Lenny Pickett

Brandon Leonard "Lenny" Pickett ( born April 10, 1954 in Las Cruces, New Mexico ) is an American smooth jazz and studio musician ( saxophone, flute, clarinet, composition, arrangement ).

Life and work

Pickett, who grew up at Berkeley, is largely self-taught as an instrumentalist. After he was forced to leave the local high school, he had only a few lessons with Bert Wilson, then to develop its own approach. Between 1972 and 1981 he was a member of Tower of Power horn section, which was established to numerous board meetings. He also arranged for example, Elton John, Rod Stewart, David Bowie, Talking Heads and Laurie Anderson. Since 1985 he has been the musical director of the studio band of the television show Saturday Night Live. He composed not only for his own band, the Borneo Horns, but also for other ensembles including the New Century Saxophone Quartet or the UMO Jazz Orchestra, but also for theater and film.

Pickett was appointed to the New York University to teach as a professor jazz saxophone, although it is not considered " in the conventional sense " as a jazz player ( Allmusic ). He was awarded a Bessy Award ( New York Dance and Performance Award ).

Disco Graphical Notes

• Lenny Pickett with the Borneo Horns ( Hannibal Records, 1987)