PILZ4JAZZ is a new music group that has recorded their debut release entitled "Our Tribute Album". PILZ4JAZZ was brought together to pay homage to their heroes in jazz music and the wonderful eras they flourished in! From N.Y.C., the four members are: sax-man Charlie LaGondola Italian-American, "Spyder" Nicks on bass African-American, pianist YAYA Japanese, and Almax drummer, producer and founder/conceptualist is all of the combined cultures mentioned above. Ranging from their 30's through their 60's, each of the four members, individually, worked diligently to write a memorable instrumental theme song of the highest integrity, reminiscent of the great jazz standards. They then collectively strengthened their individual original songs and arrangements by welcoming new ideas from the other members of the band after tirelessly experimenting. Finally they recorded, fully crediting all 4 songs as "collaborative original compositions" on this their debut album.
Things got interestingly different when PILZ4JAZZ then reinterpreted new versions of the original 4 jazz compositions into all the different eras of jazz! From ragtime through the introduction of electric instruments in Avant-garde jazz, they have seamlessly integrated this entire timeline. Tributes to Latin jazz (feat. percussionist Bashiri Johnson), funky jazz, jazz in film, steamy ballads, and jazz blues interpretations with an emphasis placed on the integrity and accountability of each of the eras, are represented here without sounding sounding clinical, rehashed, or trite. Charlie LaGondola went way beyond the extra yard when producer (Almaxx) asked him to rearrange the 4 original jazz compositions using modes. He returned with modal reinterpretations that gave them such great incentive to feed off of, PILZ4JAZZ was raised to a whole 'notha spiritual level they had no idea they could get to! Viva LaGondola!
Guest jazz singer Lisa Gary 26, from NYC, sang the original and reinterpreted melodies of the 4 jazz songs so well, we feel strongly that she can be the next heralded jazz superstar vocalist internationally! These are truly captivating and inspired performances by her with lyrics written by Almax that match the intensity and integrity of their instrumental only interpretations. Detailed account of the inspiration for the lyrics as well as the actual writing process including the original hand written lyrics and our take on Lisa's "interpretations" on a song by song basis can be accessed by pressing the "lyrics" button on this website. Pressing the lyrics button also shows the hand written music transcripts by Charlie of our Miles modal tribute, 'Trane modal tribute, etc. as well as two 22:00 jams (whew! 22:00 straight at 120 bpm!!), one without a "click" track and one with a click running the entire 22:00! Other goodies will be added as we move onto the next tier of web-dom experimentation, as my wife Cristiana has slowly become the web designer of our dreams! Thanks BUBU! Stay tuned please...!
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PILZ4JAZZ are currently putting finishing touches on our follow-up album dedicated to "supporting this debut" album with even more variations of the 4 original jazz songs that kicked off this project! We're working with remixers using state of the art modern electronic approaches (whatever is trendy is what that means...) to yet again re-interpret the 4 jazz songs. With these collaborative "remixes", PILZ4JAZZ will attempt to display our range of inspiration from acid jazz, jazz-hip-hop, and the afro punk jazz worlds, Viva La Jazz, V.2.0
Lisa is one of the most talented young vocalists in Jazz today. Lisa’s most recent accolade was her performances in the Thelonious Monk International Jazz Vocals Competition, where she knocked the judges and audience out with her incredible technique and emotional delivery and where she finished just behind Cécile Salvant. She recently performed at the Smithsonian in Washington D.C. for Al Jarreau, Kurt Elling, Dianne Reeves, Dee Dee Bridgewater, and Patti Austin where she continued to impress even the these most seasoned pros. She is "THE TRUTH" and PILZ4JAZZ is honored to feature her unique talent to deliver what this lyric writer was praying for, "turning my words into MAGIC!"
Bashiri. Unfortunately there is not enough space on this page to list all of his accomplishments! From working with Miles Davis, Herbie Hancock, Michael Jackson, Carlos Santana to playing for the Obamas at the Kennedy Center Honors and Inauguration with Bruce Springsteen and U2, and all the major awards shows! Academy Awards, Grammys, Emmys, American Music,...you name it, he's does them, and every year! He is arguably one of the best percussionists the world has known and my family has been blessed to have him as one of my closest friends for over 30 years. It was an honor to collaborate with him on the most important music to my heart ever. You can hear our chemistry on the first track on this our debut album: "Mother Jazz (Latin Jazz Tribute)". My Brotha', BFF!!
Tony is one of the most respected people in music because of his incredible mastering ears and easy going personality. The artists he has mastered for 30 years garnered many platinum albums! But what most people don't know from his credits is that HE L-O-V-E-S JAZZ! We feel so fortunate that Tony has spent so much time and love on this project, "a labor of love" he said. We feel the proof is in these natural sounding, state of the art finished masters. He knew that we begged, borrowed and pleaded for the very best mics, pre-amps and tube eqs, but he also knew without him mastering what we recorded and mixed, that fact wouldn't mean much at all! Thank You God for Tony Dawsey, Amen!
Gigi is the "gifted" personality in jazz and has devoted herself since the age of 15 to jazz radio for over 30 years. Her ability to make people relaxed around the genuinely soothing tones of her speaking voice drew her to radio, but the irony is that she has the look that couldn't be better suited for television! She's introducing us, PILZ4JAZZ to the world of jazz while also interviewing musicians and personalities attending our private event 4/26&27/14 in NYC. She's filming segments with 12 time Emmy award winner Eric Johnson for her TV pilot. She also writes for Jazz Times and “GG’s Jazz Greats and Legends” radio series had been noted as “The #1 Jazz Series in The World”! My Sista'!! Show less
