# Sal Nistico

Salvatore Nistico (April 2, 1940 – March 3, 1991) was an American jazz tenor saxophonist.

## Career

Associated for many years with Woody Herman's Herd, Nistico played in the group from 1962 to 1965, considered one of Herman's best bands, with Bill Chase, Jake Hanna, Nat Pierce, and Phil Wilson.
He started playing alto saxophone, switching to tenor in 1956, on a Buescher before switching to a Conn 10M tenor saxophone, and briefly played baritone saxophone. From 1959 to 1961, he played with the Jazz Brothers band (Chuck Mangione and Gap Mangione).
In 1965, he joined Count Basie but returned on many occasions to play with Herman. Around that time he was also a member of Dusko Goykovich's sextet with other musicians associated with the Herd, such as Carl Fontana, Nat Pierce, and Michael Moore. He also played with Nat Adderley, Don Ellis, Buddy Rich, and Stan Tracey. Living in Europe in his latter years he worked with mostly European musicians as Joe Haider, Isla Eckinger, Billy Brooks, Fritz Pauer and recorded with the Larry Porter/ Allan Praskin Band and Three Generations Of Tenor saxophone with Johnny Griffin, Roman Schwaller, Paul Grabowsky, Roberto DiGioia, Thomas Stabenow, Joris Dudli and Mario Gonzi. The first live performance from January 1985 was released under the band's name on JHM Records Switzerland.
Nistico's solo work contrasts his big band work. His solo work is more oriented towards bebop, as heard on the Heavyweights recording on Riverside Records.

## Discography
### As leader or co-leader

* 1961: Heavyweights (Milestone)
* 1962: Comin' On Up (Milestone)
* 1975: Jazz A Confronto (Horo Hill [Rome, Italy])
* 1978: East of Isar, The Sal Nistico-Benny Bailey Quintet (Ego)
* 1978: Neo/Nistico (Bee Hive)
* 1981: Woody Herman Presents, Vol. 2: Four Others Al Cohn, Sal Nistico, Bill Perkins, Flip Phillips (Concord Jazz)
* 1981: Live at Carmelo's 1981 (Fresh Sound)
* 1985: Three Generations Of Tenorsaxophone, Johnny Griffin-Sal Nistico-Roman Schwaller (JHM Records Switzerland, JHM 3611, released 1997)
* 1988: Empty Room (RED Distribution)
* 1995: Sal Nistico Live (Culture Press)
* 2001: Jazz Friends with Tullio De Piscopo (Amiata)
* 2010: Swiss Radio Days, Vol. 21 with Tony Scott (TCB)

### As sideman or guest

With Chet Baker
* 1992: Live at Renaissance II (CD Baby)
* 1994: Nightbird (CLA)
* 1997: In a Soulful Mood (Music Club)
* 2001: Round Midnight (Fruit Tree)
With Count Basie
* 2005: NEA Jazz Masters–Count Basie (Verve)
With Sammy Davis Jr. & Count Basie
* 1965: Our Shining Hour (Verve)
With Curtis Fuller
* 1978: Fire and Filigree (Bee Hive)
With Woody Herman
* 1963: Woody Herman–1963 (Philips)
* 1963: Encore Woody Herman–1963
* 1964: Woody Herman–1964 (Philips)
* 1965: The Swinging Herman Herd-Recorded Live (Philips)
* 1965: Woody's Big Band Goodies (Philips)
* 1969: Woody Herman – Light My Fire (Cadet)
* 1992: World Class (Concord Jazz)
* 1994: Live at Newport & At the Hollywood Bowl (Jazz Band)
With The Jazz Brothers (Chuck & Gap)
* 1960: The Jazz Brothers (Riverside)
* 1961: Hey Baby! (Riverside)
* 1961: Spring Fever (Riverside)
With Helen Merrill
* 1980: Casa Forte (Mercury)
With Pony Poindexter
* 1962: Pony's Express (Epic)
With Larry Porter-Allan Praskin Quartet
* 1994: Sonnet for Sal (Enja)
With Buddy Rich
* 1974: Very Live at Buddy's Place (LRC)
* 1974: Transition Buddy Rich & Lionel Hampton (Groove Merchant)
* 1989: Tuff Dude (LRC)
With Sarah Vaughan
* 1984: The Mystery of Man (Kokopelli)
* Source