Marco Pignataro is a Boston based multi-talented saxophone player, composer and educator originally from Bologna, Italy. Marco maintains a very active international schedule of concerts, recordings and clinics and he has shared stages with artists such Eddie Gomez, Joanne Brackeen, Danilo Perez, George Garzone, John Patitucci, Kenwood Dennard, Antonio Sanchez, Ben Street, Billy Drummond, Billy Hart, Clark Terry and Jon Faddis, among others. As a leader, Marco performs with several musical groups including the Marco Pignataro Jazzet, the Up-South Project and the Marco Pignataro Trio Más (+).

The latest Marco Pignataro CD release “Sofia’s Heart” was produced by jazz legend Eddie Gomez and features Marco’s compositions and arrangements. “Sofia’s Heart” was recorded in Philadelphia with a stellar group formed by Eddie Gomez, Bill Drummond, Matt Marvuglio and Mark Kramer.  Marco also tours internationally as a member of the Eddie Gomez Quintet and his playing and compositions are featured in the widely acclaimed quintet CD “Per Sempre”, recently released on BFM Records.

Marco is currently the Managing Director of the Berklee Global Jazz Institute (BGJI), the premiere jazz program at Berklee College of Music in Boston. Together with Danilo Perez as Artistic Director, Marco leads the BGJI as a center of musical creativity with an intensive access to world-class visiting artists. BGJI faculty includes Danilo Perez, Joe Lovano, John Patitucci, George Garzone and Ben Street among other prominent jazz artists.

Marco has been the director and co-founder of the Jazz and Caribbean Music Department and the Jazz Saxophone Chair at the Conservatory of Music of Puerto Rico. As a dedicated music educator, Marco also participated as Board Member of the International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE), as the President and founder of the IAJE Chapter of Puerto Rico, and as a faculty in the University of Veracruz International Summer Jazz Seminars. Marco’s column, Style & Influence, was regularly featured in the quarterly magazine Jazz Improv. As a reviewer and columnist, Marco has also conducted interviews with Branford Marsalis, Jerry Bergonzi, Danilo Perez, David Sánchez, and Miguel Zenón.

MARCO PIGNATARO is a RICO Performing Artist, Endorser for Mauriat Saxophones and for the Applied Microphone Technology Wireless System.