Brandon

MEZZELO

bmezzelo@gmail.com

Freelance saxophonist, available for concerts, recordings, private parties and corporate events

Photography by Heidi Sanders

BIO

Brandon Mezzelo ~ professional saxophonist living and working in Springfield, Missouri.

A Veteran of the U S Army Bands (Germany), he has lived and played in Europe for over 10 years.

Born in Peoria, Ill. He began his career playing with jazz and blues bands at the age of 16. After a brief apprenticeship with local bands and the legendary drummer Buddy Miles in Chicago, he joined the U.S Army band in 1992. During his service, he would be the lead tenor player for 3 Army bands; Würzburg, Bamberg, Weisbaden: Germany. He has traveled most of Western and Eastern Europe playing hundreds of concerts for large audiences.

Recent projects include:

The Haüs Jazz (Thursday nights at the Dugout Bar & Grill)

James River Assembly (Christmas / Easter)

'All Hands on Deck' (WWII Style Radio Show / Branson, Mo)

'Rhythm of the Saints’ (Paul Simon Tribute Band)

'The Vertigo’ (Fusion Instrumental Project)

MEDIA

EDUCATION

Parkview High School --- (Jazz band, Concert band and Music theory)

Southwest Missouri State University --- (Concert and Marching band, Lab band, Jazz combo, Music education)

U.S Army School of Music --- (Music theory, Concert band, Jazz band, Jazz combo)

University of Music, Würzburg --- (Jazz clinics and Masterclass, with Bob Minzter and Jerry Bergonzi)

MIssouri State University --- (Music education, Jazz band, Jazz combo, Principal tenor saxophonist)

Franz Liszt Academy of Music Budapest (Clinic & Education)

GALLERY

PROJECTS

The Haüs Jazz Quartet is one of Springfield's finest and the host of the legendary Dugout Jam Session on Thursday nights. This is the groups collection of standards. Recorded at Nick Sibley Studios

Living in Germany for several years, I became very interested in EDM

I also compose and record Acid Jazz for personal and commercial use.

The Vertigo is a fusion group playing a variety of jazz and rock inspired high energy songs. Influences include Tom Scott, David Sanborn and The Crusaders.

HORN SECTION

REVIEWS / PRESS

Veteran Saxophonist & Friend

I have been listening to Brandon play his beloved Selmer Mark VI named Bessie since 1999 when he first played a set at Springfield Brewing Company. Since that first set, Brandon has continued to bring his special blend of jazz, blues, funk and soul whenever he plays. I enjoy listening to a wide range of musical styles, but my favorite style is jazz, especially when there is a good tenor in the mix. And Brandon is a damn fine tenor sax player! He's also a good friend of mine.

Cheers!

Ashton Lewis

Master Brewer & Co-Owner

Springfield Brewing Company

Super Talented!

Brandon is flexible and great to work with. So far, we have hired him and his band mates to come perform for a large group on two separate occasions and we were thoroughly impressed both times! I highly recommend Brandon Mezzelo Triptet if you need some professional and classy entertainment for your event!

Sarah K (GigSalad Verified Review)

The Vertigo may make you dizzy for 70s jazz-rock

Saxophonist Brandon Mezzelo and his crew hopped onto the stage at Lindberg’s on

Wednesday, April 17, to birth a band: The Vertigo.

They are reaching back nearly half a century to resuscitate some fusion of not just jazz

rock, but also funk, soul and pop. Tom Scott and the L.A. Express seems to be the band’s

touchstone — “Rock Island Rocket” and “Dirty Old Man.”

Folks of a certain age were enjoying tunes such as “Put It Where You Want It”

by The Crusaders, “Them Changes” by Buddy Miles.

The best groove and shredding vehicle of the evening was “Red Baron,” a slinky-snappy

piece by drummer Billy Cobham: one of the heaviest and speediest hitters of the era.

Ed Peaco

Writer & Columnist

“If you don’t live it, it won’t come out of your horn”

Charlie Parker