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BILL LEZOTTE: Rhythm Guitar/Vocal Stylist
Bill Lezotte played with the Galvanized Jazz Band from Northford, CT for 22 years. In addition to that, he has led his own bands over the years: The Good Tymes Jazz Band, Le Hot Club Of The Treasure Coast, and presently Swing-n-Jazz. Bill has played with many great personalities including Wild Bill Davison, Kenny Daverne, and also spent time playing and learning with Carmen Mastren. He has also performed at many Dixieland Jazz Festivals including the BIG one in Sacramento, California. A true professional and a very talented man. Bill's major influences include Django Reinhardt, Marty Grosz, and Carmen Mastren. Bill's arsenal of guitars includes a 1939 Epiphone Masterbuilt Triumph, a 1946 Epiphone Emperor, and a 1938 Gibson Super 400, all Blonde non-cutaways, sickening...
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STEVE JONES: Lead Guitar/Vocal
Steve Jones grew up in Michigan's Upper Peninsula and has been playing guitar since age 7. His parents both taught music as a profession, and encouraged music at a young age. Steve's father started him out playing the coronet and piano, but it wasn't until Steve discovered the guitar that his love for music was to be fully realized. The one person who had the most profound influence on Steve was the late Ervin Ollila (known to most as Heinie). He was a self-taught musical genius, unknown by most of the world. Heinie recognized Steve's talent and cultivated it until about age 18. It was from Heinie that Steve learned that without feeling, it's not music! The two played together at establishments and special events throughout the U.P. until 1998 New Years Day, when Heinie passed away. Steve was a typical teen and delved into rock & roll bands and even heavy metal, however he did finally discover real music! After Heinie passed away, Steve began playing with another guitarist by the name of Rob Fritz. Rob is a great rhythm guitarist/singer who played the Detroit circuit before moving north. Steve and Rob then hooked up with Drummer Jeff Oldiges and formed the band On The Fritz. Steve also was an original member in the band Fat Cow, a more modern jazz/funk/blues group from Michigan. Steve played with these two groups throughout the 90's and into 2000, until September 2001, at which time Steve took a job in Connecticut and moved east.
This was to be a trying time, as Steve had to in essence start his musical career over. Then, in the early spring (?) of 2002 Steve's musical career was to take yet another turn when he met rhythm guitarist Bill Lezotte. This was to be a great match up of two distinct styles. Bill and Steve hit it off right away when they learned of each other's love for the music of Django Reinhardt. They began working out tunes and are now playing three nights a week around the Farmington Valley area in Connecticut. Steve has 6 CD's to his credit both solo and with various groups. His major listening influences are: Lenny Breau, Django Reinhardt, Oscar Moore, Wes Montgomery, Joe Pass, Chet Atkins, & Barney Kessel, just to name a few. Steve plays an Oval Hole Selmer style guitar built by Robert J. Aylward, a superb luthier from Scotland, and also plays a 1991 Washburn J-6 (back when they first came out and were actually good guitars). Steve also plays any of Bill's guitars whenever he can get his hands on 'em!
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Bobo Lavorgna, acoustic bass and vocals is a veteran in the Connecticut blues, jazz and swing band. He met Bill Lezotte at a gig in 2000 and Steve Jones at a gig in June of 2002 when Bill called Bobo and said "you gotta HEAR this guy PLAY!" Bobo rounds out the rhythm section of the Swing 'N' Jazz trio with solid, kickin’ bass lines. Born in New Haven, CT half-century ago, at a very early age, Bobo began playing the radio at age 2, then progressed to 4th chair tonette and 2nd chair trumpet with the Spring Glen School Band in the early 1960's. Bobo's descent into the bass clef region began in 1964 when he picked up valve trombone, baritone horn, and then on to tuba and sousaphone with the support and encouragement of his mentor and director, Don Reutenauer, to whom Bobo edicates his playing on this CD. Bobo did a stint with the New York Military Academy Band in Cornwall, NY in the mid-60's. Some other famous NYMA attendees include Stephen Sondheim, Leonard 'Red' Balaban, Donald Trump, Les & Stumpy Brown, to name a few...also with the 19th Army Band, Fort Dix, NJ and the 102nd Army Band, Hartford, CT under Chief Warrant Office Ted Karsmarski. The majority of his early music schooling came from many, many hours in the Lavorgna's, the Crotty's and the Menta's basements. Bobo wishes to thank the Lavorgna's, the Crotty's and the Menta's for letting music be a part of their lives and for allowing music to become a major
force in his life.
Bobo has performed on both US coasts with various blues, jazz, folk and rhythm & blues outfits over the decades, most notably with Bill Lezotte & Steve Jones in Swing 'N' Jazz, Sammy Rimington, The 1917 Jazz Band, John Russell's Big Easy Rhythm, Balaban & Cats, Michael Capezzone, The Stormin' Norman & Suzy Band (with whom he performed at Carnegie Hall, NYC opening for Manhattan Transfer and on ABC-TV's 'Gabe Kaplan presents: 'Future Stars' special, a Dick Clark Production!!!) and also including Robert Crotty, Robert Silverman, The Wayward Six, Anne Marie Menta, Richard Hodgkins, The Blake Street Gut Band, Homesick John O'Leary, John McCurry, The Phabulous Pheromones, The Pearly Grates, Everett Silver & Silver Skull Blues Band, Gordon Emerson & New Haven Civic Orchestra, Karen & The Pistons, Tony Mason; David Mills & The Winchester Special (opened for Ray Charles at the Shubert Theater in New Haven, CT - Bobo got to ride in the elevator with the Ray-lettes!!!DUDE!), Jake & The Family Jewels, Sportin' Life, The Convertibles, The Barrelhouse Boys, The Bill's Seafood All-Stars, Tom Sharp, Bill Sinclair, Charlie Weyant, Tommy Palinko, Scott Black, Noel Kaletsky, Bob Card, Tom Schmutzler, Peter Davis, Muriel Havenstein, Bob Bequillard, Noel Kaletsky.
Bobo has opened for Sam & Dave, Martha Reeves, Ian Mathews, Eddie Money, NRBQ, Good Rats, Beaver Brown, The Joe Perry Project, Aztec Two-Step, Jeff Muldauer, Bobby Neuwirth, Buzzy Linhart, Ritchie Havens, Howlin' Wolf & the Wolfpack (Eddie Shaw, Bobby Anderson, Hubert Sumlins.)
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