ANDY PIZZO BIOGRAPHY
 Trombonist
Andy Pizzo is about as diverse and dynamic a musician as one can find. He is a trombonist of all styles, specializing in jazz, salsa, and funk, and has been performing around the Baton Rouge, New Orleans, and Gulf South region for years. Whether as a leader, soloist, music director, studio musician, side-man, composer, or arranger, Andy brings his trombone to forefront of all of his musical activities.
Andy’s Regularly Performing Groups:
The Andy Pizzo Project (Baton Rouge, LA - Andy’s own jazz/funk/rock group)
Phat Hat (Baton Rouge, LA - funk/soul/r&b)
VIVAZ! (New Orleans, LA – latin jazz/salsa)
The John Mahoney Big Band (New Orleans, LA – big band jazz)
Andy’s Performance Credits:
Northwestern State University Jazz Ensemble (Natchitoches, LA – Big Band Jazz)
The Rat Pack Show (Las Vegas, NV – big band/variety)
Earl Turner (Las Vegas, NV/New Orleans, LA – soul/r&b/variety)
Bill Watrous (Los Angelas, CA – jazz/trombone)
Poncho Sanchez (Los Angeles, CA – latin jazz/salsa)
Tito Puente Jr. (New York, NY – latin jazz)
Christopher Riddle (Florida – son of Nelson Riddle; arranger for Frank Sinatra – big band)
Bonerama (New Orleans, LA – funk/rock)
Deacon John and the Ivories (New Orleans, LA – jazz/variety)
The Frankie Mann Orchestra (New Orleans, LA – jazz)
The Bucktown All-Stars (New Orleans, LA – variety)
Chris Leblanc (Baton Rouge, LA – southern rock)
The Boogie Men (New Orleans, LA – variety)
Ronnie Kole (New Orleans, LA – jazz/variety)
Wanda Rouzan (New Orleans, LA – jazz/gospel/variety)
Marva Wright (New Orleans, LA – jazz/gospel/variety)
Allen Toussaint (New Orleans, LA – jazz/variety)
La Excelencia (New York, NY – salsa)
Leon Anderson Jr. (Talahassee, FL – jazz)
Byron Stripling (Columbus, OH – jazz)
Mike Steinel (Denton/Dallas, TX – jazz)
Dean Sorenson (Minnesota – jazz)
Soul’d Out (Houma, LA – variety)
Ned Fasullo and His Fabulous Lil’ Big Band (Baton Rouge, LA – Rat Pack Tribute Band)
Fleur de Lis (New Orleans, LA – variety)
The Michael Foster Project (Baton Rouge, LA – brass band/funk/rock)
The Hot Steppas (New Orleans – brass band/funk/rock/variety)
Festival and Conference Performances by Andy:
Bay Fest – Mobile, AL
Austin Salsa Festival – Austin, TX
City Stages Festival – Birmingham, AL
Earth Day Festival – Baton Rouge, LA
Fest For All – Baton Rouge, LA
Brownsville Latin Jazz Festival – Brownsville, TX
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival – New Orleans, LA
Emerging Artist and Talent in Music Conference – Las Vegas, NV
College Music Journal Conference – New York, NY
Cutting Edge Music Business Conference – New Orleans, LA
Louisiana Association for Jazz Education Jazz Festival – Natchitoches, LA
Discography
Louisiana State University – Wind Ensemble @ L.M.E.A. Convention (1996)
Louisiana State University – The Golden Band from Tigerland (1995, 1996, 1997, 1998)
Los Calientes del Son – A Mi Pueblo (1999)
Kirk Holder – The Last Blonde on Earth (2002)
WWOZ(New Orleans Radio Station) - The Sounds of New Orleans Vol. 22 (2004)
VIVAZ! Latin Band – Latin Caravan (2004)
Jive Train – Jonesin’ (2005)
The Twilight Singers – Powder Burns (2006) - (with Greg Dulli from The Afghan Wigs)
Mike and Steve Broussard – Coming Home (2006)
The Andy Pizzo Project – “Bouncin” (2006), Andy Pizzo - leader/composer/arranger
WWOZ (New Orleans Radio Station) – The Sounds of New Orleans Vol. 26 (2007)
Kevin Smith – Lighter (2007)
Band Director/Music Educator
Andy Pizzo, professional trombonist and current band director at Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School in Baton Rouge, LA, comes from the Metairie, LA, just outside of New Orleans. He received his Bachelor of Music Education degree from Louisiana State University in the spring of 1999 and has been teaching in the East Baton Rouge Parish School System since. He teaches beginner, intermediate, advanced, and jazz band. Both his concert bands and jazz bands consistently receive superior ratings at district, state, and regional festivals. Not just a music educator, Andy Pizzo is also a professional performing trombonist and specializes in the styles of jazz, latin, and funk. He has performed extensively throughout Louisiana and the Gulf South region.
Andy’s Education
St. Clement of Rome Elementary School (Metairie, LA)
Archbishop Rummel High School (Metairie, LA) – Class of 1995
Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, LA) – Spring Class of 1999
Previous Teachers: Trombone and Music Education
Michael Genevay (Principal and former band director – St. Clement of Rome)
Tony Frigo (former band director – Archbishop Rummel High School)
Harry Watters (trombonist and soloist – The Army Blues Jazz Ensemble)
Larry Campbell (retired trombone professor – L.S.U.)
Dr. Jim Byo (music education professor – L.S.U.)
Dr. Jane Cassidy (music education professor – L.S.U.)
Dr. Bill Grimes (jazz band director – L.S.U.)
Dr. Willis Delony (jazz combo director – L.S.U.)
Dr. Linda Moorhouse (Symphonic Winds Director – L.S.U.)
Frank Wickes (Wind Ensemble Director – L.S.U.)
Andy’s Band Director Experience/Tenure
McKinley Middle Magnet School (Baton Rouge, LA = 1999 – 2002)
Southeast Middle School (Baton Rouge, LA = 2002 – 2005)
Sherwood Middle Academic Magnet School (Baton Rouge, LA = 2005 – present)
Professional Accolades
VH 1/Toyota Corporation “Making Tracks with Camry Music Teacher Contest”
(2001) – national grand prize winner
Teacher of the Year (2003 – 2004) – Southeast Middle School
Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra “Music Teacher of the Year” (2007)
Baton Rouge Junior Cotillion “Most Well-Mannered Teacher” (2008)
Yale University Distinguished Music Educator Award (2009)
National Board Certification Candidate (2007 – present)
Honor Bands and Conferences: Clinician and Presenter
Vermillion Parish Honor Jazz Band (Abbeville, LA) – Middle School & High School
District IV (Baton Rouge, LA) Honor Jazz Band – Middle School
District V (Lake Charles, LA) Honor Jazz Band – Middle School & High School
District VI (New Orleans, LA) Honor Jazz Band – High School
District IX (Mandeville/Slidell, LA) Honor Jazz Band – Middle School
Louisiana Bandmasters Association All-Star Jazz Band – Middle School
Louisiana Music Educators Association Conference
Louisiana Bandmasters Association Conference - (clinic: How to start a middle school jazz ensemble)
Professional Organizations
Louisiana Association for Jazz Education (President)
Louisiana Music Educators Association (Jazz Division Chairman)
Jazz Education Network
Music Educators National Conference
National Band Association
International Trombone Association
|
