Tom Saviano
Tom Saviano, (homepage) the son of a Chicago big band conductor and arranger recording artist Tom Saviano’s appreciation for jazz, classical music and arrangements was born of a constant exposure to sophisticated musicians and music.
A gifted jazz saxophonist, keyboard player, composer and lyricist, Saviano’s sophomore solo smooth jazz album, Crossings, reunites the artist with some of his favorite players, including Bill Champlin, Brian Bromberg, Lenny Castro, Thom Rotella, Vinnie Colaiuta and Jeff Golub, among others.
“I made a decision in the early stages of writing Crossings to use real players for most of the record rather than programming it, which was a big contrast from my last CD,” said Saviano of the record, which marked his Miramar Records debut.
He adds, “As the project progressed, I began to rediscover the magic that can occur when one plays with a group of gifted musicians, something I personally missed. I believe the record will prove to be an exciting listening experience for true music lovers.”
Saviano’s career began as one of Los Angeles’ most talented session players, a reputation that landed him a stint as Melissa Manchester’s musical director. Saviano arranged and played saxophone on three of Manchester’s albums: Help Is On The Way, Singin, and Don’t Cry Out Loud (Arista Records).
During the recording of Don’t Cry Out Loud, Saviano formed the group Heat with whom he released two critically acclaimed albums (Heat and Still Waitin’, MCA Records) generating two Top 40 R&B; hits, “Just Like You” and “This Love That We Found.” On both albums, Saviano produced and arranged all of the music, played sax and keyboard and wrote and/or co-wrote all of the songs.
Saviano went on to play with a host of high-profile musicians such as Brenda Russell (A&M; Records); Earth, Wind & Fire with whom he played sax for the Grammy-winning hit “I Wanna Be With You” (Raise, SNY); Sheena Easton for whom he wrote the hit single “Hard to Say It’s Over” (Private Heaven, EMI); Tom Scott, “The Gift of Your Love” (Jazz Noel, Windham Hill Records, 1998); Rahsaan Patterson (Rahsaan Patterson, 1998 and Love In Stereo, 1999, Universal Records); and Tower of Power bassist Rocco Prestia’s Everybody on the Bus (Lightyear Records, 1999).
Saviano’s most current work includes recording sessions with Ray Charles Genius Loves Company (Concord/Hear Music, 2004), Les McCann Pump It Up (Esc Records, 2002) and Tim McGraw Tim McGraw & the Dancehall Doctors (Curb, 2002). He also co-produced and co-wrote the latest Thom Rotella CD, A Day In The Life (BMG/V2, 2002). Recent live performances include shows with Lee Ritenour, Clarence Clemons, Steve Ferrone and members of Stone Temple Pilots.
Saviano also played saxophone on the Grammy-winning Dolly Parton single, “9 to 5,” and contributed to Michael Nesmith’s “Elephant Parts,” the first music video to ever win a Grammy.
Exploring new mediums for his music, Saviano wrote, produced and performed several arrangements for television. He was chosen to be the band leader and conductor for the NBC television production of David Letterman’s first show, “Leave It To Dave” and produced, composed and performed music for Showtime’s “Aerobicise,” which skyrocketed to number one on Billboard’s Video chart. From 1986-89, Saviano was a featured soloist and permanent member of “The Late Show with Joan Rivers,” the show that launched the Fox Television Network.
Saviano released his first CD as a stand-alone artist in 1998, Making Up Lost Time (BreakAway/Whirleybird Records), his only solo effort prior to Crossings. The album debuted at number 43 on the Gavin Smooth Jazz chart.
Of the musicians appearing on his second album Crossings Saviano has enjoyed a very productive relationship with Champlin, with whom he wrote the hit Chicago single, “Holdin’ On,” off Chicago 21 (WEA Warner Bros., 1991) and with whom he co-produced The Sons of Champlin Live (BMG, 1998) and the soon to be released new Sons Of Champlin studio album which includes compositions co-written by Saviano and Champlin.
His additional collaborations with Champlin, who contributed lead vocals on the Crossings single “One More Dance,” include serving as a member of Champlin’s legendary band, The Sons of Champlin. The Sons have headlined several times at the Fillmore in San Francisco, The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco, The Experience Music Project in Seattle, Humphrey’s in San Diego and The Luther Burbank Center in Santa Rosa, California. In addition, the Sons of Champlin have co-billed with Huey Lewis and the News at the Concord Pavilion, Tower Of Power at the Britt Festival in Oregon, The Doobie Brothers at the BR Cohen Winery in Sonoma County. The Sons gave a critically acclaimed performance at the 30th celebration of The Summer of Love concert in Golden Gate Park, which also featured Jefferson Airplane, John Handy and members of the Grateful Dead.
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