Ray Pizzi
.
Woodwinds, Concert Artist, Composer, Arranger, Educator
Box 8137   Van Nuys,  Ca.   91409      email: RPizzi2@aol.com
  Refresh  all pages ~ updated ~ FEB. 2010

 
(click to enlarge)
 

                                  "Ray Pizzi's harmonically sophisticated, introspective style on Saxes, Flute, Clarinet, 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 instrumenta
                         timbres and  sonic realism. Ray Pizzi will resonate in your ears with truth, wisdom and inspiration" Tim Price

                                  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,
                         James Brown, Clarke Terry,  Bob Florence, Louie Belson, Billy Higgins, Christopher Cross, Aretha Franklin,
                         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, David Foster,
                         Stephen Bishop, Alan Price, Woody Herman etc. 

                                   Including his own albums (scroll down) , he  plays on numerous , Recordings, Movies, TV shows (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 film short
                         produced- directed by Marino Colmano, Lazlo Pappas.  click to view 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, Bari Sax,
                        "Honorary Citizens Award"Mobile Alabama, is also included in both Groves Music Dictionary and Encyclopedia of
                         Jazz.

                                Receiving a 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 was also involved with various community outreach programs, performing (10 years) with the
                        "Jazz Adventure" assembly program throughout the LAUSD.

                                 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, including:
                        Solo Bassoon, Bassoon and Piano, Bassoon with Strings, Bassoon Quartets, Woodwind Duos,
                        Trios, Quintets and 2 play- along CD's for Bassoon  click here: Ray Pizzi Music and Audio Samples

                                                   ØQuotes× 

RAY PIZZI is the EMBODIMENT of MUSICAL SOUL... JOY... VERSATILITY... INSPIRATION.
   .....Through his performing..... composing..... educating..... dedication..... has influenced generations of
musicians and music lovers. Thank You Mr. Pizzi
dizzip, YouTube

 
"Ray Pizzi ..... The UNSUNG HERO of SOPRANO SAX .....
ORIGINALITY, MUSICALITY, STYLE and SOULFUL INSPIRATION."
Seentza Bonsorius, YouTube
 

"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

 
               "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

"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 Magazine, 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

"Ray Pizzi is about Real, and from the Soul ...
What jazz should be and will always be with guys like Ray" Keep on Pizza man! 
Tim Price Tim Price Jazz.com  

One of the most important composers and musicians of this decade.
RAY PIZZI...The legend, one of the masters who tells a REAL story.
WHY???...... BECAUSE HE'S LIVED IT !!!!!!!
Tim Price Tim Price Jazz.com        

"If you are interested in musicianship, quality and something a bit unusual, listen to the   
           brilliantly crafted music of Ray Pizzi."
Melody Maker, England
 

"Ray Pizzi loves the Bassoon and loves Music and has done more than anyone in history
to promote the use of the Bassoon outside of its traditional "classical" role"
Dr. Jon Beebe, International Double Reed Society
 

"Ray Pizzi's ingenious abilities as an improviser have always been first-rate. The passionate intensity of his solos, occasionally lightened by an irrepressible musical wit and an instantly identifiable sound underscore his utter individuality. "Don Heckman, L.A. Times


"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


"Ray Pizzi's playing is truly the epitome of expression"
Clifford Tetle, Woodwinds, Educator


"Ray, I thank you for passing on to me this great spirit of yours"
Violinist: Chern Hwei Fung

(Ray Pizzi sax soloist on Wagners Liebestod)
"A  jazz saxophone taking on one of the most sensuous melodies of the classical stage? It should be blasphemy, But, It soars, flies, transforms  the long-lost male lover for the soprano's swan song. A fusion of raw jazz and deepest classical, I can die happy now"  Panda Mishima YouTube  (click to play)  Leibestod
 

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

(Pizzi  masterclass)
"What is most difficult about  playing the bassoon?"
   Pizzi replies: "Getting it past Customs Inspection"

(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, will you 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 to a student)
"I am truly annoyed at how well you are sounding"

"I think colleges should give all young composers full scholarship along with a lifetime supply of ERASERS"
Ray Pizzi, International Double Reed Journal

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


(Pizzi on electronic bassoon)
"I prefer to discover the inherent Timbres and Textures of the Bassoon with my Soul and Heart rather than a Foot Pedal"
Ray Pizzi, International Double Reed Journal


(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.


During a concert, the Percussionist  drops his cowbell which noisily bounces on  the stage.
Pizzi quips..... "Sounds like Mad Cow Disease"


(Clarke Terry at the Grammy Awards) 
"Pizza Man!... Damn!... That was a nasty blues solo... I know you've worked in some toilets!"


(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 marijuana)
"YES..... the U.S. Government should legalize and tax it like cigarettes and booze. It would clear the national debt in 2 weeks, pay for our medical plans and no one would notice how big a dickhead Obama is."

(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 !"


(Ray Pizzi on Ravel's Bolero)
"That was a VERY SEXY performance of Ravel's Bolero......... I went to find my wife,
....... but she, unfortunately, was listening to Stockhausen!"

(Marilyn Pizzi, wife)
"You are better than good......You are a genius ......So tell me......
...... when are you going to get a real  job ?" Pizzi, no reply: ..
 

to page 2  Ray Pizzi Music       page 3: Photos       page 4: Ray Pizzi Art       page 5: Ray Pizzi MP3

          ØAlbums×
                                                                                           $16 each PayPal
                                                                                          ( free shipping )                                       
                        

                              Bassoon Anthology CD  featuring the Bassoon stylistics of Ray Pizzi (homeburned)

 

                                  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 won "Musician of the Year Award" Germany (homeburned)

                                I Hear You  another rare European CD

                             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)