Pace Paw Print

Media Credit: Chris Ojar Professor Nicholas Catalano featured above with NYC's Mayor Bloomberg at a Jazz Reception."

With the array of classes at Pace, students wouldn't expect a music course such as History of Jazz to be offered. When you do realize there is such a class and take it, you are introduced to the world Professor Nicholas Catalano grew up in.

Professor Catalano is not only a professor at Pace, but he is also a TV writer and producer. His articles are featured in many magazines and you might have even had the chance of viewing one of his shows without realizing it.

"As I travel the globe for TV and academic projects, I encounter myriad local music owing much to various traditions in American jazz. Writing about these connections often leads to revisionist thinking about some previously unchallenged theory of jazz music and musicians. I'm a native New Yorker and have written about the art, literature, music, and culture of the city for decades and have played jazz in its clubs and concert halls since late childhood." he stated on the site, allaboutjazz.com.

Growing up in New York, Catalano was blessed to be born listening to the various sounds of jazz. Since Catalano was five years old up until now, Jazz's impact on him has been both emotional and physical. "Jazz has completely surrounded my existence in New York," Catalano stated during an interview.

When asked if this is what he envisioned doing with his life, Catalano stated, "I can't imagine doing anything else," he continued stating, "without Shakespeare, Sophocles and Dizzy Gillespie." If many of you didn't know, Catalano also teaches Literature and used to be the director for the University's Performing Arts Music and Literature Program. Catalano once told his class that not to long ago when he was the director, the school would allow him and other faculty and students who wished to join him, play in Kessel.

So, why he is teaching at Pace when Catalano has so many other good things happening in his life was my next question. Catalano stated that "the classroom is like a church for me, the things that get done in the classroom are part of what makes me miss being a student."

Catalano then stated that, "I miss being a student and being a teacher is the next best thing." Teaching about his passion is what Catalano is all about. He was blessed to grow up during the time and he is happy that the University allows him to show the student body why Jazz music is such a big influence to many, and why it changed the music industry.

Catalano not only grew up with Jazz, but he has had it all around him. Being an English Professor, you would guess he'd be a good writer, and you're right. Catalano has written many articles for all types of Jazz sites critiquing not only Jazz players, but Jazz café's. Most recently, Catalano wrote a book, Clifford Brown : The Life and Art of the Legendary Jazz Trumpeter, in which he describes the life of Clifford Brown, whom he used to play with about 40 years ago. To Catalano, Clifford Brown is "the greatest musician that I personally have come into contact with in all my years as a jazz writer, producer, musician, and a professor," stated in an interview at jazzweekly.com.

During classes, Catalano likes to tell stories of his life and the people in it. He has mentioned being in the same place as many Jazz icons and even performed with many of them. This professor isn't just a professor and for being around Pace, I think we can all be happy that we have some one that advance, teaching us.

Catalano is actually in the works of coming out with another book about Jazz and he continues to write articles about the world of Jazz. You can check his articles out on, www.allaboutjazz.com. In the mean time, if Jazz interests you or if you just want to learn about it, take Catalano's History of Jazz course. He's met a ton of Jazz icons, he's played throughout the years, and he's grown up with it, why not let him teach you about it?

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