Alto saxophonist and composer Dave Pietro was born and raised in Southboro, MA, where he began playing jazz at age 11. While a student at the University of New Hampshire, he recorded with the school's jazz band under the auspices of flugelhornist Clark Terry before transferring to North Texas State University in 1984, touring and recording with the One O'Clock Lab Band in addition to collaborating with the Dallas Jazz Orchestra and the Collection Jazz Orchestra. Upon graduating in 1987, Pietro settled in New York City, subsequently touring behind Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, and Maynard Ferguson; from 1994 on, he also served as the lead alto for the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra. In 1996 -- the same year he was honored as recipient of a grant from the National Endowment for the Arts -- Pietro issued his headlining debut, Forgotten Dreams. Wind Dance followed two years later, and in 1999 he returned with Now Becoming Then. ~ Jason Ankeny, Rovi