Artist description Straight-ahead swinging, grooving, bluesy, classic-sounding traditional Jazz saxophonist with a very distinguished sound.

Music Style Traditional Jazz, Saxophone

Musical Influences Cole Porter, Billy Strayhorn, Dexter Gordon, Ben Webster, Thelonius Monk, Henry Mancini, Bob Wills, Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Charles Mingus, Horace Silver, Johnny Mercer, Phil Woods, Ella Fitzgerald, Billie Holiday, Freddie Hubbard, Irving Berlin, Hoag

Similar Artists John Coltrane, Ben Webster, Joshua Redman, Ernie Watts, Chris Potter,

Artist History "If ever there was proof that Texas makes 'em bigger than life, Tony Campise is it." His talent surpasses the usual saxophone player. He is virtually a master of any woodwind instrument, including the tenor and alto saxophone, piccolo, flute, and bass flute. His consummate artistry has been widely recognized by such diverse talents as Willie Nelson, Joe Henderson, Eric Johnson, Phil Woods, Billy Gibbons, and Lyle Lovett.Campise's first professional breakthrough occurred in the mid-70's, when he was invited to play lead alto in the Stan Kenton band. After years of constant touring, Campise returned to Texas and backed a number of world class artists. A who's who list of disparate names includes: Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Lyle Lovett, Arnett Cobb, Sarah Vaughan, Sam and Dave, Isaac Hayes, Joe Henderson, and Lee Konitz. Clint Eastwood, upon recommendation from Lennie Niehaus (who wrote sound tracks for "Bird" and "Unforgiven"), became a Campise fan while in Austin filming "A Perfect World". Campise continues to lead his own band and a big band on a regular basis, plays jazz fests, does saxophone clinics currently representing Boosey & Hawkes Keilwerth saxophones and selectively records as a sideman.Tony Campise's Once in a Blue Moon was voted for nomination as "Best Jazz Album of the Year" and "Best Instrumental Solo" by NARAS for the 1992 Grammies. The album won the Honorable Mention as "Best Jazz Album of the Year" by NAIRD. Once in a Blue Moon was in the top twenty of Billboard Jazz charts for three months, while reaching #3 on Gavin and R&R in the national radio charts. Campise's first release on the Heart Music label, First Takes, also traveled to #3 on the Gavin charts. Campise's third album, Ballads, Blues, and Bebop, was voted best album of the year by both Michael Point of The Austin American Statesman and Hilarie Grey of JazzTimes. Campise’s fourth album, Ballads, Blues, Bebop and Beyond was voted one of the top ten albums of 1994 by Rick Mitchell of Request Magazine and Jay Trachtenberg of the Austin Chronicle. Campise was voted Best Horn Player and Best Jazz Band at the 1995 Austin Music Awards during South By Southwest."Tony Campise is genuine, and completely free of pretention. He brings distinct and original voices to every instrument that he touches. He can make his tenor subtone with the power and depth of Ben Webster, moan like Dexter Gordon, and growl and flutter-tongue into the altissimo in the tradition of Junior Walker. His alto can rip through bop changes like a hot knife through butter, soaring up to a fourth octave D that will chill your spine. Whether he's crying a melancholy melody on bass flute or singing the blues in his uniquely down-and-dirty vocal style, the effect is soulful and brilliantly original." – Saxophone Journal

Group Members Tony Campise, Ed Soph, Joe LoCascio, Fred Hamilton, John Adams, Mitch Watkins, Dennis Dotson, John Mills, James Polk, Sandy Allen, Doug Hall, Evan Arredondo, Chris Maresh, Dave Morgan, A.D. Manion, Steve Summer, Bill Miller, Steve Allison

Instruments Alto Saxophone, Tenor Sax, Flute, Bass Flute, Guitar, Trumpet, Piano, Bass, Drums,

Albums "Once in a Blue Moon", "Ballads, Blues Bebop" , "Ballads, Blues, Bebop & Beyond", "Strange Beauty", "First Takes"

Press Reviews "Ballads, Blues,Bebop & Beyond is smokin'...One of the top ten jazz releases in 1994." --Rick Mitchell,Request Magazine "...a fat, juicy, soulful wail that practically jumps out and grabs you. A bluesy and brilliant ride..." --Skip Pearlman,CD-Sounds NY "If ever there was proof that Texas makes 'em bigger than life, Tony Campise is it ... soulful and brilliantly original." --Mike Pope,Saxophone Journal "In my imagination, I see saxophonist Tony Campise driving the Indy 500 motor race in the Oscar Mayer Weinermobile. He is outrageous. He is daring. He accepts no boundaries. He drives backwards into the pits. He races with a wild smile, celebrating the boundless possibilities in each moment." --Mike Pope, Saxophone Journal "Campise plays the saxophone like a devil with angel wings...fiery...passionnate...breathtaking" --Tim Carman, Houston Post "His energetic and endlessly expressive musical creations echo a historic tradition and update it to the space age, embellishing and expanding the classic sound with brilliant new extrapolations." --Michael Point, DownBeat "Smooth, fat sound... so much soul and expression that he could build an entire solo on a single bent note... Campise's approach is timeless!" --Bob McCullough, Boston Phoenix

Location Austin, TX - USA

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