Renato Caranto

Renato Caranto has a work ethic. When this second-generation saxophonist first arrived in the U.S. from his native Philippines in 1981, he owned nothing of value but his horn. At that time, Renato was playing in a Top-40 band. The music didn't thrill him--he aspired to be a jazz musician--but Renato played that commercial material with all the passion and professionalism he could muster. As a result, he was able to gain a financial foothold for himself and his family in his adopted country.

In 1992, after a decade spent playing hotel lounges up and down the West Coast, Renato joined a blues and R & B band and began playing in Portland-area nightclubs. Once again Renato applied himself, and soon he was recognized as the best blues sax player around, winning the Cascade Blues Association's award for best saxophonist in 1994 and again in '95, '97, and '98.

However, Renato never lost sight of his first love: jazz. Despite a busy performing and recording schedule, he always found time to study and practice. Gradually he began playing more jazz gigs and recording sessions, appearing with top Portland jazz players like Mel Brown and Thara Memory. At Portland's Jimmy Mak's, Renato has performed with Brown's Tuesday night septet as well as with his Thursday night B-3 Organ Quartet for over 6 years now. Along with organist Louis Pain from the latter group, Renato played on the 2002 live recording, "Purdie Good Cookin'," featuring the legendary drummer Bernard Purdie. In recent years Renato has also been getting invitations to perform and lecture at various Northwest colleges.

After a flirtation with smooth jazz on his 1999 disc "Generations," Renato's aptly-titled 2001 release "Straight Ahead" announced his transition to blues-rooted modern jazz. In publicizing the latter CD release, the Oregonian called Renato "one of Portland's most soulful jazz saxophonists." Clearly, a work ethic can pay off.