhere you look.....stucco!
They don't use wood shingles here in LA.....nope.....they use stucco!
.....everywhere you look.....stucco!

If you are a smoker.....don't even bother coming here!
You will be Deemed a Deplorable Criminal.....
Banished Outdoors, Made to Smoke in the Blazing Sunshine and
Taxed for Everything the State can't find the funds for.

.....One of my favorite things in LA.....
is waking up in the morning.....to the sounds of birds COUGHING!!!
Here, in our beloved city, we don't like to breathe air we can't see!
Regional Recreational Activities You May Enjoy:
Fighting Wild Fires With Your Garden Hose,
Swimming in Toxic Beach Pollution,
Earthquake-Magnitude-Speculating,
Uninsured-Motorist-Roulette,
Extreme Tofu Parties,
Cosmetic Surgery Conjecturing,
Vehicle Checkpoint Circum-navigating,
Graffiti Removal.
With that being said...We all endure just about anything, to follow our special dream.
It is important that YOU CREATE every opportunity possible to live that dream.
Follow your heart.....don't settle for anything less. ©Ray Pizzi

            ØAlbums×
                                                                                              $16 each PayPal
                                                                                        (click on images to enlarge)

    BASSOON ANTHOLOGY CD  A Collection of
                                             Recorded and Live  Performances featuring
                                             the  Bassoon Stylistics of  Ray Pizzi     

 

     Appassionato,  CD contains "Maddalena" (homeburned)

   Conception  CD contains "Willow Creek" (homeburned)

     Loveletter  CD contains "Alicia" (homeburned)

     Espressivo  CD contains "Ode to a Toad" (homeburned)

     Wind Rider  rare European CD won "Musician of the Year Award" (homeburned)

      I Hear You  another rare European CD (homeburned)

       Thumbs Up, live recording with  Carol Kaye  bass and Mitch Holder  guitar

      Frank Marocco and Ray Pizzi CD (homeburned)

       Frank Marocco and Ray Pizzi CD (homeburned)

      Frank Marocco and Ray Pizzi CD (homeburned)

 

Ray Pizzi   PARTIAL DISCOGRAPHY        DIZZY GILLESPIE, Dizzy's Party        JOE HENDERSON, Canyon Lady, Milestone Years        MOACIR SANTOS, Maestro, Saudade, Carnival        DORI CAYMMI, Brazilian Serenata        RAVI SHANKAR, Family and Friends, Bombay Jazz        LOU RAWLS, Sings Sinatra        NANCY WILSON, Love Ballads        MICHAEL FEINSTEIN, Pure Imagination,                                                    Isn't It Romantic        CASH McCALL, Cash Up Front        CHRISTOPHER CROSS, Window        STEVEN BISHOP, Careless        DINAH SHORE, For the Good Times        FEATHER, Mulege Day, Chenu Lips, Zanzibar        ALAN PRICE, House of the Rising Sun        WILLY BOBO, Tomorrow is Here        PETER WELKER, Duke, Billy and Tadd       OC SMITH,  Love Changes        MILCHO LEVIEV, Sad a Little Bit        BOB FLORENCE, Westlake, Concerts by the Sea        ROY WIEGAND, Whatever Floats Your Bone        MARTIN LUND, El Super Blancos        MARK LEVINE,  Up Til' Now        FRANK MAROCCO, Jazz Accordian, The Trio        ALPHONSE MOUZON, Man Incognito        JOHN CHIODINI, Weightless        JOHN WOOD, Inner Merge, 405 South        MICHAEL DEES,  One Single Rose        RODNEY FRANKLIN, You'll Never Know        GLADYS KNIGHT, Gladys Knight        LA CARPOOL, Linda Chicana        YOKO SIKES, You Don't Know Me        JON PAUL BJARNASON, Ice

MOTION PICTURE SOLOS     "Grease" Tenor Sax     "Return of the Jedi" Cantina Scene, Bassoon     "Rocky 3"  Gym workout, Tenor Sax     "10" Soprano Sax     "Back to the Future" Tenor Sax     "Predator 2"  Bassoon and Hose-oon     "Romancing the Stone" Alto Flute     "Harry and Son" Bassoon     "Leon's Case" Soprano Sax     "Armed and Dangerous" Soprano Sax     "Clean Slate" Clarinet,     "Main Event" Tenor Sax     "Dick Tracy" Tenor Sax     "Breathless" Tenor Sax     "American Anthem" Soprano Sax     "Change" Soprano Sax     "Mommy Dearest" Soprano Sax     "The Great Mouse Detective" Bassoon     "Sunset Blvd" Soprano Sax     "Fandango" Bassoon                             TELEVISION SHOWS        "Cagney and Lacey "  (theme, Alto Sax)     "What's Happening" (theme, Soprano Sax     "Littlest Mermaid" cartoon series, Bassoon     "Fairy Tale Theatre"  Woodwinds     "Roots" Bassoon     "Dinah Shore Show" Woodwinds     "Midnite Special" Baritone Sax     "Nightrider" Woodwinds     "CHiPs" Woodwinds     "Taxi Cab Confessions" Soprano Sax     "Mancini Generation" Woodwinds     "Merv Griffin" Sax     "Mike Douglas" Sax     "NBC Tonight Show" Sax     "Academy Awards" Woodwinds     "Grammy Awards" Woodwinds     "BET Awards" Baritone Sax     "Wheel of Fortune" Alto Sax     "American Dad" Bassoon     "Family Guy" Bassoon