Bio

Charles Pillow enjoys a multi-faceted career in NYC and around the globe. Widely known as a multi-instrumentalist, he has toured the world with pop and jazz artists such as Frank Sinatra, David Liebman, Maria Schneider and Tom Harrell.  He has released 9 Cd's as a leader, composed and arranged titles for big band, small groups and has appeared on hundreds of Cd's, movie soundtracks and commercial jingles.

Born in Roanoke, VA, he grew up in Baton Rouge, LA and in high school competed in All State jazz big bands with the likes of Wynton and Branford Marsalis, and after college at Loyola University, he pursued his Masters Degree in Jazz Studies at the prestigious Eastman School of Music, in Rochester, NY. After a year of fulfilling a dream to be on the road with Woody Herman's Young Thundering Herd, he made the move to NYC in 1989 and has appeared on over 100 recordings of jazz, pop luminaries such as Frank Sinatra, Mariah Carey, Jay Z, Luther Vandross, Paul Simon, Michael Brecker, Bruce Springsteen, John Scofield, Tom Harrell, Dave Liebman, David Sanborn, Brad Mehldau, and Joe Henderson.

He has 8 solo recordings available, the most recent being, "Electric Miles 2" featuring a large ensemble of the finest NYC musicians, scheduled to be released Oct 6, 2023. Other releases are: "Currents", "In this World", jazz versions of  "Pictures at an Exhibition" and "The Planets". Other titles are his tone poem, "van Gogh letters", (which features Gary Versace and Jim Ridl) large ensembles works "Electric Miles" and "Chamber Jazz", a nonet with an added string quartet. Known as a saxophonist, flutist, clarinetist and oboist, his recordings showcase those instruments as well as his composing and arranging talents. 

In addition to having had a chair on 25 Broadway shows, Pillow continues his active performing and recording schedule in and around NYC. On the education front, Pillow is an Assistant Professor of Jazz Saxophone at the Eastman school of Music, a position he has proudly held since 2012.