Branford Jazz Welcomes Back Tizer Quartet to Close Out 2016 Series

From the City of Branford:

Spanning the globe with their multi-faceted world fusion jazz vibe, Tizer, led by Boulder, Colorado native, keyboardist/composer Lao Tizer will revisit the Branford Jazz 2016 summer concert series stage as its closing act on Thursday, August 18th starting at 6:30 p.m. on the Branford Town Green as announced by the Town of Branford, in conjunction with the Branford Recreation Department, the Branford Festival and the Branford Jazz Series Committee.

Tizer Quartet, who last appeared in the Branford Jazz Series lineup in 2013, is driven by an explosive mix of jazz, rock, classical, jam bland influences and Afro Cuban and world rhythms. Downbeat, the first studio album by TIZER, is a high powered collection of 12 brand-new originals of fresh instrumental music from one of today’s rising stars of the world-fusion genre. Establishing themselves in the contemporary jazz world over the past few years, TIZER, has spurred comparisons of a modern twist to the 1970’s and early 80’s heyday of jazz fusion, when trailblazing ensembles like Return To Forever, Mahavishnu Orchestra and Weather Report set the aesthetic standard.

Truly embodying the title and spirit of his 2007 solo album, Diversify, Lao assembled a group of veteran world-class musicians to create a dynamic rich with new melodic, harmonic, and improvisational possibilities. Co-produced by Lao and guitarist Jeff Kollman, the eclectic set includes five original compositions by Lao and numerous collaborations with his cohorts, including the first single, “World In Rhythm”, co-written with Emmy winner and Grammy nominated guitarist Chieli Minucci, best known as founder and leader of Special EFX.

Over the years, TIZER – a 2011 nominee for “Jazz Group of the Year” has taken their multi-faceted world fusion vibe across the globe galvanizing thousands of events including the Java Jazz Festival in Jakarta, the Joy of Jazz Festival in Johannesburg, the Dubai Jazz Festival, the Barbados Jazz Festival, the Caribbean Sea Jazz Festival and the Festival International Providencia Jazz in Santiago, Chile. In addition to their usual whirlwind of United States dates, their tour schedule in support of Downbeat, has included the Jarasum International Jazz Festival in South Korea, four shows in Russia, the KL International Jazz & Arts Fest-Malaysia, Cape town International Jazz Fest and Martinique Jazz Fest. . While Lao was a “Best New Jazz Artist” nominee in 2002 and his album, Diversify spent many weeks on the Billboard Contemporary Jazz chart, TIZER has a multi-national appeal that expands beyond just jazz enthusiasts. Their diverse resume’ includes performances alongside: Zappa Plays Zappa, Jethro Tull, Issac Hayes, Al Jarreau, Spyro Gyra, George Benson, Soulive, Babyface, Bruce Hornsby, and Robin Thicke.

TIZER’s intensity, expansive arrangements and exciting soloing in concert got the next best thing with the group’s 2010 debut release TIZER Live, which captured the vibrant interaction of what Lao calls “the ultimate cultural and musical melting pot”, Italian-American New Yorker Minucci, African American violin great Karen Briggs, and two time Grammy winning Cuban born drummer/percussionist Raul Pineda in addition to Kollman, multi-instrumentalist Steve Nieves and Lao himself. Featured frequent guest, Grammy winning saxophonist Eric Marienthal as well as Senegaleese bassist Cheikh N’Doye, three time Grammy nominee and New York native bass legend Ric Fierabracci, Chicago born drum phenom Gene Coye and Los Angeles native and master percussionist Munyungo Jackson all joined the band after Downbeat and the live recording was captured at the world renowned Musicians Institute in Hollywood, Tizer Live was the group’s very first live performance together. It included fresh interpretations of seven songs from Lao’s earlier recordings, including Diversify and Golden Soul (2001) Downbeat marks the first time that Lao has co-produced one of his albums. Loving the big sound of the band and all the intricacies in has in the live setting inspired by the simple concept when it came time to recording the album.

Joining Lao on stage this Thursday will be : Chieli Minucci – guitar, Ric Fierabracci – bass and Joel Rosenblatt – drums.

“It’s a great honor and pleasure to be returning to beautiful Branford for this great annual event,” said Tizer. “We look forward to sharing a great summer evening of fun and music with the loyal patrons of Branford Jazz this summer."

Image courtesy of the City of Branford.