SAL ANDOLINA In the greater world of music, cross-over artists will always be a rare item. But the challenge to swing freely between the classical repertoire and the realm of jazz has been met straight away by saxophonist-clarinetist virtuoso Sal Andolina.
As a solo touring artist, Sal has appeared at major venues across the United States, including Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York, and in Los Angeles on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. His recent international performances include a recital tour in Japan.
Since 1994, Mr. Andolina has held the position of clarinetist, bass clarinetist and saxophonist with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, where he has been featured as a supporting soloist with Marvin Hamlish and Doc Severinsen, and a variety of distinguished performers including Diana Reeves, Natalie Cole, Nancy Wilson, Maureen McGovern and John Pizzarelli.
In addition to appearing as featured soloist with Joann Falletta and the BPO , Sal has appeared with the New York City Pops at Carnegie Hall, Rochester Philharmonic, the Grand Rapids Symphony, Niagara Symphony, the Fresno Philharmonic and Virginia Symphony Orchestra among others.
Mr. Andolina's performance career was launched very early as a founding member of the Amherst Saxophone Quartet with which he toured and recorded widely including releases of Mozart's Piano Quintet K. 452 with composer/pianist Lukas Foss and Bach on Sax both on MCA Classics and concerts with Eubie Blake and Bobby Short.
Of special significance is the release of Sal's tribute to Benny Goodman on a solo CD titled 'Like Benny to Me'. About the tribute to Goodman Mr. Andolina relates how he first met the jazz great at a chamber concert in New York where Mr. Andolina was performing: "It was amazing to have a legend (Benny) sitting so close, hearing and watching every note you played! Afterward, Benny came up to me and said "... just like they played in my day.…next time you're in town, call me.' Without missing a beat, I said, "Well, I'm here tomorrow'."
Andolina went to Goodman's home the next day. Sal relates: "We played for two hours-Mozart and Bach duets, went through some of the literature, Brahms, Copland and Poulenc. I asked Benny to play a song for me. I remember how beautifully he played the melody, adding his trademark embellishments. It was perfection." With a marvelous jazz combo as backup, Andolina's CD revives fifteen Goodman favorites – a joyous excursion into the Golden Age of Swing.
Just released, ' A Medley of Masterworks for Solo Clarinet.' A masterful mix of classical, jazz and modern pieces by Stravinsky, Paganini-Yadzinsky, Telemann, Parisi, Artie Shaw and others. The recording features music for solo clarinet, clarinet duo, clarinet with double bass, duets with jazz guitar and pieces for jazz clarinet, string quartet and rhythm section.
Mr. Andolina's recordings are broadcast on NPR and APR here in the United States and abroad on the BBC networks.