By R.J. DeLuke

There are plenty of jazz musicians who don't get a huge share of the public spotlight, who are maybe not appreciated as much as they should have been in their time, and beyond. Unsung heroes.

Nick Brignola, a native of Troy, NY, in the Capitol Region of New York state, is such a musician. But let's face it. That's not why people get into jazz. They do so because they're artists. Because they need to play and express themselves and find the improvisation of the music an ideal forum for that expression. They have a gift they can't back away from. Some, like Miles, like Herbie Hancock and not so many others, might reap huge material benefits. So be it.

Nick Brignola, who died in February, was rich. Rich of family and of friends, and blessed with superb musical talent. Many people knew it. Other musicians certainly knew it. And so his legacy goes on, not in headlines and books, but in music.

He remained a resident of the Capitol District despite his world-class acumen on the baritone saxophone, an instrument he concentrated on (he played all the reeds well), first influenced by the great bari Harry Carney, a mainstay of the great Ellington bands, who saw the prodigious talent and encouraged Nick. That talent led him to associations with Ted Curson, Woody Herman, Phil Woods, Sweets Edison, Clark Terry, and many more renowned artists.

His albums and CDs — It's Time, On a Different Level, Live at Sweet Basils — were cut with some of the best musicians out there — Dave Holland, Jack DeJohnette, Eddie Gomez, Kenny Barron, George Mraz, John Hicks. His melodic invention and his blazing bebop (the "Upstate burn" it had been called) were individual and identifiable. Brignola was a monster on that horn.

Burners and ballads, Brignola always had a sense of exploration and excitement. He was always telling a good story and doing so with exuberance.

He has influenced other bari players and the young ones coming up now will be doing their homework to find out what Nick was about in order to get better. He was also an educator, helping jazz programs in the Albany area, including pioneering the program at the College of St. Rose.

On Sept. 28, a Brignola tribute was the highlight of the first Albany Jazz Festival, across the river from his native Troy, at Albany's new Riverfront Park. It was a small acknowledgement of Brignola's importance, perhaps, but an significant one. Albany Mayor Jerry Jennings declared it "Nick Brignola Day" in the city, and said the jazz fest would become an annual event.

If that's true, how about the Nick Brignola Jazz Festival in years hence?

The tribute wasn't from the many, many local musicians he helped, who looked up to the affable Brignola. It was from musical stalwarts who remembered the man — trumpeter Randy Brecker, venerable saxman Jimmy Heath, drummer Tootie Health, trombonist Slide Hampton, pianist Cedar Walton and bassist David Williams.

(After Brignola's death in February, a memorial concert at a local nightclub raised $7,200 for the Junior Museum in Troy. Musicians playing for free included Brecker, who was playing in Texas the night before and flew in for the tribute. The next day he had to take a train to New York City, in order to fly overseas that afternoon to Russia for a tour.)

The tribute was a blowing session, fitting because when Brignola soloed, it was a one-man blowing session — robust, hearty, fiery and imaginative. The group played tunes including "Cottontail," "There Will never be Another You," (dedicated by Brecker to Brignola), "All Blues" and "Tenor Madness," each in Jam-session style.

Brecker had the brightest and boldest statements of the day, a piecing attack with fast-flowing ideas he would have needed to keep pace with Nick. He sparkled, and his soft muted trumpet intro to Miles "All Blues" was sweet and sexy too. Health showed he can still bring it, and he continually smiled in appreciation and encouraged the other soloists when he wasn't playing. Hampton's full, round sound was a great addition and Walton was steady and strong, as always. The rest of the rhythm section was in the pocket, as one would expect.

The spirit of the set, musicians having a ball among themselves, and enjoying the elation and ovation of the crowd, was a fitting tribute. It had the spirit of Brignola. Long may that spirit continue.

Brignola's passing is a loss for the Albany area, because he was the example, the pinnacle, for jazz musicians, and he always did his part to help out. Always approachable. (Nick's daughter, Jill Haggerty, in accepting the mayor's proclamation for the family, said her father would have asked that people continue to go to clubs, support live music and the many fine musicians who try to make a living playing jazz in the area).

CD Reviews
What It Takes
Plays Mulligan

Links
Nick Brignola: Gifted Specialist on the Baritone Saxophone
www.nickbrignola.com