About Me
It all started in San Francisco 1969. I came to California after three years in the US Army. While in the service, I teamed up with Jazz Flutist Dave Leighton. We moved to California and played the San Francisco Bay Area including Gatsby's Supper Club in Sausalito, where we worked with a new young singer Al Jarreau, and also performed with our own duo in North Beach area at the Rainbow lounge and Tiburon Lodge 'Whaling Station' Lounge. Since 1970 I've been playing guitar here in Los Angeles with some of my long term musicians and friends. Studied Guitar with George Van Eps and Jimmy Stewart, and jazz composition and arranging with Bill Fritz (Stan Kenton Orchestra). Bill gave me an opportunity to arrange two compositions for the Kenton band, "Spring Can Really Hang You Up The Most" and Beatles "Norwegian Wood." My friends and I have performed together for over 30 years. And between us we have worked with Lou Rawls, Ike and Tina Turner, Maria deBarros, Jennifer Robin and many other top recording artist.Currently, I am working with jazz vocalist Kay Martin (www.kaycmartin.com). We are performing all over Los Angeles and California. Kay is a jazz singer who sings in both English and Portuguese languages. Kay and I just put togerther an incredible six piece group with some of LA's top session musicians, and headlined reciently at the Old Town Monrovia Wine, Food and Jazz Festival in front of 2000 people. Local college jazz events are now being planned. We are available for private and commercial gigs as well, and ready when you are...In addition, I perform with the Long Beach Jazz Messengers and have been featured, as a solist, at the Karen Carpenter Music Center (2000 sold out crowd). As a group, we have performed and continue to perform at top venues such as: CalTech special events (Department of Engineering and Sciences and Coffee Shop) on regular basis, Occidental College Student Union, Amazon supper club (Sherman Oaks), Sportsman Lodge (Studio City), Jonathan's Beach Club, Casey's Irish Pub and Grill (Los Angeles), Espresso Cabaret (Pasadena), and from time to time various Country Clubs in the Encino area. Plus many, many private parties and events.In addition to performing I have promoted and booked west coast tours for such great artist as: Walter Trout, David Benoit, Dianne Schuur, Ernie Watts, Brian Bromberg, Skywalk (Canadian Fusion Jazz), Ross Tompkins, Tete Montoliu, John Heard and others. My jazz series have included artist such as Larry Carlton, Kenny G, Freddie Hubbard and others. I have promoted in various cities such as: Las Vegas, Los Angeles and San Francisco. I produced live jazz events for the Double Tree Hotel in the city of Orange, Hughes Aircraft Afternoon Jazz Concerts and the Bay View Plaza Holiday Inn in Santa Monica.I had my own radio show on KRLA (870AM),"Cued-Up" produced with Jakob Nielsen which featured interviewes with such great artist as: Max Bennett, Hal Blain, Larry Carlton, Pat Metheny, Tom Scott, "Family Guy" composer Ron Jones, Martha Davis (The Motels) and many more.Summer of 1996 I had television show in syndication called "Hollywood Trax" which was a Music Entertainment Magazine. I featured on that show: Tina Turner, David Bowie, Silver Chair, Jon Bon Jovi, Cheryl Crow and others. If you like to take a look at a Hollywood Trax sampler please go to: www.myspace.com/entgroup.I also write and arrange music for orchestras and various combos. I composed and arranged the first two tunes on my play list; "Last Summer" and "While You're Gone." I hope you enjoyed them.Tony
