Hammond Organ artist Tony Monaco “stole the show” at the recent Savannah Jazz Festival. Monaco returns, by popular demand,  for a one night only Encore performance !   

Hammond organ artist Tony Monaco returns to the Savannah area by popular demand follow his 2012 spot at the Savannah Jazz Festival.  A keyboard player from the age of eight, he began his lifelong pursuit of organ jazz stardom after hearing Jimmy Smith at age 12, and becoming a professional player in Columbus, Ohio while still in his teens.   He shared the stage with his idol Smith while in his early twenties when hired to perform at Jimmy Smith’s club.  Never far from his love of jazz (he performed at his restaurant), he detoured to raise his family and run his family’s restaurant and businesses.   He reignited his career in 2000 through organ icon Joey DeFrancesco, who produced Monaco’s debut CD “Burning Grooves,” resulting in a national tour and high critical acclaim.  Tony’s subsequent releases on Summit Records  received additional international praise, resulting in his inclusion in the Pat Martino Trio for over two years.  He has backed or lead bands with some of the top names in jazz including: Mel Lewis, Lewis Nash, Red Holloway, Plas Johnson, Sonny Fortune, Jon Faddis, Adam Nussbaum, Bruce Forman, Harvey Mason, Chester Thompson, Herin Riley, Jeff Clayton, Terrell Stafford, Eric Alexander, Bobby Durham, Russell Malone, Perter Bernstein, Paul Bollenback, Kevin Mahogany, Victor Lewis, Fareed Haque and George Benson.    In addition to his recording and concert career, Tony is a prominent educator and clinician, using both his own website and his association with Hammond Organs to introduce the next great generation of musicians to the jazz organ.  Learn more at http://www.b3monaco.com/music.htm

Rounding out The Tony’s trio is Savannah‘s CJA Hall of Fame  guitarist Howard Paul, and Atlantic City jazz drummer Bob Shomo. 

 Howard Paul performed at part of the Tony Monaco Trio during last year’s Savannah Jazz Festival and has several national and international date booked as part of Tony’s trio during 2013.   In addition to performing with Monaco, Paul has performed extensively and recorded with multiple-Grammy winner and jazz piano legend Bob James (2011 CD Just Friends – The Hamilton Hall Sessions); internationally renowned flautist Ali Ryerson (2006 CD Live At The Jazz Corner); and with jazz guitar legends Bucky Pizzarelli, Howard Alden, Jimmy Bruno, Jack Wilkins, Joe Beck, Joe Negri, Frank Vignola, and many more.   In addition to regular performances at The Savannah Jazz Festival and The Jazz Corner, he’s been a featured artist at Yoshi’s, The Jazz Standard, The Jazz Kitchen, Kuumbwa Jazz Center (Monterey Jazz Festival), The Blue Wisp, Silo Jazz Club, Napa Valley Opera House, and twice at The Smithsonian Institution’s Jazz Cafe.  He also lectures at music schools and conservatories around the US.    Locally he performs as a member of the Savannah Jazz Orchestra, Equinox Jazz Orchestra, and regularly with bassist Ben Tucker and saxophonist Jody Espina.  Paul is also President/CEO of Benedetto Guitars and has been the chairman of the Savannah Jazz Festival Committee for three years. 

Drummer Bob Shomo  began his musical career as a teenager in Atlantic City, NJ, working with pianist George Mesterhazy, saxophonist Michael Pedicin Jr., and The Club Harlem House Band, (directed by Johnny Lynch). Bob studied with Hank Levy, playing in one of his ensembles at Towson State University. In the late 1980′s, while living in Denver, Colorado, Bob routinely performed with pianist Art Lande’s group and the Paul Warburton/Dale Bruning Trio. He has studied with Joe Labarbara, Terry Silverlight and Harry Himles. Bob can be heard on recordings with Michael Pedicin Jr., Mick Rossi, George Mesterhazy, the Tim Lekan Trio, Steve Giordano and Barbara Montgomery. Recent club and concert appearances include performances with Patti Wicks, Keter Betts, Steve Gilmore, Howard Alden, Reggie Hamilton, Jack Wilkins, the Tim Lekan Quartet, George Mesterhazy Trio, Ron Kerber Quintet, Steve Giordano Trio, Bucky Pizzarelli and Rebecca Paris among others.                                                     

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