Steve Kortyka Sextet (ft. Dan Pugach) Fresh off the road after touring with the legendary Tony Bennett & Lady Gaga in their collaborative project, "Cheek to Cheek," NYC saxophonist (& NE Ohio native) swings into town for BLU debut! Featuring two-time ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award winner & NYC-based drummer, Dan Pugach!

Based out of Astoria, NY, Steve Kortyka is an accomplished multi-instrumentalist, composer and educator having just recently completed a full touring schedule as part of the collaborative project Cheek to Cheek featuring the legendary Tony Bennett and his worthy counterpart, Lady Gaga. The Grammy Award Winning album ‘Cheek to Cheek’ (recorded in 2014) features Steve’s arranging work on ‘Firefly’, ‘I Can’t Give You Anything But Love’, and ‘Bewitched, Bothered, and Bewildered’, as well as an improvised solo on Irving Berlin’s classic “Let’s Face the Music and Dance.”
 
Originally from Cleveland, Ohio, Steve began playing saxophone at a young age and quickly gravitated towards learning as much as he could. Upon graduating from The Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music under the tutelage of Rick VanMatre and James Bunte, he took his maiden voyage as a full time working musician in the cruise industry where he was quickly promoted to Musical Director. “It was a great opportunity to travel, meet wonderful people and learn just about every aspect of the music industry. I am extremely thankful for it.” he says of this experience.
 
Since arriving in NYC in 2011, Steve has had the opportunity to perform at The Blue Note, Smoke, Showmans, Shapeshifter, the Shrine, Fatcat, Smalls, Birdland, B.B. Kings, SixtyFive, 54 Below, The Rose Theatre at Lincoln Center and many other great establishments throughout the city as well as lead and record 3 studio albums. He has made numerous major network television appearances on shows including ‘The Jimmy Fallon Show’, ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ (U.K.), ‘Good Morning America’, ‘Christmas at Rockefeller Center’, ABC’s ‘A Very Gaga Thanksgiving’, PBS’s ‘Great Performances’ and ‘NYE Live at Rockefeller Center with Carson Daly’. Also serving as a Musical Director for the Brian Newman Orchestra, he recently completed 10 arrangements for the band’s residency at the historic NYC venue, the Rainbow Room at Rockefeller Center.
 
Currently holding a residency at the GPH hotel every Tuesday and Thursday as well as the AKA hotel every Wednesday, Steve is an active performer on the New York scene frequently engaging in collaborative projects with some of the finest musicians in the world today. Having released 2 albums under his own name (‘Wedding Song’ and ‘Steps Forward’) as well as a co-leading an album (‘Oh-Ja’) with organist and fellow musical director Alex Smith, he is no stranger to harmonic invention and has a solid musical voice that is capable of reaching and audience of any background.
 
In addition to being a full time performer, Steve is also an avid teacher of instrumental as well as improvised music. Time is always made to share his love for the art of jazz and composition through clinics, masterclasses and solo performances around the U.S. Currently he is preparing for a residency at the Boys and Girls club of Cleveland to work with students of all ages on the history of American popular music. As an ever growing musician, he feels it is important to share that growth with those around him in as many ways as possible.
 
Join us as we welcome this dynamic & accomplished saxophonist back home to NE Ohio for the holidays with an award-winning band featuring Chris Coles (alto sax), Lawrence Galloway (trombone), Theron Brown (piano), Dan Pappalardo (bass), and special guest – two-time ASCAP Herb Alpert Young Jazz Composer Award winner & New York City-based Dan Pugach (drums).
 

About Dan Pugach

Dan Pugach is a Brooklyn-based drummer and composer. Originally from Israel, Dan served his mandatory three-year military duty as drummer for the Air-Force Orchestra. During that duty he studied Rimon School of Music and got his diploma in jazz performance.
 
After the army Dan traveled to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for three months to study percussion and drums with the world’s leading samba musicians.
 
Shortly after, he moved to the United States to expand his musical career. He got his B.M from Berklee College of Music and his M.A from the City College of New York, both degrees specializing in jazz performance and composition.
 
Since then, Dan has been working as a full-time drummer, composer, arranger and orchestrator in New York City. His involvement in projects that vary from modern jazz to pop and folk music got him a reputation of one of the most versatile and sought-after drummer in town.
 
Pugach is also known for his Nonet (nine-piece ensemble) that has won him two ASCAP Jazz Composer Award and many arranging/composing commissions for medium-size ensembles to full big band.
 

$10