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Lenny Pickett

Lenny Pickett possesses THE Saxophone sound of a generation. LP has been the Bandleader on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE (SNL) since 1995, after gaining fame with TOWER OF POWER. His renowned skill in the altissimo (high) register of his Tenor Sax and his relentlessly soulful approach create an inimitable, distinctive voice. Lenny is self-taught - He joined TOP at age 18, and has appeared on-stage and on recordings with many pop and R&B artists like David Bowie, Joe Cocker, Talking Heads, Mariah Carey, Katy Perry, Rod Stewart and Little Feat. Lenny is a professor in the Jazz Studies department at New York University, and, when his schedule permits, performs clinics and concerts worldwide. THE PRESCRIPTION is only his second album as a leader, and his first release in almost three decades.

The Pat Petrillo Big Rhythm Band: The Power Station Sessions

Read "The Power Station Sessions" reviewed by Jim Worsley

by Jim Worsley
September 29, 2022

To say that a record is all over the place is generally considered to be negative. However, that is not the case with this fun outing from drummer Pat Petrillo. His Big Rhythm Band pulsates through a wide variety of tunes. Not knowing what is coming next can come off as disjointed. But, again, not here. The surprising change of directions keeps it lively and entertaining. When it comes to Petrillo, entertaining is the right word to describe him and ...

Album Review

Tower of Power: 50 Years of Funk and Soul

Read "50 Years of Funk and Soul" reviewed by John Pietaro

by John Pietaro
April 15, 2021

In the realm of power funk and jazz-rock, Tower of Power was an original voice, one carved from a unique place within an exceptionally heady moment. And this convergence of forces, clearly, has yet to cool some 53 years hence. Horns? They've carried up to six at a time, to hell with diminished door splits. A big band of scorching funk, Tower of Power traces its roots to 1968 Oakland, where it flourished in a thicket of sound ...

Album Review

Lenny Pickett with the UMO Jazz Orchestra: The Prescription

Read "The Prescription" reviewed by Angelo Leonardi

by Angelo Leonardi
August 29, 2014

Lenny Pickett è stato membro distintivo dei Tower of Power per il decennio 1972-81, direttore musicale della Saturday Night Live Band fino al 1995, collaboratore di David Bowie}}, Elton John, David Byrne, Lenny Kravitz, il gruppo Little Feat e molti altri. Nonostante questo, il sassofonista ha inciso pochissimo a suo nome e questo è appena il secondo disco da leader. Lo accompagna la nota big-band finlandese diretta da Rich Shemaria, con cui ha avuto modo di collaborare negli ...

Interview

Lenny Pickett: Equal Opportunity Explorer

by R.J. DeLuke
August 4, 2014

Lenny Pickett is one of those tenor saxophonists who people have heard over and over and, if they're not paying attention, they don't realize it. If they are listening, they will probably pick up on his wailing altissimo phrases and his ballsy, funky sound. He's one of those players, like David Sanborn, who has played on a gazillion albums of people from the pop, soul and rock world. Like Sanborn, he has maintained a sound that is all ...

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Live Review

Lenny Pickett playing Dance Music for Borneo Horns in Ekenas, Finland

by Anthony Shaw
August 19, 2008

Lenny Pickett and some Finnish friends RasePori Jazz Knipan, Ekenas, Finland July 27, 2008

Readers familiar with the New York experimental or art music scene will be familiar with Lenny Pickett from his residence there for the last 25 years, and his involvement with fellow musicians such as Kenny Werner and John Hadfield. West coast veterans may remember his shimmying and jiving (and sax soloing) with the 1970s funk Tower of Power consortium alongside ...

Recording

Saxophonist Lenny Pickett Releases Second Album Of Storied 40+ Year Career, The Prescription, With Finnish UMO Jazz Orchestra On Random Act Records

Source: Matt Merewitz
May 31, 2014

It’s remarkable that The Prescription marks only the second album as a leader for Lenny Pickett, the renowned tenor saxophonist and E-flat clarinetist who was a seminal horn- section member of the pop/funk band Tower of Power from 1972-1981, and has been a member of the Saturday Night Live band since 1985 and its musical director since 1995. A longtime session musician and arranger who has worked with a wide range of artists from David Bowie and Elton John to ...
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Radio

The Traneumentary: Lenny Pickett

Source: Jazz Online By Joseph Vella
April 1, 2011

One of the most recognizable tenor saxophonists over the last 20 years, Lenny Pickett turned heads working in the original Tower of Power horn section. In 1985, he joined the Saturday Night Live band and since 1995, he has been the band's musical director. Over the years, Lenny has became a sought after session player recording with a variety of jazz artists as well as popular artists such as David Bowie, Elton John and the Talking Heads. He also serves ...
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Event

Lenny Pickett Live Interview with Dave Schroeder at Barnes & Noble (NYC) on Friday, October 30th at 7:00 P.M.

Source: Michael Ricci
October 29, 2009

Lenny Pickett Live Interview with Dave Schroeder at Barnes & Noble (NYC) on Friday, October 30th at 7:00 p.m. Join us this Friday, October 30th, for an in-store Barnes & Noble interview with saxophonist extraordinaire Lenny Pickett Time: 7:00pm - 8:00pm Barnes and Noble 150 East 86th Street New York, NY 10028 About Lenny Pickett Lenny Pickett is a saxophonist, flutist, clarinetist, composer, arranger, music director and teacher, and one of the most unique and talented ...
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