Search - Artist/Band: Sal Nistico

• Name: Sal Nistico
• Birthday: 04/02/1938
• Birth Place: Syracuse, NY
• Died: 03/03/1991
• Decades Active: 1950,1960,1970,1980,1990
• Genre: Jazz
• Styles: Bop, Hard Bop

Title	Release
Jazz Friends	11/15/2005
Heavyweights/Comin' on Up	2002
Empty Room WA	1988
Heavyweights	12/20/1961

Sal Nistico's explosive tenor solos with Woody Herman in the mid-'60s helped make that edition of Herman's Herd into a success. Originally an altoist, Nistico switched to tenor in 1956 and played with r&b bands for three years. He gigged with and made his recording debut in 1959-1960 with the Jazz Brothers, a band also including Chuck and Gap Mangione. But it was while with Herman in 1962-1965 that Nistico made history. In 1965, he spent five months with Count Basie. He returned to Basie in 1967 and to Herman on several occasions (1968-1970, 1971, 1981-1982), although without the impact of the first stint. Otherwise, the tenor freelanced throughout his career, playing with Don Ellis and Buddy Rich but mostly working with pick-up groups. Nistico recorded for several labels as a leader including Riverside, Red, and Beehive. ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide