Jazzman Del Gatto honors his heroes

Lew Del Gatto and Judi Glover

Tenor saxophonist Lew Del Gatto honored his tenor sax heroes Friday during a South County Jazz Club concert at the Venice Art Center. The 25-year Saturday Night Live Band mainstay, now living in Naples FL, performed in a quartet format with pianist Judi Gover, bassist Don Mopsick and drummer Patricia Dean.

Through his tune selections, Del Gatto's two sets included tips of the hat to Benny Golson ("I Remember Clifford"), Sonnly Rollins ("Doxy"), Zoot Sims (Do Nothin' Til You Hear From Me"), Coleman Hawkins ("Body and Soul") and Lester Young ("Lester Leaps In"). Del Gatto has a wonderful deep tone on the tenor. His playing displays great invention, sense of time and nuance.

The prior night, Del Gatto and Golson played side by side in a Naples Philharmonic Jazz Orchestra concert. Del Gatto was still awash with emotion about getting to work with one of what he called his "many heroes."

This was the first South County Jazz Club appearance by Glover, as well as her first opportunity to work with Del Gatto. She moved to the area this fall from South Jersey, where she performed regularly in and around Atlantic City. Del Gatto sat out on "Beautiful Love" to feature Glover with Mopsick and Dean.