Peter Mazza is an exciting Jazz Guitarist recognized for his
passionate and original compositions as well as his creative and
virtuoso interpretations of jazz standards. Blending clean and fluent
lines with colorful and inventive chord voicings, he creates
imaginative ensemble arrangements as well as lush solo guitar pieces.Born and raised in New York City, he pursued his love for the guitar
with the support of his musical family. He obtained a Bachelor of Music
from in the Manhattan School of Music and recently completed a Masters at
Juilliard on a full scholarship. He has taught extensively through
the American Institute of Guitar/ISM, The National Guitar Workshop
and in his private studio.He began his career by earning the leader’s role at a four-night-a
week jam session at Augie's Jazz Bar, now called Smoke. He played there
with Brad Mehldau, Joel Frahm, Chris Potter, Larry Goldings,
Uri Cane, Christian McBride, Larry Grenadier, Greg Hutchinson, Jeff
Ballard, and Roy Hargrove to name a few.Peter went on to gain acceptance to the prestigious Thelonius Monk
Jazz Competition, where he was ranked semifinalist.He has performed guitar duos in NYC with Jonathan Kreisberg, Mike
Moreno, Freddie Bryant, Pete Bernstein, Paul Bollenback, Kurt
Rosenwinkel, Jack Wilkins and many more.His groups have appeared at Dizzy’s Club Coca Cola,
Birdland, The Knitting Factory and the Cornelia Street Café, to mention
a few. His current Sunday evening residency at the Bar Next Door
at Lanterna Di Vittorio is in its third year.In addition to his archtop jazz guitar, Peter plays an acoustic
guitar in an array of altered tunings. Skilled at using an eletronic looping pedal live, he creates a base of
ambient textural grooves which underpin the interactions
of his jazz trio with sax and bass. The trio features collaborations with
saxophonists Will Vinson, John Ellis, Patrick Cornelius, and bassists
Hans Glawishnig, Edward Perez, Matt Clohesy and Matt Penman.In addition to club appearances Peter frequently performs for corporate clients at special
events. Through Oppenheimer Funds, Conde Nast, Surdna Corporation, Briggs Inc., Mckensey Company
and many others, he has appeared at the Rainbow Room, Rialto Room,
The Allen Room, The Yacht Club, Tribeca Grill, The Parc Meridien
Brigewater's, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bloomingdale's and more.Though Peter is well seasoned with his own clear and distinctive
style, he remains one of the jazz guitar world’s best kept secrets.
His CD debut release Through My Eyes on the Japanese label
Late Set features 8 original compositions and 2 original
arrangements of jazz standards. Accompanied by Will Vinson on saxophones, Matt Penman
on bass and Bill Campbell on drums, it draws on jazz, rock,
classical, and Brazilian guitar in both a creative and personal
style.In December of 2007 Peter was invited to Japan to embark on a 3 week promotional tour. He performed in Tokyo, Osaka and Hakone at an array of clubs and special events with American saxophonist, Patrick Cornelius, along with Japanese musicians. He returned to Japan for a follow up tour from May 25 of 2008 where he performed in Tokyo, Nigata and Sendai, along with musicians, Marcus Gilmore, Ed Perez, Davy Mooney and Gilad Hekeselman.Peter resides in Manhattan’s East Village and can be contacted here and through his website. http:www.petermazza.com or email him at
[email protected].
