OA2 Records Artist Todd DelGiudice

Highly improbable sax hero, bright, lush, and never sketchy.
Tom Hull, Village Voice Jazz Consumer Guide

Saxophonist, clarinetist, composer, and educator Todd DelGiudice has forged a distinctive career at the intersection of jazz and classical music. A South Florida native, he earned bachelor's and master's degrees in music from the University of Miami before pursuing advanced clarinet studies at the University of Oregon. While still a student, he performed with Ray Charles, Natalie Cole, The Woody Herman Big Band, the Florida Philharmonic, and the New World Symphony, and became a featured member of one of trumpeter Red Rodney's final working quintets.

After relocating to New York City, DelGiudice performed with leading voices in contemporary jazz including Maria Schneider, John Fedchock, Ingrid Jensen, Donny McCaslin, Rich Perry, Rick Margitza, and Jon Gordon, while leading his own ensembles at venues such as the Knitting Factory. He has continued to maintain strong ties to the New York jazz community, recently appearing with the renowned Vanguard Jazz Orchestra at the legendary Village Vanguard, home to the orchestra's historic Monday-night residency. Equally accomplished in the classical world, he has served as principal clarinetist with the Oregon Mozart Players, performed with the Eugene Symphony and Eugene Opera and the Spokane Symphony.

As a recording artist, DelGiudice's debut album on OA2 Records, Pencil Sketches, earned a rare Honorable Mention in The Village Voice Jazz Consumer Guide for best jazz albums of the year. His second release as a leader, Human Element, has been lauded by some of the best in the business, including this quote from Dick Oatts, alto saxophone: "So many beautiful levels of expression from start to finish. The playing was not only spontaneous but masterful by the entire group. I truly enjoyed the phrasing, dynamics and arc of each composition. Todd's alto playing (and clarinet) is a true inspiration and will lead us to new levels of possibilities from concept, individuality, melodic and rhythmic freedom, sound, and harmonic versatility. You have given us new levels to aspire to. Through the ashes of this pandemic comes the ingenuity and birth of a new voice on the alto saxophone, Todd DelGiudice."

He has also appeared on recordings by the Free Range Saxophone Quartet, Jon Hamar, Bob Curnow Big Band, Steve Owen, Dennis Marks, Phil Flanigan, Larry Wilson and others. A sought-after clinician and educator, DelGiudice has taught at the University of Miami, Northern Illinois University, Eastern Washington University, and currently serves on the jazz faculty at the University of North Florida while maintaining an active performance schedule with the Jacksonville Symphony and the Jacksonville Jazz Collective.

Whether on saxophone or clarinet, DelGiudice brings a lyrical voice, technical mastery, and stylistic versatility that reflect a lifetime of exploration across musical traditions.