Greg Piccolo & Heavy Juice – Roots-Driven Jazz, R&B, and Rock ’n’ Roll From a Master Saxophonist and a Founding Member of Roomful of Blues

Greg Piccolo brings decades of roots-based music to Godfrey Daniels for an evening shaped by swing, traditional jazz, R&B, and rock ’n’ roll. A founding force in the early years of Roomful of Blues, Piccolo became known for his bold tenor tone, distinctive sax style, and commanding vocals. His journey has included work with legends like Big Joe Turner and Stevie Ray Vaughan, and a long-running career leading his band Heavy Juice. Still writing, practicing daily, and touring worldwide, Piccolo continues to explore the full range of his musical influences—making this performance a rare chance to hear a living link between classic sounds and the present day in an intimate listening-room setting.

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GREG PICCOLO
gregpiccolo.com

At age nineteen, Duke Robillard recruited Greg as one of the earliest members of what became the Rhode Island-based powerhouse, Roomful of Blues. The unifying magnet within the group in its early years, 1969 -1971, was focused on the rootsy, retro, danceable, swing sound of the ‘40s and ‘50s. This “new” sound to teenage ears and the recall of this music to the older folks filled dance floors all over the band’s New England home base and eventually on the global stage.

For the next twenty-four years, Greg Piccolo had amazing experiences playing with and/or recording with such music legends as Big Joe Turner, Earl King, Eddie “Cleanhead” Vinson”, Pat Benetar, Red Prysock, Stevie Ray Vaughan, to mention only a few.

As Roomful players would come and go, Greg’s twenty-five-year contribution evolved to lead singer and bandleader, all the while being noticed worldwide for his signature “fat” tenor sound, unique sax style, and distinguishable vocals.

After nearly twenty-five years with Roomful of Blues, Greg sensed a calling to go back to his roots and develop his “heavy juice” sound. This “less is more” approach gave him the freedom to cover the gamut of his musical longings, which include traditional jazz, r & b, and rock’n roll. He had compiled a well of songs which demanded their own arrangements and band configurations outside of the classic “Roomful sound.” In 1994 he stepped away and officially formed his own band, Heavy Juice, which led to his first solo release, self-titled, “Greg Piccolo Heavy Juice,” on the legendary Louisiana-based Black Top label.

Following were two releases, Red Lights and Acid Blue, on the famous California-based Fantasy Label (now Concord), and his first all instrumental tenor sax release titled “Homage” on the Pennsylvania-based Emit Doog label.

His most recent release, “Who Did This?” is a tribute to his favorite sax recordings and includes an original recorded tenor instrumental.

Now at seventy years of age, Greg Piccolo is still practicing his horn every day, writing his own material, and traveling the world with Heavy Juice.

Piccolo is an example of someone who has always played from his heart.