One of the few great jazz bassoonists and a multi-reedist who is quite versatile, Ray Pizzi has long been underrated but is a valuable asset to any session where he appears. Pizzi started out on the clarinet and during the first half of the 1960's studied at the Boston Conservatory and the Berklee School Of Music. Pizzi toured with Woody Herman's Orchestra in 1966 but spent most of the time (1964-69) as a schoolteacher in Massachusetts. In 1969 when he moved to California, Pizzi became a fulltime musician. Since then he has worked extensively in the studios and with countless jazz all-stars including Shelly Manne, Willie Bobo, Dizzy Gillespie (1976), Louie Bellson and many top local players. In addition, Pizzi has been a busy jazz educator. As a leader he has recorded for Pablo (1976), and Discovery (1979 and 1981). ~ Scott Yanow, All Music Guide
