John Pendenza

Bio

Lee Romano and John with Lionel Hampton at the Bern Jazz Festival

John With the Space Coast Pops – La Virgen de la Macarena

The Space Coast Jazz Orchestra – Danny Boy

Jim Derrik, John, Kate Leasure, John Haupt, Eric Lee at St. John’s in Viera, FL

 

John’s Brass and Tympani playing for the dedication of the new St. John’s RC Church, Viera, FL

Bishop John Noonan, Presider

The Festspiele Five at World of Beer in Viera, FL

Sounds

Maria – Maynard’s Version by John’s Boulevard Big Band

Flyin’ Home  – Duke’s Version by the Boulevard Big Band

Brass Quartet – Rondeau

Brass Quartet – A Mighty Fortress

Brass Quartet – Caravan

Trumpet, organ and Tympani – Suite from Heldenmusik – Trumpet Tune

Ruskin, FL

973-964-3135

jpendenza@gmail.com

"Big John" Pendenza

John Pendenza was principal trumpet of the New Jersey Pops Orchestra for 13 years and has performed with the New Jersey Symphony, the New Philharmonic of New Jersey, the Westchester Symphony and many other freelance orchestras in the New York metropolitan area. 

John was a member of the Mannes Conservatory’s Brass and Wind Ensembles while still attending high school. He formed his first brass quintet in 1968. He performed at Lincoln Center and with the New Jersey Opera before graduating from Glassboro State College (now Rowan University) of New Jersey. 

He has toured with the big bands of Buddy Rich, Lionel Hampton, Glenn Miller, Jimmy Dorsey and the New Xavier Cugat Orchestra.  John has been heard in the Broadway orchestras of "Crazy for You", "Catskills on Broadway", "Will Rogers Follies", and "Starlight Express". 

He has played lead trumpet for Cher, the Temptations, the Four Tops, Mel Torme, Tony Bennet, Ray Charles, Aretha Franklin, Yes, Patty Austin, Linda Ronstadt and many others. 

He has recorded with Lionel Hampton, Aretha Franklin (HBO’s Rock and Roll Hall of Fame 25th Anniversary Concert), the New Xavier Cugat Orchestra, Barry Manilow, Captain Music, and Tropical Motivation, among others.  

His Boulevard Big Bandsm released its live debut album, "A Night on the Boulevard’ in 2000 and he recorded “Pipes and Pistons”, a CD of classical music for trumpet, organ and tympani in 2002.

John performed with the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra from 2010 to 2013.  He co-founded the Space Coast Jazz Orchestra in 2011.  John founded the Portside Big Band and Portside Brass Quintet in 2013.