"Master saxophonist, Dagradi creates a seamless full-bodied sound, each song emotional, riveting and joyful. Any way you slice it, Gemini Rising is an irresistible album." - Ken Micaleff (Downbeat)
"Kudos to Dagradi for not only selecting, writing, and arranging for saxophone ensembles a set of interesting and enjoyable tunes on the CD, but also performing the heck out of them on each instrument." - Frank Bongiorno (Saxophone Today)
Professor of saxophone, Tony Dagradi, is an internationally recognized jazz performer, composer, author and educator. For over three decades he has made his home in New Orleans, performing on tenor and soprano sax with many of the Crescent City's most celebrated artists, including Ellis Marsalis, Allen Toussaint, Professor Longhair, James Booker, The Meters, Dr. John, James Black, Johnny Adams and Gatemouth Brown. Dagradi is most well known for his work with Astral Project, an adventurous quintet made up of top New Orleans players dedicated to playing cutting-edge improvisational music. Over the years the band has performed throughout the world, garnering universal praise as one of the most innovative, compelling jazz bands anywhere.
On his latest album "Gemini Rising," Tony Dagradi, performs on soprano, alto, tenor and baritone saxophones in exquisite multi-layered arrangements which cover the gamut from world fusion to funk to post bop to second line. Tony is joined by three outstanding modern drummers steeped in the traditions of New Orleans, Herlin Riley, John Vidacovich and Troy Davis.
Listen to tracks and purchase the CD>>