Joe Pisto

Vocalist, guitarist and composer Joe Pisto stands out for his exceptional way of using his voice and guitar, inseparable instruments of his eclectic personality.

Graduate in Guitar Studies at the Conservatory “E. R. Duni” of Matera, with full marks. Degree Certificate in Jazz Music and Improvisation from the Conservatory of Bologna.
He has attended masterclasses in classical guitar with Francis Verba, Alberto Ponce, Alirio Diaz; masterclasses in singing with Carl Anderson, James Mc Lean, Jay Clayton.
He has a unique personal style, an expressive and versatile voice for jazz, soul and experimental vocals. His command of rhythm, phrasing, scat and dynamics make him more like a virtuoso jazz instrumentalist than a simple vocalist.
In 2006 Joe recorded his first album “In Jazz” on Belfagor Label.

He played the guitar with Andrea Bocelli during the OLYMPIC GAMES IN TURIN for a live broadcast aired on NBC; RAI 3’s show “Che tempo che fà”, presented by F. Fazio; RAI 3’s show “Quelli del calcio” presented by Simona Ventura; and on RADIO RAI 1.

FIRST PRIZE at the International Jazz Soloist Competition in Montecarlo (Fr) 2008.

In 2008 Joe recorded the albums “The Space Between Us” (New LM Record) and “Shapes” (Ass.Cult.Muse). In 2010 Joe founded, composed and arranged the music for the Jazz-Tango group Jazzango, recording the album “Sole di Notte” on Flaminio Jazz Label.

In 2012 Joe released “London Vibes”, recorded in London on the prestigious Emarcy/Universal Music label. A musical voyage which gathers together experiences, emotions and vibrations - specifically London “vibes”- together with some of the greatest British musicians on the European music scene.

In 2018 Joe released “Interplay” to critical acclaim: a duet with Fausto Beccalossi, one of the greatest accordion players today.

He has collaborated and played with several musicians in different kind of music: Eumir Deodato, Jeff Berlin, Paolo Fresu, Fabrizio Bosso, Dado Moroni, Brandon Allen, Jim Mullen, Dario Deidda, Stef Burns, Omar Lye Fook, Adam Pache, Ross Stanley, Quentin Collins, Marc Miralta, Ignasi Terraza, Marco Tamburini, Roberto Tarenzi, Fausto Beccalossi, Hiram Bullock , Andrea Bocelli, Bono (U2), and many others.

He has played in various festivals & Jazz Clubs: “Umbria Jazz Festival”, “Porretta Soul Festival”, “Fez Jazz Festival”, International Festival “Jazz Over Villach” , “Gubbio No Borders Festival”, “Montecarlo Jazz Festival”, “Bologna Jazz Festival” “San Martin Jazz Festival”, Alcudìa Jazz Festival , Brandeburg Jazz Festival, Balodoor Jazz Festival , Ronnie Scott’s, Jamboree, Sala Clamores, and others.

Some quotes and reviews:

“Joe sounds wonderful, very soulful and so musical!” - Sheila Jordan


“Joe sounds great! I’m sure he has a bright future in front of him.” - Kurt Elling

“Guitar and vocal extraordinaire!” - Omar Lye-Fook

“...Joe Pisto is one of those incredibly rare artists that can touch a place deeper than you knew existed and set you hair on fire all at the same time. An artist whose musical stock is an arrow pointing straight up. Best debut release for 2012, Top ten album for 2012, and Best New Artist 2012! “ - Brent Black , Critical Jazz
"Joe Pisto avvolge per la sua spontaneità, per la capacità di far comprendere il suo mood, per il suo intimo coinvolgimento nella storia della voce, dell’arrangiamento e dell’invenzione blue e soul " - Fabrizio Ciccarelli, Roma In Jazz & 4Arts
"An italian jazz singer combines exuberant scatting and crooning styles with a crack straight ahead team of London-based musicians..." - Jazzwise Magazine, Selwyn Harris
"London Vibes is the debut own-name released of noted italian guitarist Joe Pisto, here concentrating on his vocal side with a highly personal take on a set of mainly standards with some jazz compositions interspersed. Pisto has a husky, intimate sound and makes much use of scat, but he’s best heard on ballads.” - Jazz Journal, Bruce Crowther

"Il Cantante , chitarrista e compositore di origini lucane si presenta in gran spolvero con una collana di standards che mettono bene in evidenza la sua maturità di interprete, capace di muoversi senza soluzione di continuità dal fraseggio scat al canto soul. Uno spiccato senso del ritmo e, soprattutto, una voce molto pastosa ed espressiva fanno di Pisto un cantante jazz a tutto tondo. La classe non manca." - Musica Jazz, Claudio Bonomi

“..Joe Pisto a multipliè les collaborations et s’est illustrè dans de nombreux festivals. Chanteur vainqueur du concours international de solistes de Jazz de Monaco....une authentique découverte!! “ - Pierre Lapijover, La Strada

4 Stars Rating: “Interplay is the best word to describe what these two musicians do and with not a single note wasted in the process. “ - Allan Wilkinson, Northern Sky Magazine

“Una travolgente forza comunicativa della melodia, struggente, intensa, che lascia un segno tangibile sin dal primissimo ascolto...” - Stefano Dentice, Sound Contest

“Joe Pisto (chitarrista e vocalist estroso, eclettico e profondo per quante ne ha dire) e Fausto Beccalossi (sensibile maestro di fisarmonica) s’inseguono in visioni mediterranee, dialogano di Tango e di Jazz con un quoziente umano che narra di riflessioni tenui e sospese da un timbro vocale evocativo, fluttuante e crepuscolare, reso lindo e visionario dalla cura attenta dei registri lirici di un Accordion che sa di barrios di Buenos Aires e boulevards parigini....” - Fabrizio Ciccarelli, Roma In Jazz