Free Jazz Thursday with Pete Fucinaro

Doors 8 // Show 9 // 21+ // FREE!

Pete Fucinaro is a saxophonist and composer whose musical scope encompasses jazz and contemporary music. His compositions draw from a wide range of styles and genres while remaining rooted in the jazz tradition. His work is characterized by a fluid approach that explores complex musical spaces through tender and cinematic orchestration, evocative melodies, an emphasis on self expression through improvisation, and the exploration of a diverse range of musical practices.

Pete attended the University of Missouri-Kansas City, where he studied with Carl Allen and earned a Master of the Arts degree in saxophone performance. Before that, he earned his undergraduate degree in jazz studies from the University of North Texas. During his time at the University of North Texas, he was a member of the seven-time GRAMMY nominated One O’Clock Lab Band from 2019-2020.

In 2020, Pete was a semifinalist in the North American Saxophone Alliance jazz saxophone competition. In 2021, Pete recorded with Vector Field on their debut release “V1”, which features five of his original compositions. In 2023, Pete participated in the Betty Carter Jazz Ahead program, where he had an original work premiered at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, DC. At this program, he performed on the Millennium Stage at the Kennedy Center, the Discover Jazz Festival in Burlington, VT, and worked closely with Jason Moran, Melissa Aldana, Ingrid Jensen, Linda May Han Oh, Benny Green, Clarence Penn, and Camille Thurman. In 2024, Pete was selected to be in the Ravinia Steans Music Institute Program for Jazz in Highland Park, IL, where he debuted original music and worked with Rufus Reid, Steve Wilson, and Billy Childs.

In June 2025, Pete performed at the Jazz in June Festival hosted by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln at the Lied Center for Performing Arts, where he premiered new works from his upcoming debut release, “Little Window”, which will be released on August 22, 2025.

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