Known for his work with Chico Hamilton, Herb Alpert, Sérgio Mendes, Joe Pass and Peggy Lee, guitarist and composer John Pisano has died aged 93. A native New Yorker his albums under his own name included Among Friends featuring duets with Lee Ritenour, Phil Upchurch, Ron Affif, Dori Caymmi, Ted Greene and Pass.

Influenced by George Van Eps, Django Reinhardt, Tal Farlow, Jimmy Raney and Chuck Wayne, in the 1950s Pisano played with the US Air Force band and on demob worked with Chico Hamilton and also with Billy Bean.

From 1965 to 1969 John was a member of Herb Alpert’s Tijuana Brass, and he also recorded with Sérgio Mendes’ Brasil ’66 and worked with songwriter Burt Bacharach. Pisano played on the first four Brasil '66 albums (Herb Alpert Presents… Sérgio Mendes, Equinox, Look Around, and Fool on the Hill). He co-wrote 'Wind Song' that Wes Montgomery included on 1968’s Down Here on the Ground and other well known compositions of Pisano's included 'Felicia.'

Tributes to Pisano have included these words on Facebook from fellow guitarist Peter Bernstein: ''R.I.P. to the great John Pisano. A beautiful and generous human being and great musician. It’s a great loss for the guitar community worldwide as he brought so many people together. I feel lucky to have known him. My condolences to all his family and friends.''

UK jazz guitar great Martin Taylor also paid tribute on Facebook: ''Sad to hear of the passing of John Pisano. A guitar giant and a much loved and admired man.''