Nick Brignola

This audio only interview was conducted for a radio program by Dan Del Fiorentino and donated to the NAMM Oral History program: Nick Brignola’s baritone saxophone can be heard on several important jazz recordings beginning in the 1960s. He helped define the role of the baritone saxophone in the contemporary style of jazz of the era, including free and modern jazz. As a young player, Nick surrounded himself with the older veterans of jazz and learned techniques and phrasing from other instruments that helped shape his own unique style. Among those Nick performed and recorded with were Doc Cheatham, Chet Baker, Jon Faddis, Woody Herman, and fellow barry-man, Gerry Mulligan.

Image courtesy of the Downbeat archives.