[6] Early in his career, Carisi was a member of Herbie Fields's Orchestra (1938–1943) and Glenn Miller's Army Air Force Band.
[2] After the war he worked with Ray McKinley, Claude Thornhill, Charlie Barnet, Urbie Green, and Benny Goodman, among others and studied with acclaimed composer Stefan Wolpe.
His minor-blues composition "Israel" was quickly recognized as a unique jazz classic, after it was recorded by Miles Davis at the sessions which later became known as the Birth of the Cool.
[2] Other notable versions have been recorded by Bill Evans, and the Gerry Mulligan Concert Jazz Band.
[7] On October 3, 1992, at the age of 70, Carisi died in New York as a result of complications stemming from open heart surgery undergone in February of that year.