Born in New York City in 1952, Tony Dagradi studied under Pepper Adams, Kidd Jordan, and Andy McGhee, attended Berklee College of Music, and — after touring with Archie Bell and the Drells — relocated to New Orleans in 1977. He was a member of Professor Longhair's touring band in the final years of Longhair's life, touring the United States and Europe and recording with him on Crawfish Fiesta.
In 1978 he co-founded Astral Project, the adventurous modern jazz group that has been active on the New Orleans scene for more than four decades, alongside Johnny Vidacovich, James Singleton, and Dave Torkanowsky — Steve Masakowski joined in 1987. In the 1980s Dagradi spent five years with the Carla Bley band and appeared with Bobby McFerrin and Mose Allison; in the 1990s he worked with Ellis Marsalis and recorded Live at the Columns: The Tony Dagradi Trio (1995) with Vidacovich and Singleton.
Since 1990 Dagradi has been a Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Studies at Loyola University New Orleans, maintaining a large saxophone studio, teaching improvisation, and directing ensembles. A prolific composer, he is also an accomplished classical performer who has augmented the woodwind section of the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra.
