Jazz Articles about Jerry Bergonzi

Jerry Bergonzi: Shifting Gears

by Glenn Astarita
August 25, 2012

Gifted tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi has proven to be among the best in the business, spanning a hefty solo career amid numerous guest spots and session duties for others. With this quintet release, the leader hearkens back to the modern jazz ingenuity and reverence of 1960s-era outings for the likes of the Blue Note and Prestige record labels. However, the musicians' respective styles impart a distinct group-centric sound, streaked with a contemporary vibe. Bergonzi and trumpeter Phil Grenadier's ...

Jerry Bergonzi: Two DVDs from the Master Educator

by Dan Bilawsky
March 2, 2012

Tenor saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi has spent decades honing his skills and he has the discography to prove it. Strong solo dates on the RED, Double-Time and Savant labels, along with notable sideman work with legends such as pianist Dave Brubeck, have earned him the respect of his peers and the reputation of being a no-nonsense force of nature on his instrument, but his best work may take place in the classroom. Bergonzi has been codifying and passing ...

Jerry Bergonzi: Convergence

by Greg Simmons
March 3, 2011

Saxophonist Jerry Bergonzi has become one of the most reliable recording artists in jazz. In between his day job as a Berklee College of Music professor, and performing, he turns out a great album or two every year. Featuring mostly tenor horn, Convergence follows dutifully in that pattern. The album splits between a classic piano-based quartet and the more risky piano-less trio with equally good results. Bergonzi, who also overdubs soprano sax for a few tracks, has no problem carrying ...

Jerry Bergonzi: Three Point Shot

by Greg Simmons
February 5, 2011

Musicians often benefit from the stimulus provided by a interacting with a new group of cohorts. If nothing else, personnel changes can remake the creative process and offer dramatically altered results. In an art form like jazz, that leans heavily on improvisation, this can only be a good thing. It is, therefore, a pleasant surprise to hear tenor saxophonist/educator Jerry Bergonzi working with an altogether different rhythm section in Europe, consisting of two Polish musicians. Better still, this trio has ...

Jerry Bergonzi: Simply Put

by AAJ Italy Staff
January 13, 2010

Anche se nell'ultimo decennio la visibilità di Jerry Bergonzi è cresciuta, i riconoscimenti alla sua statura artistica sono ancora inferiori al merito. In effetti il sassofonista resta nella nicchia del “musicista per musicisti," modello inarrivabile per moltissimi colleghi e per gli studenti dei suoi corsi al New England Conservatory. Ribadire che Jerry Bergonzi è uno dei massimi sassofonisti del jazz contemporaneo, un solista che unisce alla tecnica prodigiosa doti espressive vicine a quelle di Joe Henderson, John Coltrane o Sonny ...

Jerry Bergonzi: Simply Put

by Glenn Astarita
June 2, 2009

Jerry Bergonzi is a true giant among modern day saxophonists. The Boston-based artist's fourth effort for Savant is perhaps his finest solo outing to date, amid his extensive output as a first-call session ace. No frills or reinventions here, as Bergonzi cuts to the chase in buoyant fashion via his full- bodied tenor sax sound and razor sharp lines, dappled with edgy phrasings, and lyrically resplendent phrasings.

The saxophonist transmits an authoritative presence, abetted by his ace rhythm ...

Jerry Bergonzi: Tenor Talk

by Jack Bowers
February 14, 2009

Jerry Bergonzi, a Bostonian who has been plying his trade for more than four decades, often slips through the cracks when the names of accomplished post-bop tenor saxophonists are bandied about. Rather strange, as Bergonzi has had a notable career as a player/educator that has included quality time with the Dave Brubeck Quartet, among others, and Tenor Talk is the twenty-fifth recording he has made as leader of his own groups. In spite of this, Bergonzi is better known in ...