SAXOPHONE
“Something about the sound Mike DiRubbo elicits from the alto saxophone – deep, dark, immense, with a machete edge that denotes a ready-for-anything urban sensibility – immediately grabs the ear. It’s a sound familiar to the cream of New York’s hardcore jazz community since the mid-‘90’s” – writes Ted Panken.
Today, in an age where media-created young lions are more interested in downloads than down beats, alto saxophonist/composer/bandleader/educator Mike DiRubbo is the real deal. Ever since he arrived in New York two decades ago, DiRubbo has reigned supreme as one of the most durable and dynamic musicians of his generation. That bold statement is augmented by the aural evidence of his work with the brightest jazz stars including Al Foster, Harold Mabern, Larry Willis, Eddie Henderson, Steve Davis, Carl Allen, Christian McBride, Dwayne Burno, Tony Reedus, Peter Washington, John Hicks and Cecil Payne, and as a solo artist, with nine critically-acclaimed CD’s as a leader. DiRubbo has been featured in articles, reviews, and interviews in magazines including: Downbeat, Saxophone Journal, The Sax (Japan), Jazziz, Hothouse, Jazz Times, Jazz Journal, Cadence, Swing Journal, Jazz Folio, JazzWise, All Music Guide and All About Jazz and has been nominated in the Downbeat Rising Stars Alto Saxophone category every year since 2013. Mike is also an active and engaged educator. He is currently the Professor of Saxophone, Jazz Improvisation and Jazz Ensemble at Sacred Heart University in Fairfield, CT, a teacher at Saint Leo University in Florida, and is also the longest tenured teaching artist at the Litchfield Jazz Camp.
On his instrument DiRubbo has it all: from Benny Carter’s mastery of melody and Johnny Hodges’ ballad mellow tones to Charlie Parker’s light-speed fluency. But what truly sets DiRubbo apart from the rest was his apprenticeship under the legendary alto saxophonist/educator Jackie McLean.
