Live the Variables are: Chu Nero on sax/keyboards/left-hand bass/vocals, Al Kroll on sax/keys, Ray Hangen or Roger Schlee on drums, Jerry Livingston on bass. Tommy Z on lead vocals and guitar.
Studio Musicians: Additional Guitars and Vocals by Walt DiRiggo, Jack Honer on Harmonica, Aunt Peg on bass, and Red Bacardi on drums.
Download Music HERE!!!
Influences
Louis Armstrong, Duke Ellington, Johnny Guitar Watson, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Vaughan Bros., BB/Albert/Freddie King, Donny Hathaway, James Brown, Earth Wind and Fire, Charlie Parker, Johnny Hodges, Pat Martino, Charlie Christian, Django Reinhardt, Willis Jackson, Sly Williams, Jimi Hendrix, Johnnie Taylor, Buddy Guy, Wes Montgomery, Otis Rush, Muddy Waters, Howlin’ Wolf, Magic Sam, Monica Lee, Doyle Bramhall II, US Armed Forces, Rodney Dangerfield, Lackawanna Al, Joanne Emanuele, Calhoun Tubbs, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Muhammed Ali, Religion, and the list goes on.....
Get your own digital edition of the songs!
Starting out as a teenager in the talent-rich Western New York music scene, Tommy Z is now a guitarist/singer/songwriter/producer/composer who has been described as a "blues treasure" Jim Santella (WBFO), Buffalo News and "one of WNY's best kept secrets" Sarah French, Blues Matters Magazine. Recognized with numerous awards over the years, including being voted Top Blues Vocalist in Western New York 2003/2004/2006, Top Blues Guitarist 1993, 1994, 1995, 1997, 2004, 2005, 2006 and also Top Blues/Crossover Blues Band 1994, 2005, 2006, Tommy also was awarded the Muddy Waters Award for Artist of the Year from the Blues Society of WNY in 2004. In 2007 Tommy was honored with an induction into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame, ending any further music award eligibility in WNY. He has performed and or co-billed with some of the worlds' greatest in the blues/rock genre including B.B. King, Buddy Guy, Johnny Winter, The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Jeff Healey, Colin James, Roomful of Blues, Blues Traveler, Derek Trucks, Joe Bonamassa, Peter Frampton and many more including a tour backing up Grammy-winner and legend Pinetop Perkins (Muddy Waters Band). The son of a Vietnam-era veteran, Tommy has brought a taste of home overseas to Iraq, Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Qatar, Japan, Korea, Djibouti, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Egypt, Turkey, Guam, Alaska and other distant locales to play for U.S. troops on behalf of USO/AFE. Rolling Stone Magazine called some of these locations "The most dangerous gigs on Earth." It was his mother that encouraged his appreciation for music and influenced a quest for truth in spirituality. Tommy contributed guitar tracks to Deep Purple vocalist Ian Gillan's CD on Immergent called Gillan's Inn, on the track "When A Blind Man Cries," which featured Jeff Healey. Tommy also appears on blues-rocker Michael Lee Jackson's 2006 Immergent release, "In a Heartbeat." In 2006 a critically acclaimed CD called Universal Love was produced with Nick Blagona (BeeGees, Chicago, Police), it has been described as "soul-rockin' blues" Bob Putignano, NYC Blues Society President/Sounds of Blue WFDU, "awesome" Bob Silvestri, Best of WNY, and "should feature high on your list of 'new' acts to investigate" Mick Rainsford, Blues in Britain Magazine.
In addition to his performance schedule, Tommy is a guitar teacher, and composes for Film and TV.
Tommy Z is endorsed by and uses the following:
www.mesaboogie.com
www.coloriffic.com
www.rkfx.com
www.graphtech.com
I Got Your Back (Soundcheck)
A few members of The Nyne have started a new project under the name NTNA (which stands for "Not The Nyne Anymore"). Please indulge our egos, by visiting our page and commenting on our music. False praise, shameless flattery, and valid criticism are all welcome.
Hey Tommy - I always love to come to your page to listen to the tunes! Love 'em! Have you checked out my page yet? Nancy&Company. Talked to Chu a couple of weeks ago when he called. Sure do miss him and hope to get up to NY soon. Enjoy your summer in beautiful WNY! Nancy
Tommy, Thanks for the add! I hope that you liked my page and my music...I'm working on a new CD and will be putting new songs up as I go, so stop back and say hi.
I really love your style, Tommy! Really nice...stay with it, you have a great sound there.
Thanks again for supporting my music! Keep in touch, Steve
Hi everybody, We've finally moved the repair workshop from Jamaica Street to Otago Street in Glasgow's West End. We'll be open for business again on the 21st of June. Check the website for more details.Thanks for all the support,
I just have to say "I got your back" was added to my profile and everyone loves it. Well... all of my 2 friends..:> FYI; My son has really takin off on his drums..thanx again
