Chris DePino Quintet

Known for his vibrant presence in the jazz harmonica world, Chris DePino blends technical mastery with soulful storytelling, delivering performances that resonate with audiences across genres and continents. He will be featured behind the Branford Town Green on Thursday, July 23, at 6:00 p.m.

Born in New Haven, Connecticut, DePino is a distinguished blues and jazz harmonica player, music educator, and session musician whose versatile career spans jazz, blues, and classical music. Raised in an Italian American family, his musical journey began with the accordion—a nod to his cultural roots—before he discovered his true passion: the harmonica.

DePino’s professional career began in 1971 at age 19 while working as a conductor for Metro-North Railroad. During this time, he honed his craft performing with blues bands throughout Connecticut. By 1978, he transitioned to the chromatic harmonica, unlocking a broader musical range that allowed him to explore jazz, classical, and blues with remarkable depth. A largely self-taught musician, DePino drew inspiration from legendary artists including Big Walter Horton, Sonny Terry, Little Walter, Paul Butterfield, James Montgomery, Jerry Murad, Larry Adler, Stevie Wonder, and jazz icon Toots Thielemans.

His formal studies further elevated his artistry. DePino trained with renowned classical harmonica virtuoso Robert Bonfiglio at the Turtle Bay Music School in New York City, earning a scholarship in 1980 for his performance of Bach’s Sonata No. III in E-flat. He later studied jazz with musicians Dave Dana, Joe Tinari, and Tim Moran, as well as internationally recognized harmonica artist Hendrik Meurkens. More recently, he completed advanced studies with acclaimed Israeli jazz harmonica player and composer Yotam Ben-Or.

A versatile and accomplished performer, DePino has collaborated with notable artists, including Czech trumpeter Laco Deczi, touring extensively throughout Europe and recording with the ensemble Celula New York. His recordings include DePino Plays Deczi (2006) and Master Attracter, featuring collaborations with Brian Charette, Nob Kinukawa, Vaico Deczi, and vocalist Roxy Perry. His musical repertoire spans smooth jazz, Great American Songbook standards, blues, bossa nova, and original compositions.

Since 1992, DePino has been a regular session musician at Café Nine in New Haven and has appeared as a guest artist with the George Baker Experience and the New Haven Symphony Orchestra, where he performed as a featured soloist during “Concerts in the Park.” He has also performed in Florida with the band Hot Tonic and recorded internationally, including a 2015 release with Roman Horky and Kamelot in the Czech Republic.

In addition to his performance career, DePino is a dedicated educator, offering private instruction in blues and chromatic harmonica and teaching annually at the Neighborhood Music School Jazz Camp. A former member of the Greater New Haven Federation of Musicians, Local 234, he remains an active contributor to the Northeast jazz community.

DePino’s current ensemble, the “Just Jazz Quartet,” features guitarist Christopher Morrison and bassist Morris Trent, bringing together a group of accomplished musicians dedicated to dynamic and expressive live performance.

Chris will be joined on stage by jazz guitar master Christopher Morrison, Morris Trent on bass, Dan Klug on drums, and the highly accomplished musical director Alex Nakhimovsky on keyboard.

“Branford feels like home to me,” said DePino. “Most days I feel like I live in ‘West Branford,’ just across the Farm River in East Haven. I’m thrilled to bring some of Connecticut’s finest musicians together to share the sound of jazz through the harmonica. Branford Jazz is like inhaling the rare salty air of your town and letting it flow through the breath of the harmonica—La Vita Bella, Branford Jazz.”