Lou Lanza profile picture

Lou Lanza

Lou Lanza - 'The Lanz'

About Me

Lou Lanza is a native Philadelphian who thrives on the cultural and musical heritage of that city. Lou has music in his genes - an opera singer grandfather, a classical violinist father, and a pianist/organist & vocalist mother. His jazz influence came from another of his relatives, Vince Trombetta, a saxophonist & arranger who served as musical director of The Mike Douglas Show. Lou's music teachers include Carlo Menotti, Jimmy Bruno, Michael Leonard, and Larry McKenna. It has been written about Lou that he is "something special," "extraordinary," "unerringly hip," "breath-catching," "far superior to Kurt Elling, Michael Buble, Peter Cincotti, & Jamie Cullum," and by no less of an authority than Tony Bennett, "great." His live performances in Philadelphia, New York, London, Los Angeles & Las Vegas, to mention a few, have earned him the admiration of many industry professionals, colleagues, and fans. Lou's recordings include: the road not taken (C.A.B. Records), corner pocket (J-Bird Records), Shadows and Echoes (Challenge Records), and opening Doors: A Jazz Tribute to The Doors and An Intimate Portrait in Blue. He was named the top male jazz vocalist of 2004 in the reader's poll of Rio de Janeiro's Tribuna da Imprensa for the album opening Doors, and An Intimate Portrait In Blue was listed among the top ten overall jazz albums of 2006 in the same publication. Lou is considered to be among the top 500 jazz vocalists of all time by noted jazz critic, historian, and author Scott Yanow, will be listed in his upcoming book "The Jazz Singers." Scott Yanow also believes that Lou "is one of the few potentially major male jazz singers under 60 on the jazz scene today His warm voice,subtle improvising and unpredictable repertoire make him a singer well worth discovering."CDs available @ cdbaby.com & amazon.com. Downloads available @ vocalvisions.net.

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 11/23/2007
Band Website: loulanza.com
Band Members: Jimmy Bruno, Guitar John Swana, Trumpet Ari Hoenig, Drums Byron Landham, Drums Orrin Evans, Piano/Hammond B-3 Larry McKenna, Saxophone Winston Byrd, Trumpet Ron Kerber, Saxophone Tony Miceli, Vibraphone Nefarious others.
Influences: Mark Murphy Ella Fitzgerald Frank Sinatra Mel Torme Jon Hendricks Miles Davis Bill Evans (piano) Shirley Horn Charlie Parker The Doors The Beatles Billy Joel Prince Johnny Hartman Tony Bennett
Sounds Like: Philadelphia-based Lou Lanza has fashioned a distinctive and recognizable style that successfully unites the vulnerability of Chet Baker, Mel Torme and a young Frank Sinatra with the hard-bop risk-taking of Mark Murphy and Jon Hendricks.
Record Label: vocalvisions.net
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

exhausted

hi all,   i got thru the craziest part of my holiday gigging schedule at least partly intact.  it seems i have a viral cold that antibiotics and steroids can do nothing substantive for. so, ...
Posted by Lou Lanza on Tue, 11 Dec 2007 06:19:00 PST

gig @ the crowne plaza

last night i played stirling's @ the crowne plaza in king of prussia.  i was joined by dave brodie on bass (whom i have played with many times over the years) and by gary moran on piano.&nbs...
Posted by Lou Lanza on Sat, 01 Dec 2007 10:26:00 PST

Swingin hard and takin no prisoners!

I'm normally not at a loss for words, but I've had many students telling me that I have to do this. With the help of two of them...they did. I will be posting more of my schedule here, as well as at l...
Posted by Lou Lanza on Sat, 24 Nov 2007 07:11:00 PST