In the Down Beat critics poll he was labeled a “new star.” The newfound fame landed him with the Benny Goodman Scholarship to the prestigious Berklee College of Music (Boston, Massachusetts).

During his time at Berklee he did a recording with legendary professor and musician Herb Pomeroy and forged relationships with lifelong musical friends including Dick Berk.

They reunited in the mid 1970s and played several gigs at the Tin Palace in New York City where the group recorded their only album.

During this time, Brignola also played at the regular Sunday evening sessions that were held at the Ramada Inn in Schenectady, New York.

It was there that he got to play with many of his favorite musicians such as Cecil Payne, Woody Shaw, Jon Faddis, Chet Baker and Bill Watrous.

His final set was with Petrus - his working group at the time, where they played both fusion and avant garde jazz.

He released several tribute albums with an equally stunning cast of musicians paying respect to Gerry Mulligan and Lee Morgan.