Ray Santisi

Who is Ray Santisi?

Ray Santisi is an American jazz pianist, composer, arranger, recording artist and educator. He played as featured soloist with Charlie Parker, Stan Getz, Dexter Gordon, Mel Torme, Irene Kral, Herb Pomeroy and Natalie Cole to name a few. He also performed with Buddy DeFranco, Joe Williams, Gabor Szabo, Milt Jackson, Zoot Sims & Al Cohn, Carole Sloane, Clark Terry and Bobby Brookmyer. He performed with his own ensemble, The Real Thing and in the 1960s performed with the Benny Golson Quartet. He has performed at Carnegie Hall and Boston's Symphony Hall.

Santisi is professor of piano and harmony at Berklee College of Music in Boston where he has taught since 1957. He won an honors scholorship to Schillinger House. He has been awarded grants from the National Endowment for the Arts in composition and performance. He taught at Stan Kenton's summer jazz clinics throughout the US, performing in Europe, Scandinavia, and Asia. He is a founder of the early Jazz Workshops in Boston and was co-owner of Stables Jazz Club. In 2008 he was nominated to IAJE Jazz Education Hall of Fame.