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David Milazzo

About Me

From the moment he discovered his father’s alto saxophone on the kitchen table, picked it up and blew a fully matured tone at the age of 9, to his parents’ wondering ears, David Milazzo has been wowing peers, teachers, and audiences, alike. Fifth grade middle school band fast- forwarded to seventh/eighth grade band at his band teacher’s first placement audition, and David quickly broke new ground, soloing with the band to Charley Parker’s “Yard Bird Suite,” with the band director recommending that audience members “hold on to your programs, as this fellow is going to make it big some day!”

And so it began: David auditioned and gained placement in the Windham Swing Band in 2005 at age 11 on alto, while simultaneously excelling in clarinet to the point of making “A” ratings in all of the local NHMEA “Solo and Ensemble” competitions in each instrument, as well as first chair clarinet in the NHMEA Middle School Festival in 2006. The summers of 2006 and 2007 found him at the Jamey Aebersold Jazz Camp, and studying with the likes of Lida Baker and her husband, legendary jazz musician David Baker, who remarked, upon hearing him play, “Man, you sure know how to put air in that horn!” In the eighth grade, 2008, brought David into contact with local piano prodigy, Michael Sink, from Concord, NH, and the two brought Londonderry, NH’s “Tupelo Hall” to its feet with their dynamic duo. “ Two fourteen year-olds who are not just 'good.' This may be the best act you see this year - anywhere! In twenty years of hosting open mics I have never seen a standing ovation for a two song set until these guys got 100+ folks on their feet with rousing and enthusiastic applause!” - Robert Haigh, Host. Freshman year of high school, 2009, was a turning point, as when he performed with Bow High School’s jazz band, while playing at the Berklee H.S. Jazz Festival in February, he won the Judge’s Choice Award, as well as a the Special Citation for outstanding Musicianship at the 2009 Clark Terry UNH Jazz Festival that April. That March, he received a fully tuition paid scholarship to the Berklee College’s five week summer program. He also began to perform in Boston at several venues including Slade’s, and Ryles with the likes of Frank Wilkins and Bobby Tynes. The following March, 2010, he was awarded the highest award available and was selected to be one of 14 at the Berklee College’s summer five week program, a fully paid spot in its “Jazz Workshop,” with Terri Lynn Carrington, recording multiple CDs and performing with numerous ensembles.

Throughout, David has played for various charity events such as the “Partnership for Successful Living” in Nashua, NH, as well as been recorded at the Acton Jazz Café in Acton, MA, traveled to the Vermont Jazz Center for jam sessions, and been the focus of Brattleboro’s home concert series in which he collaborated with the Director of the Vermont Jazz Center’s Eugene Uman and others. From Grantham, NH’s JOSA concert series held in the winter months, tripping the NH/MA line into Boston, and then traveling north to Vermont, David has played with the likes of Richie Cole, Cercie Miller, Ted Casher, Greg Abate, and Jeff Harrington. Late summer of 2010 found him on stage with Frank Wilkins and his group, playing for the Beantown Jazz Festival in Boston, where he had a “battle of the saxes” with alto saxophonist Pat Loomis, to the delight of the crowd! Recent venues include New York City’s “Cleopatra’s Needle” and “The Jazz Standard.” In sum, David’s teacher Harry Skoler, Associate Professor at the Berklee College of Music put it this way: “David’s command, not only of the instrument, but also of the ability to communicate profound beauty in the language of music is a wonder to behold…” “Man, you sure know how to put air in that horn!” �”Jazz legend David Baker on hearing David play. David plays a Custom Yangisawa Alto Saxophone; uses JodyJazz Mouthpieces and Motu Software for recording. Instruments: Soprano, alto, tenor, and baritone saxophone. Bb and bass clarinet. Flute, piano.