Lucas Pino

Lucas Pino, April 19, 1987, was born in Phoenix, Az on Easter day. He began playing saxophone at age 10 at the suggestion of his father. By age 15, Lucas began performing with professional musicians in Phoenix and was invited to play in the Charles Lewis quintet. Notable alumni of Lewis' Quintet include Tony Malaby and Lewis Nash. By the completion of high school, Lucas had performed and presented original music at numerous festivals and was also awarded ?Best Jazz Instrumental Soloist? by Downbeat Magazine.

By the completion of high school, Lucas had performed and presented original music at numerous festivals and was also awarded ?Best Jazz Instrumental Soloist? by Downbeat Magazine. Lucas also had the opportunity to play on five recordings as a sideman while still in high school.

Participating in the Brubeck Summer Jazz Colony in high school, Lucas was later selected to participate in the prestigious Brubeck Institute Fellowship program. While attending the Fellowship program Lucas had the opportunity to play with some of the world's best young talent as well as visiting jazz masters. The fellows performed and toured in California, New York, Texas, Illinois and abroad to Spain, Andorra and Canada. Many performances included Dave Brubeck and other jazz masters sitting in with the Brubeck Institute Jazz Quintet including Lucas' final concert as a fellow, a double bill with the Dave Brubeck Quartet at Chicago Symphony Hall.

In January 2007, Lucas toured to Toronto, Ontario to play with the Brian Chahley
Quintet at the Rex Hotel Jazz. During this time, they recorded Brian's second record as a leader ?This Way?. Summer 2007 Lucas invited these same musicians to come to Phoenix to play and record his first record as a leader ?Yellow Flower with Snail?. The ensemble was well received by Phoenix's jazz enthusiasts, and was invited back the next summer to release the new CD and perform at various jazz venues. Lucas is pursuing the completion of his undergraduate degree at the New School University.

Lucas has performed with Dave Brubeck, Nicholas Payton, Jerry Bergonzi, James Moody, Bobby Shew, Wycliffe Gordon, Gregory Tardy, Lewis Nash, Charles Lewis, Ingred Jenson, John Fedchock, Christian McBride, Don Thompson, Chris Brubeck, Bob Freedman, Open World Jazz, and the Stockton Symphony Orchestra.

Performance Venues have included: Sedona Jazz on the Rocks, Monterey Jazz Festival, Paradise Valley Jazz Festival, Benicia Fine Art and Jazz Festival, Chandler Jazz Festival, Kerr Cultural Center, Smalls Jazz Club, Chicago Symphony Hall, Orpheum Theater, Brubeck Jazz Festival, among many other.

Lucas has studied with Tony Vacca, Mike Zilber, Anton Schwartz, Chris Cheek, Rich Perry and Tony Malaby.