Frank Catalano's album Tokyo Number 9 reached #1 on the Billboard Traditional Jazz Chart in 2018. Frank regularly tours the U.S., Europe and Japan and has had residencies at the legendary Green Mill Cocktail Lounge in Chicago as well as Birdland in New York City. His 2016 recording, Bye Bye Blackbird, with David Sanborn, Jimmy Chamberlin, Nir Felder and Demos Petropoulos remained on the Billboard jazz charts for more than 2 years. God's Gonna Cut You Down debuted at #2 on the iTunes Jazz Chart and was the #1 charting instrumental album upon its release in April 2015. Love Supreme Collective debuted at #1 on the iTunes Jazz Chart in July 2014 and is an homage to John Coltrane, featuring Jimmy Chamberlin (Smashing Pumpkins), Percy Jones (Brand X), Chris Poland (Megadeth) and Adam Benjamin (Kneebody). Frank's Savoy/Columbia recording, Bang! debuted at #12 on the Billboard Jazz Album Chart, and his recording Mighty Burner was on the Billboard charts for 20 weeks straight.
Frank is the only known saxman to have performed with Miles Davis, Randy Brecker, Charles Earland, Elvin Jones, Stan Getz, Betty Carter, Von Freeman, Tito Puente, Tony Bennett, Les Claypool and Louis Bellson while still in high school! This led to his signing to Delmark Records at age 18 and a string of critically acclaimed recordings. Frank has been heard by millions of people all over the world, thanks in part to being featured on numerous Grammy Award-winning and Grammy-nominated recordings with artists such as Jennifer Lopez, Beyoncé, Tony Bennett, Destiny's Child and John Legend. He has also performed live on the The Oprah Winfrey Show with singer/composer Seal. Frank is the celebrity endorser for Drambuie Scotch Liqueur, and he is featured in their media campaigns. Hal Leonard released his book/video series entitled Modern Saxophone Techniques.
No stranger to adversity, Frank cut off his right middle finger in an automobile accident. After several surgeries and much effort, he relearned his signature technique, making him one of the most in demand musicians of his time. Frank regularly donates his musical services to the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation.
Also an entrepreneur, Frank patented a device that allows him to control his saxophone via MIDI components. Yamaha acquired the patent rights, and in 2007, the corporation received a Special Merit Grammy Award for Technical Achievement. Frank is a clinician/Performing Artist for Yamaha, D'Addario and JodyJazz, and he can be seen in these companies' print advertisements worldwide. Frank's tunes have been used in the ad campaigns of Motorola, Jaguar, Land Rover and Drambuie as well as in numerous TV and film productions.
When not on tour or in the studio, Frank enjoys composing classical music. He graduated from DePaul University with a B.A. in music composition and he plays piano, drums and flute in addition to saxophone.
