By Nina Zhuang
John Pagnotta is a freelance musician from the GTA that specializes in tenor saxophone and flute. He has an affinity for jazz, citing John Coltrane, Sonny Rollins, Yusef Lateef as inspirations—but also raves about musicians like Justin Bieber, Bruno Mars, and Dua Lipa.
Raised in Little Italy, a Toronto neighbourhood, he attributes his diverse musical tastes and the first encounter with music to the “melting pot” he grew up in. Music was always part of his life growing up, though he wouldn’t get the chance to learn an instrument until later in life.
“Many musicians start really young,” he remarked, but it was a luxury his parents couldn’t afford at the time. It wasn’t until high school that Pagnotta picked up his first “real” instrument.
“I got to play the clarinet,” he said, “even though I wanted to play the saxophone.” The tenor saxophone would later become the focal point of his musical identity and instrument of choice. Through this instrument, he gradually developed his “keen interest” in music. “He was a really wonderful teacher,” he said of Larry Bond, who taught his high school band and later collaborated with him. “He really got us interested in all kinds of music, but especially jazz.”
Pagnotta knew he wanted to pursue music in university, but felt he needed to be practical. “I didn’t have the background,” he remembered. “I was a good high school music student but wasn’t at that level.” But in the middle of his political science degree, he realized he wasn’t fulfilled. Music was his calling and his passion.
He specialized in saxophone under the tutelage of Jane Fair and gradually built his way up on the instrument. Hardships were plenty, but Pagnotta was highly motivated. About his insatiable appetite for music, he noted, “It’s the thing that keeps me going.”
After completing his original degree, he stayed back to complete a BFA in Jazz. His hard work and commitment—daily three-hour practice sessions—earned him the Oscar Peterson Scholarship.
While at university, Pagnotta joined Still Life, a “world beat band” that melded several genres with popular music at its core. Alongside guitarist Norman Liota, he ventured into his first public shows on campus, jazz festivals, and bars in Downtown Toronto.
He reminisced fondly about a performance at the Horseshoe Tavern. It was his first time playing an improvisatory open solo. As soon as he began to play, he learned the art of “letting go” in music.
“It was an electrifying, really powerful out-of-body experience,” he described. The cherry on top? An immense ovation at the end.
It’s moments like these that paved the way for his full-time musical career. Pagnotta has played shows alone and with others, for his own enjoyment and for people’s special days. Along the way, he also taught jazz at Claude Watson School of the Arts in Toronto. With his jazz band, he embarked on the We Are One project—a multi-school collaboration with children’s choirs and a mission to empower children in Toronto.
During the pandemic, many musicians lost access to their livelihood. This was hard for Pagnotta, whose life’s work and fulfillment comes from providing his service—his music—to the community. Even though performance opportunities were scarce, he took this time to branch out in new ways. The hardships of the pandemic were heavy but also exacerbated his need for self-expression through the universal language of music.
“People look for inspiration during hard times,” he said, “and music is one of those avenues.” When asked about his works in progress, he explained that it employs “sophisticated harmonic language” and draws melodic inspiration from scriptures.
Pagnotta feels strongly about the role of music in society, especially now more than ever. “There’s a difference between existing and living,” he emphasized. To him, music is that difference. It is more than the icing on the cake; it breaks up the monotony and mundanity of the day-to-day. Music connects people—something essential in a time of isolation.
“Music spurs on the idea of life,” he stressed. “You have to live. You have to dance, and you have to sing.”
Pagnotta’s passion for music is undeniably genuine and inspiring. Anyone can tell that he is a truly dedicated artist in a single conversation. The most revealing phrase of all?
“I can’t imagine a day without music.”
