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Tony Dagradi |
Born: September 22, 1952
For over two decades Tony has made his home in New Orleans performing on tenor and soprano sax with many of the Crescent City's most celebrated artists - Ellis Marsalis, Allen Toussaint, James Booker, The Meters, Dr. John, James Black, Johnny Adams, Gatemouth Brown and more. An accomplished classical performer as well, he's often called upon to augment the woodwind section of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. His performing past also includes five years as a member of the internationally acclaimed Carla Bley band and appearances with Bobby McFerrin, Mose Allison and Nat Adderly.
In 1978 Tony formed 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.
Tony is Associate Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at Loyola College of Music. He has also received numerous awards, including grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the Louisiana Division of Arts, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation, and the Contemporary Art Center of New Orleans.