Dick Sisto is a local music legend. A jazz visionary who has been one of the premier jazz vibraphonists in the country. He has been gigging and touring the world for the better part of five decades, collaborating with some of the most truly iconic players in the world.
Born and raised in Chicago, Sisto learned to play vibraphone from Jose Bethancourt of the Chicago Symphony. While studying briefly at North Texas University, he took a quartet to the Collegiate Jazz Competition and garnered rave reviews from icon Julian “Cannonball” Adderley.
He later moved to California, where he recorded the jazz masterpiece “Ghost Opera,” with players Jerry Hahn, George Marsh, Rich Fudoli, and Bill “Allaudin” Mathieu.
After moving to Louisville, he befriended monk, philosopher, and prolific writer Thomas Merton – who was on sabbatical at Gesthemani Monastery, in nearby Bardstown. Merton was an avid jazz fan and crossed paths with Sisto in the local jazz clubs, hardly a place one would generally expect to find and befriend a monk.
(Sisto and Merton around 1968)
When P.B.S. made a documentary “Soul Searching” about Merton’s life, they asked his friend Sisto to compose the score for the film. Which leads to his upcoming performance: “Art and the Sacred: Merton and Songs of the Century with Dick Sisto and Ensemble.” The show will include selection from the “Soul Searching” documentary, as well as, pieces by Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Ornette Coleman, and The Beatles.
All music Merton was passionate about.
Interspersed will be photos from his life and personal quotes, narrated by Owsley Brown and curated by Sisto.
Mr. Sisto’s performance is part of 2015 Festival of Faiths whose theme this year is “Sacred Journeys: and the Legacy of Thomas Merton.” The show will take place Thursday May 14th at Actors Theater of Louisville, and will begin at 7:00 PM with tickets available at $12.50-$25.00.
(photos provided by Dick Sisto)
