Arnie Sainz

“Arnie has got the touch. He plays the piano with sensitivity and swing. What more can you ask?”

– Michael Wolff, renowned pianist

“Sainz provides a searching, intellectual piano performance that anchors the music in the vanguard of modern jazz…”

- James Broscheid, The Big Takeover

Arnie Sainz is a pianist, composer, and educator based in New York City. Drawing inspiration from his firm roots in the San Francisco Bay Area, Arnie’s voice spans ensembles and genres, finding his footing in both large-scale new music compositions and intimate improvised music settings.

He stays active as a leader and a sideman all around NYC, performing at notable venues including Dizzy's Club, Bar Bayeux, Jazz Club at the Aman, Arthur's Tavern, and many more. His debut trio album Darts was released by Adhyâropa Records in June 2023, featuring Marshal Herridge, Tony Moreno, and a fresh lineup of energetic original compositions. 

His playing can be heard on numerous recordings alongside acclaimed artists including Michael Rodriguez, Ron McClure, Alan Ferber, and Drew Gress. As a composer/arranger, Arnie has written for a wide array of musical acts and award-winning films. Most notably, his arrangement of Matthew Fullen’s composition “Elegant” was nominated for Best Instrumental Composition for the 2024 Taiwan Golden Melody Awards. Recently, his film score for the award-winning documentary Even In Darkness was featured at the 2025 Brooklyn Film Festival.

Arnie’s upcoming septet album Driftwood Children is set to release on Pinch Records, featuring saxophonist Billy Drewes and trombonist Alan Ferber. Also set to debut live in 2025 is the Arnie Sainz-Michael Dudley Jazz Orchestra, awardee of the 2024 New Music USA Creator Fund. 

Arnie is an adjunct faculty member at New York University’s Steinhardt School, and is a member of the BMI Jazz Composer’s Workshop.

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