Sal Mosca business records, audiovisual recordings, and artifacts

Sal Mosca (1927 April 17 – 2007 July 28) was an American jazz pianist and educator whose career spanned the 1940s through the 2000s. Born in Mt. Vernon, New York, he started studying piano at the age of twelve and playing professionally and teaching lessons by the time he was 15. Mosca joined the United States Army in 1944 and played in and arranged for the United States Army Band until 1946. He subsequently enrolled at the New York College of Music and New York University as a music student. After graduating Mosca studied with jazz icon Lennie Tristano for eight years. Tristano’s instruction greatly influenced Mosca’s style as a post-bop, cool jazz performer and composer.

Starting in 1949, Mosca collaborated frequently with fellow musicians Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh on recordings and performances. For the next two decades, Konitz and Marsh were among Mosca’s most frequent collaborators, and Mosca would continue to play with Marsh until the 1980s. Beyond his work with Marsh and Konitz, Mosca was also the pianist for many historically significant recording sessions, including a 1951 date with Miles Davis and Max Roach, as well as many collaborations with Peter Ind. Mosca has appeared on over 23 record releases, both as a soloist and in various musical ensembles. Mosca’s solo performances always featured free improvisation, and a series of his solo concerts in Europe were recorded and released on several albums during his lifetime and posthumously. Although he recorded frequently over the course of his career, Mosca declined several record contracts and chose to remain an independent artist. He felt that remaining independent from commercial success would keep his focus on playing and teaching. Although he most frequently performed with his closest musical partners such as Konitz and Marsh, he also played with Billie Holiday, Bill Bauer, Roy Haynes, Kenny Clarke, Sarah Vaughn, and Stan Getz, among many others over the years.

After Mosca’s divorce from Stella DiGregorio in 1965, he converted a building in Mount Vernon, NY into an apartment and music studio where he gave music lessons for the rest of his life. Mosca’s role as a jazz music educator is central to his career and legacy. He taught hundreds of students during his lifetime, although at the end of his life, Mosca suffered from poor health, which negatively impacted his playing and teaching. After a January 2007 European tour, Mosca fell ill and never recovered. He died at the age of 80 on July 28, 2007.