Sal Nistico

Sal Nistico
Born
Salvatore Nistico

(1938-04-02)April 2, 1938
Syracuse, New York, U.S.
DiedMarch 3, 1991(1991-03-03) (aged 52)
Bern, Switzerland
GenresJazz
InstrumentTenor saxophone
Years active1950s–1990s
LabelRiverside

Salvatore Nistico (April 2, 1938 – March 3, 1991)[1] was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.

Career

Nistico was born in Syracuse, New York, United States.[2]

Associated for many years with Woody Herman's Herd,[1] from 1962 to 1965 Nistico played with Bill Chase, Jake Hanna, Nat Pierce, and Phil Wilson in the group that was considered one of Herman's best bands.[3]

He started playing alto saxophone, switching to tenor in 1956,[2] on a Buescher before switching to a Conn 10M tenor saxophone,[4] and briefly played baritone saxophone. From 1959 to 1961, he played with the Jazz Brothers band (Chuck Mangione and Gap Mangione).[5]

In 1965, he joined Count Basie but returned on many occasions to play with Herman.[2] Around that time he was also a member of Dusko Goykovich's sextet with other musicians associated with the Herd, such as Carl Fontana, Nat Pierce, and Michael Moore. He also played with Nat Adderley, Don Ellis, Buddy Rich, and Stan Tracey. Living in Europe in his latter years, he worked with mostly European musicians such as Joe Haider, Isla Eckinger, Billy Brooks, and Fritz Pauer, and recorded with the Larry Porter/Allan Praskin Band and Three Generations of Tenor saxophone with Johnny Griffin, Roman Schwaller, Paul Grabowsky, Roberto DiGioia, Thomas Stabenow, Joris Dudli, and Mario Gonzi. The first live performance from January 1985 was released under the band's name on JHM Records, in Switzerland.

Nistico's solo work contrasts his big band work. His solo work is more oriented towards bebop, as heard on the Heavyweights recording on Riverside Records.

He died in Bern, Switzerland, in March 1991, at the age of 50.[6]

Discography

As leader or co-leader

As sideman or guest

With Chet Baker

  • 1992: Live at Renaissance II (CD Baby)
  • 1994: Nightbird (CLA)
  • 1997: In a Soulful Mood (Music Club)
  • 2001: Round Midnight (Fruit Tree)

With Count Basie

  • 2005: NEA Jazz Masters–Count Basie (Verve)

With Sammy Davis Jr. & Count Basie

  • 1965: Our Shining Hour (Verve)

With Curtis Fuller

With Woody Herman

With The Jazz Brothers (Chuck & Gap Mangione)

  • 1960: The Jazz Brothers (Riverside)
  • 1961: Hey Baby! (Riverside)
  • 1961: Spring Fever (Riverside)

With Helen Merrill

With Pony Poindexter

With Larry Porter–Allan Praskin Quartet

  • 1994: Sonnet for Sal (Enja)

With Buddy Rich

With Sarah Vaughan

References

  1. ^ a b Yanow, Scott. "Sal Nistico | Biography & History". AllMusic. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  2. ^ a b c Colin Larkin, ed. (1995). The Guinness Who's Who of Jazz (Second ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 356. ISBN 0-85112-674-X.
  3. ^ Wilson, John S. (February 8, 1987). "CRITICS' CHOICES; Jazz". The New York Times. Retrieved July 30, 2021.
  4. ^ Jazz Professional article Archived 2007-10-29 at the Wayback Machine featuring interview between Nistico and Tubby Hayes
  5. ^ Davis, John S. (2012). Historical Dictionary of Jazz. Scarecrow Press. p. 264. ISBN 978-0810867574.
  6. ^ "Sal Nistico Musician". All About Jazz. July 12, 2002. Retrieved September 16, 2025.
  7. ^ "Sal Nistico | Discography". AllMusic. Retrieved February 13, 2018.
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