Music

Recognized as a “drummer extraordinaire” (JazzTimes),  Pignato leads Bright Dog Red, an improvising collective celebrated for “sublimely marrying jazz with hip-hop, funk, and electronic music" (JazzTimes). Long “a fixture on the NYC jazz and improvisation scene” (Jazz Journal), Bright Dog Red's "proudly unanchored improvisation" (Downbeat) has been likened to “part Ornette Coleman and Prime Time, part Lounge Lizards, part A Tribe Called Quest” (JazzTimes). Others have compared the group to “Mahavishnu Orchestra meets Digable Planets” (Paul Schulman), “Romantic Warrior era Return to Forever” (Rimas e Batidas), and “electronic Ahmad Jamal" (Don Lucoff). The ensemble has released multiple albums on Ropeadope Records, the influential Philadelphia label.

Mixing elements from "jazz-experimental-hip-hop” and “krautrock” drumming (Best of Jazz), Pignato’s “spacious groove” (Downbeat) and “relentless, energetic trap work” (Glide Magazine) feature a “balance of minimal tactile grooves with massive improvisational freak-outs” (The Bolg). On his drumming with Bright Dog Red, Modern Drummer observed, “key to the group’s inner workings and flow is Joe Pignato. Displaying taste, groove, and sensitivity, Pignato provides an admirable foundation for this inspired music.” Working under the moniker u.joe, Pignato has recorded drum tracks for DJs, producers, MCs, and remix artists, most notably internationally renowned DJ M A N I K. English writer Gareth Dylan Smith aptly described Pignato’s style, “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 the United States and abroad.

Hailed 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.