Ken Nigro is a multi-instrumentalist based in Austin, Texas. Ken plays lead tenor saxophone and is a featured soloist on Jens Wendelboe’s jazz CD Against All Odds on Losen Records. He’s performed or recorded with artists such as Harvey Swartz, Bill Mays, Luis Conte, Doc Severinsen, Aretha Franklin, the Temptations, Manhattan Transfer, Sammy Davis Jr., John Pizzarelli, Nelson Riddle Orchestra, Marvin Stamm, Ernie Watts, Ed Calle, Gary Campbell, and Chris Botti. Ken has played at venues including Newport Jazz Festival in Saratoga NY, the 53rd Presidential Inaugural at the Kennedy Performing Arts Center (with Aretha Franklin), White Nights Jazz Festival in Russia, Freihofer’s Hartford Jazz Festival (with the Ken Nigro Band), B.B. King Blues Club in New York City, Daryl’s House in Pawling NY, and Jazz TX in San Antonio.
Ken performs as a jazz, classical and woodwind doubling artist on all of the saxophones, flutes and clarinets. He has performed as a doubler for shows including Book of Mormon, Phantom of the Opera, The Sound of Music, Newsies, and Chicago. He also played for the premier run of Paul Williams’ Happy Days directed by John McDaniel at the Goodspeed Terris Theater in Chester, CT. Ken has also performed with many symphonies including the Waterbury, New London, Ridgefield, Wallingford, Hartford, and New Haven Symphony Orchestras.
As a composer, two of his better known compositions are Big Schleps for jazz quintet and Wednesday Night at the Red Door for 5 saxophones and rhythm section. Additionally, Ken has more than 25 years of experience teaching university level saxophone, clarinet, flute, improvisation, and ensemble at the University of Miami, CCSU, UCONN, and NVCC. He’s currently a visiting lecturer of saxophone and clarinet at Southern Connecticut State University.
Ken performs regularly in the Austin, San Marcos, and San Antonio areas in Texas. He also plays the Akai EWI wind synthesizer. He plays Yamaha woodwind instruments and electric basses.