Jerry Bergonzi is a purist. He deeply loves the saxophone and enjoys practicing, excited at the thought of being able to do something musically that he could not previously do. He reharmonizes standards by stretching chord progressions beyond their furthest reaches because he wants to challenge himself as a soloist.

For Bergonzi, it is all about the music. Accolades and glory are far from his mind. In a world that rarely recognizes such dedication, he has carved out a life in Boston, where he can compose music, play a weekly gig with his quintet and teach at New England Conservatory with no curriculum restrictions. He travels about 130 days a year performing. All this he balances with a rich family life: He and his wife, the accomplished pianist Jeri DiMarco Bergonzi, have two children.

- Claire Daly for DownBeat Magazine