Dustin Cicero

Born in the birthplace of jazz, New Orleans, Dustin was exposed to musical diversity at an early age. As a young child, he was influenced by his father, a folk guitarist, and the musical culture of New Orleans. When Dustin was six years of age, he moved to Atlanta, Georgia where he was raised and introduced to the saxophone at age eleven.

From 1998 to 2002, Dustin attended Georgia State University. There, he studied with Sam Skelton and Danny Harper and performed with such artists as Joe Lovano, Kenny Garrett, and Dick Oatts. While living in Atlanta, Dustin was featured in the October, 2001 issue of Jazziz and the recording of his original composition, Serene Dreams, can be heard on that month's disc.

Dustin has performed at the Willis Conover Jazz Festival and at the U.S. Embassy in Moscow (2001). In the summer of 2002, he performed at the Vienne Jazz Festival in Vienne, France. Dustin was also chosen to perform with the Disney All-Star Collegiate Band (2000) and participated in the Henry Mancini Institute (2001). At the Henry Mancini Institute, he performed with artists such as: Herbie Hancock, Christian McBride, and Dianne Reeves.

In 2003 Dustin headed north to study at the Manhattan School of Music with saxophonist Dick Oatts. There, he also studied with jazz greats: David Liebman and Phil Markowitz. During his time in New York City, he has performed at such venues as the Jazz Standard, Sweet Rhythm, the Nuyorican Poet's Cafe, Garage, the Bowery Poetry Club, Dizzy’s Club at Jazz at Lincoln Center and the Nassau Coliseum, for the Vans Warped Tour.

In the span of his career, Dustin has performed and/or recorded with Steve Wilson, Jon Faddis, Peter Washington, Lewis Nash, Frankie Avalon, “Speech” from Arrested Development, and many others. He is currently residing in the Bronx and can be heard on the Gerald Wilson 2005 release In My Time on Mack Avenue Records.