Pete Calandra is a prolific composer, keyboardist, and musical artist with a rich history in the jazz and contemporary instrumental scenes. As the driving force behind Pete Calandra and Straight Up, his music blends the soulful elements of jazz with the organic sensibilities of funk, Latin, and soul, creating a sound that is distinctively smooth yet rhythmically engaging. Pete's expertise as a session musician, composer for film and television, and professor at the City College of New York, has honed his skills to seamlessly integrate various genres into his compositions, ensuring that each track is both evocative and technically masterful.

With Pete Calandra at the helm, Straight Up's discography showcases an array of moods and styles through their most recent releases like "Smooth As Silk," embodying the sleek essence of contemporary jazz, or "Funk Brasileiro," which captures the vibrancy of Brazilian rhythms infused with funk. Other tracks such as "Neon Beach" and "Late Night Soul" paint sonic landscapes that transport listeners to vivid atmospheres, while "28th Street" and "Bleecker Street" pay homage to the urban energy of New York City's iconic streets. The band's versatility and commitment to crafting memorable melodic lines are evident in releases like "Cavelight" and "Resolution," which explore deeper emotional dimensions, and "Mixed Emotions," which captures the complexity of the human experience through its rich harmonic tapestry. Pete Calandra and Straight Up continue to captivate audiences with their elegantly arranged performances and recordings, underscoring the timeless appeal of instrumental jazz and its power to narrate without words.

Genres

Smooth Jazz

Latest Release

Smooth As Silk

Pete Calandra and Straight Up

Single - Released January 5, 2024