THE JAZZ MAN: DiSantis shares love of music

Keith DiSantis, an accomplished musician and local band director, is seen here with his tenor saxophone. DiSantis currently performs at Marcello’s Italian Restaurant, located at  Port Isabel. (Staff photo by Ray Quiroga)

Keith DiSantis, an accomplished musician and local band director, is seen here with his tenor saxophone. DiSantis currently performs at Marcello’s Italian Restaurant, located at Port Isabel. (Staff photo by Ray Quiroga)

By RAY QUIROGA
Port Isabel-South Padre PRESS
rayq@portisabelsouthpadre.com

It seems as though Keith DiSantis was born to love music. Currently a full time music teacher for Harlingen CISD, DiSantis is equally comfortable playing his saxophone before a crowd or in a recording studio laying down tacks with renowned musicians.

This past summer, for example, DiSantis was featured as one-third of the Ann Collins Trio which performed at the Al Sears Jazz Festival in Macomb, Illinois. Luckily for local music fans, they don’t have to travel to the Midwest to enjoy the sweet sound of Keith DiSantis’ sax. In fact, to hear DiSantis perform, area music lovers simply have to take a jaunt down to Marcello’s Italian Restaurant located within Port Isabel’s Historic Lighthouse Square. There, every Friday evening, patrons can feast, drink and listen to this Jersey native at his best between 6-9 p.m.

DiSantis began his musical career in Oaklyn, New Jersey, playing the saxophone in elementary school. He continued playing in school bands and his precocious talent soon became apparent as all through high school he performed professionally with a dance band comprised of college graduate students. During the summers, he performed at various venues along the South Jersey Shore.

DiSantis received his Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Education from Rowan University where he studied with jazz artist Buddy Savitt and Joe Frederico. During and following his college years, DiSantis continued to perform professionally as a studio musician in New York City, South Jersey and even Austin, Texas.

By 1981, DiSantis’ career led him to be a band director and in 1998, he was named Secondary Teacher of the Year for the Los Fresnos CISD and his bands have consistently received first division ratings.

DiSantis has also recorded and released two jazz CD’s: “Sax in the Sand” and “Jingle Jazz” on which he was joined by top notch East Coast musicians. Both CD’s are available for purchase during his performance at Marcello’s.

During the winter months, DiSantis along with Ann Collins perform concerts at Llano Grande Resort and for several years, they played duo gigs on the Island.

For more information, DiSantis can be contacted at (956) 241-1913.

Read this story in the Dec. 27 edition of the Port Isabel-South Padre Press, or subscribe to our E-Edition by clicking here.

Permanent link to this article: https://www.portisabelsouthpadre.com/2012/12/27/the-jazz-man-disantis-shares-love-of-music/

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