Johnny Pennino - Tenor Sax King Of New Orleans
New Orleans, Louisiana, United States | SELF
Music
Press
Johnny can definitely give Sam Butera a real run for his money; with his ease as a seasoned, imaginative and highly talented sax pro. Johnny's renditions of several well-known tunes of the jazz, Big Band and '50's & '60's pop music genres, guarantees him a place in the hearts of music lovers wherever he's played the world over - Blues On Stage
Johnny Pennino is known as the Sax King of New Orleans, and rightly so! He is deservedly in the Louisiana Hall of Fame, and is one of the freshest and most vibrant tenor sax players around. - JazzReview
Discography
1986 - Saxy-Country-Soul
2002 - Mr. Johnny Pennino
2006 - Live On Bourbon Street
2006 - Steppin' Out of Blue Monday
Photos
Bio
Born and raised in New Orleans, Johnny began playing music under the influence of family friend Sam Butera, sax master with Louis Prima. Johnny’s special gift on the saxophone found him, at age seventeen, blowing in the top of Bourbon Street nightclubs. Here he developed his unique style under the tutelage of such notables as Al Hirt, Pete Fountain, James Moody, Cannonball Adderly, and Dizzy Gillespie.
He has performed for the Rat Pack at the Factory in Los Angeles, NBC Studios, Millionaires Club, Sahara Tahoe and Las Vegas Sands. Johnny has played with dozens of recording stars from Freddy Fender, Ernie K-Doe, Professor Longhair to Sam Cooke, Aaron Neville, Frankie Ford, Kenny Rogers and others. Johnny has recorded in New Orleans, Canada and Nashville. The ultimate compliment came from a jazz legend who never played with Johnny. The great Duke Ellington, on a tip from his trumpet player Cat Anderson, arrived at Papa Joes’ on Bourbon Street one night. He wanted to hear for himself the highly touted sounds of a featured young saxophonist by the name of Johnny Pennino. The Duke, loving the sound he heard, made a point of meeting Johnny after the performance to offer his valued words of praise.
Since 2002 Johnny has performed at the Southside Shuffle Blues and Jazz Festival in Canada, Hambone Festival in Clarksdale, MS as well as this past April 2010 at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
A Louisiana Hall of Famer, Johnny Pennino’s depth of tone drips with emotion. It cries with you. It laughs with you. His seductive sound embraces you very soul. Powerful riffs of passion elevate your senses. Like the man himself, Johnny’s music is spiritual and romantic. He possesses a profound, engaging warmth. With his horn, he gives you his heart! Johnny is truly one of the fewest authentic original entertainers that performed for many years on Bourbon Street and many, many other clubs and venues in the New Orleans area. He continues to amaze all who hear his performances and continues to credit God for his wonderful gift!
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