Lao's hometown is Boulder, Colorado. He is a “Best New Jazz Artist”
nominee; a Yamaha-endorsed pianist and keyboardist. "TIZER" has performed at
premier venues all over the United States and events worldwide. Lao has
performed along side artists like, "Isaac Hayes, Boney James, Zappa Plays
Zappa, Wayne Shorter, George Benson, The Commodores, The Rippingtons, Bruce
Hornsby, Jethro Tull, and Spyro Gyra", and the list goes on.
Lao's attraction to music was realized in his early childhood when he
was five years old. He was drawn to the piano his parents bought for
his sister, when he heard heard her playing. From age five to age
nine, Lao "tinkered" with the piano until his parents "gave in" and allowed
him to begin formal training.
Once he bagan lessons, his natural talent for improvisation and
composition blossomed. In his bio he says, “My parents always encouraged me
to pursue my own creativity,” said Lao, “I learned early on how to improvise
and be musically adventurous.” Lao self-produced and released his first
three solo keyboard recordings while in high school. In 1997 he relocated to
Los Angeles to pursue his musical calling, where he met guitarist Chieli
Minucci, who was a strong influence and advisor. In 2001 Lao released his
first CD titled "Golden Soul" featuring Chieli Munucci. In 2006 he recorded
his second CD, "Diversify", produced by long-time friend and guitarist Jeff
Kollman, and featuring guest appearances by Chieli Minucci, Karen Briggs,
Munyungo Jackson and Andy Suzuki.
In 2008, Lao created "TIZER", featuring "Chieli Minucci and
international violin virtuoso Karen Briggs". In that same year, he produced
his third album "Passages". Since the release of "Passages",
TIZER has performed concerts on tour in Asian and African. In 2010, Lao released
his fourth album "Tizer Live". "Downbeat," released in 2012, the first studio
album by TIZER, a collection of 12 brand-new originals. Lao's latest project
is titled "Songs from the Swinghouse Combo," released in 2018. TIZER can been seen
and heard at concerts, festivals and in clubs all over the world. Check his
calendar for a venue near you.
BIO excerpt:
Keyboardist and recording artist Lao Tizer captivates audiences of all ages and musical tastes. Lao has been proclaimed “an independent artist with all the right moves” and “a torchbearer for the new generation of contemporary jazz.” He is a “Best New Jazz Artist” nominee; a Yamaha-endorsed pianist and keyboardist; has appeared at premier venues including Universal Studios Hollywood, Disneyland, Pier 39 ?” Fisherman’s Wharf San Francisco; and has graced the stage at events worldwide alongside artists including: Isaac Hayes, Boney James, Zappa Plays Zappa, Wayne Shorter, George Benson, The Commodores, The Rippingtons, Bruce Hornsby, Jethro Tull, and Spyro Gyra. Lao’s recordings have sold over 90,000 copies, charted and received acclaim in the industry’s most respected publications and his music can be heard on radio and television airwaves worldwide. His talents continue to evolve and command attention. Link to full bioPRESS:
Lao Tizer Band - Amplify (2024)
"Rare are the jazz groups these days, so it’s encouraging to see one from LA making some fresh
sounds. Keyboardist Lao Tizer puts together a working team of Eric Marienthal-Danny Janklow/wwinds,
Aaron J anik/tp, Khristian Foreman/tb, Chieli Minucci/g, Carey Frank/B3, Karen Briggs/vi, Anthony
Crawford-Cheikh N’Doye/b, Gene Coye/dr, Munyngo Jackson/perc and lead vocalist Elliott Yamin for a
collection of rollicking and rhythmic originals... This release is the culmination of years of
composition, arrangement, performance and some serious dreaming. I’m so proud of this project, the
evolution it represents for the band, and humbled by the truly outstanding cast of musicians, vocalists,
engineers, director, editor and crew who brought this music to serious life. It’s a very special moment
to share the full album with the world nearly 11 months after we recorded and filmed the project all LIVE
at EastWest Studios early October 2023."”
REVIEW:
Featured Artist: Lao Tizer - Diversify (2007)
"“The highs and lows of Diversify take listeners on a sojourn through
varying degrees of influences. Tracks such as "A Night in the City" and the
title track are spontaneous and rhythmic, while a few of the album's songs
flow in a more subtle direction. Other tracks on the CD provide an
introspective look at Lao's creative input as he intuitively includes Latin,
R&B and neo soul dynamics as a part of his overall intent. As one examines
the specified flavor of Diversify, Tizer is not single minded in the manner
he has chosen to highlight himself as a composer and musician."
By Sheldon T. Nunn - JazzReview.com
ARTICLE:
Rare musicianship from modern masters
"The Lao Tizer Band at the Ruth Seaton James Centre as part of the Bermuda Festival of
the Performing Arts The Lao Tizer Band has been called “jazz group of the year” and jazz is
what they delivered, flawlessly and consistently.Tizer himself commanded two keyboards and an
original wooden Hammond organ, sometimes playing all three at once. The band, a seasoned,
tightly-knit team, was completely attuned to each other as well as to their own instruments.
Violinist Karen Briggs showed us a repertory of sounds ranging from police sirens to theremin-like
radio harmonics at the limit of audibility; to blazing pizzicatos and furious bowed rhythms
to drive the music to new levels of intensity."
Mike Jones - royalgazette.com
INTERVIEW excerpt:
Sound Observations with Lao Tizer of Tizer
Anthology Blog - Thursday, March 10, 2011When you’re named Lao Tizer and you perform under the name “Tizer,’ there is a tendency for music fans to think that you’re a solo act helped out by side musicians. Make no mistake: While Lao is a respected jazz pianist, one considered by many to be a torchbearer for the new generation of contemporary jazz, Tizer is a band, of which he is one of five to seven musicians, depending on the lineup. “In the past, the focus of Tizer the bad has been my writing, along with collaborative arrangements by the other musicians,” Lao said in advance of his March 12 performance at Anthology. “We are starting to compose collaboratively and, in fact, we will debut one new tune that was written that way. “I think in the future, I am going to just bring song ideas instead of complete songs so the other musicians can collaborate.” ~ David Moye - anthology BLOG.
VIDEOS:
"Ramble On” (no intro) | The Lao Tizer Band"The Source" | The Lao Tizer Band
"16th Heaven" | The Lao Tizer Band
TIZER featuring Chieli Minucci & Karen Briggs - "World In Rhythm" - Temecula, CA
