Music

Pignato leads Bright Dog Red, an improvising collective celebrated for its “spirited and inspired jazz that skillfully weaves in elements of electronica and hip-hop” (Blue in Green Radio, United Kingdom). “Starting as a jazz-meets-hip-hop jam band with a loosely-defined membership, Bright Dog Red has become a fixture on the NYC jazz and improvisation scene” (Jazz Journal). The group’s “fiery, free-flowing and immersive” (Glide Magazine) sets have generated comparisons to “Mahavishnu Orchestra meets Digable Planets” (Paul Schulman), "Romantic Warrior era Return to Forever" (Rimas e Batidas), “Maceo-style funk” (JazzWise),  and “electronic Ahmad Jamal” (Don Lucoff). The ensemble has released multiple albums on  Ropeadope Records, the influential Philadelphia label.
 

Working under the moniker u.joe, Pignato has recorded drum tracks for DJs, producers, MCs, and remix artists, including internationally renowned DJ M A N I K. His drumming features an “insane balance of minimal tactile grooves with massive improvisational freak-outs” (The Bolg, Twin Cities). On his drumming and leadership of Bright Dog Red, Modern Drummer Magazine observed, “key to the group’s inner workings and flow is drummer/manager Joe Pignato. Displaying taste, groove, and sensitivity, Pignato provides an admirable foundation for this inspired music, adding drama, abstraction, and color when necessary.” English writer Gareth Dylan Smith aptly summed up Pignato’s drumming, “Swings like Bonham hugging Questlove.”
 

As a composer, Pignato’s work has been noted for its “intriguing” conceptual characteristics (Haaretz News Service) and “haunting” qualities (Charger Bulletin). His compositions have been premiered, performed, or exhibited as part of installations in North America, Europe, the Mid East, and beyond.

Recognized by Tape Op as a “musician, educator, and music business visionary,” Pignato regularly consults organizations in the areas of music, music technology, and music education. He has held management positions at leading music companies, including N2K Incorporated, BMG Classics, RCA Victor, ECM Records, CMP Records, and Latin Percussion.