Home » Staff Directory » Member Page
Nick Mazzarella
Member Since: 2008 | Location: Chicago | Page Views: 1,610 
About Me
Alto saxophonist, composer, and improviser based in Chicago.
With “an individual tone sounding much older than his years, and a penchant for rugged melodies” (JazzTimes), alto saxophonist Nick Mazzarella is one of the critical figures of Chicago's creative music vanguard. Over the past two decades, he has made an aesthetically unique contribution grounded in meticulous craftsmanship to the city’s historic culture of jazz and improvised music. He “is one of the most versatile musicians on the scene, equally adept at riding a stout groove, delineating a potent melody, or generating powerful free improvisations; [through the] lyricism that lies at the heart of Mazzarella's playing, even at his most bracing moments, there is a pathway into an emotional register which makes his music consistently compelling” (All About Jazz).
His multi-year, working trio, quartet, and quintet projects have been the main outlets for his efforts as an improviser, composer, and bandleader. As a collaborator or sideman he has performed and recorded with numerous artists including: Joshua Abrams, Silvia Bolognesi, Geof Bradfield, Ari Brown, Hamid Drake, Ingebrigt Håker Flaten, Dana Hall, Rob Mazurek, Makaya McCraven, Avreeayl Ra, Mike Reed, Tomeka Reid, Clark Sommers, and Ken Vandermark. To date, Mazzarella has appeared on over fifty albums, including more than a dozen as a leader. Recordings of his original music have been released by Corbett vs. Dempsey, Nessa, Astral Spirits, Clean Feed, and International Anthem. He has performed throughout the United States and Europe, as well as in Africa and the Middle East, developing particularly fruitful international collaborations in Scandinavia and Italy.
In addition to his work as a saxophonist, Mazzarella curated over seven hundred jazz and improvised music concerts between 2008 and 2023 on two long-running concert series in Chicago: the Ratchet Series (2008-2023), and the Anagram Series (2015-2023). In 2018, he completed an extended, seven-year apprenticeship in woodwind instrument repair with master repairman Jarod Bufe, then transitioned to an electronics apprenticeship at inventor/designer Bob Palmieri’s acclaimed, high-end guitar pickup company Duneland Labs, where he is now the primary fabricator. As a commissioned woodworker, Mazzarella has built custom cabinets, furniture, gallery installations, bench goods, and treenware. He holds a bachelor’s degree in jazz studies and a master’s degree in jazz composition from DePaul University (2006/09).
Articles
Photos
Favorite Musicians / Bands
My Jazz Story
My House Concert Story
Favorite Places to See Jazz
Favorite Columns
Favorite Writers
Theme Song
Playlist
This page was last updated on 2026-10-14.
