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Christopher Pistorino
Chris Pistorino is a Philly based jazz bassist, composer and band leader.
About Me
Chris Pistorino is a bass player based in Philadelphia and New York City, showcasing his talents across diverse musical styles such as straight-ahead jazz, swing, big band, bossa nova, early/traditional jazz, classic blues and R&B, country and orchestral classical music. He performs weekly as a sideman and leading Chris Pistorino’s Contra Band, which highlights the works of renowned jazz bassists. He was the bassist for the beloved powerhouse NYC jazz band Lapis Luna for 20 years. Additionally, Chris co-founded the vibrant Hot Jazz/Gypsy group Gypsy Reverie and is a founding member of the energetic early jazz and swing band The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn. As a member of the double bass section in various community orchestras in NYC, Chris has enjoyed performing classical masterpieces ranging from Bach to Bartók. He has had the privilege of playing with Grammy Award winners such as Norah Jones, Steve Miller, and Tom Jones, as well as notable artists like Jane Monheit, Barry Harris, and Junior Mance. A graduate of NYC's esteemed The New School of Jazz and Contemporary Music, Chris learned from distinguished musicians and had the honor of studying privately with John Schaeffer, retired Principal Bassist of the New York Philharmonic. To date as a co-leader Chris has recorded two albums with Lapis Luna: Take Love Easy and the holiday album Snowbound. He has also recorded three rockin’ albums with The Blue Vipers of Brooklyn: Good Night Harry, Forty Days and Forty Nights, and Permanent Magic. Check them out on itunes and spotify Chris’s main performance instrument is a New Standard Cleveland Model Upright Bass built by American luthiers Arnold Schnitzer and Wil De Sola. He currently favors Thomastik-Infeld Weich strings.
