Career
He has recorded extensively for Double-Time Records. He first gained recognition as he became a frequent guest-artist on several Dave Brubeck ensemble tours and recordings during the 1970s, and he held the saxophone chair in the Dave Brubeck quartet from 1979 - 1982. Bergonzi recorded nine albums with Brubeck, from 1973 to 1981.
Bergonzi teaches at the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston.
He is the author of Inside Improvisation, a multi-volume series of instructional books with play-along CDs and videos, and another series of books about improvisation published by Advance Music. He is also the author of the book/Civil Defense set Sound Advice, published by Jamey Aebersold Jazz.
Bergonzi is also a professional level pianist and bass guitarist. Bergonzi plays a mouthpiece by Aaron Drake (Drake "Jerry Bergonzi" Signature Mouthpiece).
He has recorded on the Blue Note, Red, Not Fat, Concord, Atlantic, Label Bleu, Enja, Columbia, Deux Z, Denon, Canyon, Cadence, Musidisc, Ram, Ninety One, Freelance and Savant recording labels.