3/15/2022
Performances and Artists
The Lao Tizer Band to Play Sizzling Instrumental Hits
Some musicians labor for years to have their music heard, yearning to be discovered.
Not so for acclaimed keyboardist-composer artist Lao Tizer.
After his parents loaned him money for his first keyboard as a teenager, Tizer started busking on Pearl Street Mall, the vibrant pedestrian mall in his hometown of Boulder, Colorado.
Right away, his musical wizardry attracted interest.
“Next thing I know, people were asking me to make my first album,” Tizer remembers. “It’s not like I set out on a path for (a music career) — it just fell into my lap. I never had a job.”
Needless to say, Tizer quickly repaid his parents for the keyboard.
Today, he looks back on an impressive career that includes touring the world with his band of Grammy-winning-and-nominated musicians. His group tops the Billboard charts with its predominantly instrumental melodies spanning a vast range of genres, including rock, jazz, world-fusion and more.
“People can expect a high- energy show that takes you on a musical journey of all different flavors, with a little Latin, a little funk, a little jazz, little world music,” Tizer says. “It will all be one delicious stew for the audiences to enjoy.”
A Band of Virtuosos
Tizer’s sizzling band stands apart because it features some of the industry’s top musicians.
His complex and layered instrumental tunes attract high-level artists, he says, because the songs allow musicians to experiment and showcase all their skills.
“I like improvisation, I like giving everyone time to shine, and we play all sorts of configurations, which changes the show and keeps us on our toes,” Tizer explains. “It’s the kind of stuff that instrumentalists want to play, where they get a chance to stretch and really go for it.”
Audiences at Tizer’s upcoming show can expect electric solos two-time Grammy-winning saxophonist Eric Marienthal, who has performed in over 75 countries. He has played as a member of the Chick Corea band, on top of performing with icons such as Elton John, Barbra Streisand, Billy Joel and Stevie Wonder.
Tizer’s quartet also includes another two-time Grammy winner, drummer Gene Coye.
“He’s a really outstanding player,” Tizer says. “He’s really making a name for himself.”
Bassist Anthony Crawford, nominated for Rolling Stone’s 2021 Bassist of the Year, will round out the band’s sounds.
“I’ve been fortunate to keep amazing company,” Tizer says. “If the music is good, hopefully it naturally attracts great instrumentalists who want to be a part of it.”
An Artistic Milestone
When asked about his greatest achievements, Tizer points to his latest album, “Songs from the Swinghouse.”
Marking his first time as the sole producer on an album – and the arranger behind every song – Tizer recorded and filmed all 11 songs of the album live, with up to 15 musicians playing on some tunes.
“It was a massive undertaking,” he says. “We had a string quartet on several tunes, and a horn section on several tunes, in addition to an already very large band.”
The hard work paid off with widespread acclaim, including jazz publication “JAZZIZ” hailing the album as “a revolution in style and strategy.”
“Everyone worked hard to make it come through on the level that it did,” Tizer says.
He looks forward to performing songs from the album at The Smith Center, as he connects with Southern Nevada audiences.
“Music is one of the ties that bind us,” he says. “We hope to bring good energy and give people a night of joy and fun.”
SEE THE SHOW
The Lao Tizer Band performs at 7 p.m. on April 1 – for tickets, CLICK HERE.