Anthology

By David Moye

When 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.”

Lao is truly a rising star in the world of contemporary jazz. Along with being a “Best New Jazz Artist” nominee a few years back, Tizer itself was nominated for Jazz Group of the Year.

Before going the band route, Lao shared the stage with artists like Isaac Hayes, Boney James, Wayne Shorter, George Benson, The Commodores, Robin Thicke, The Rippingtons, Bruce Hornsby, Jethro Tull, and Spyro Gyra.

His own recording can be heard on radio and television airwaves worldwide. His talents continue to evolve and command attention.

Not bad, considering he wasn’t the family member who was “chosen” to play piano.

Lao first started playing at the age of five, when he became enchanted by the sounds of a piano originally purchased for his sister.

After several years of tinkering, his parents finally gave in to their son’s pleading for lessons and, at the age of nine, he began his formal training at the age of nine.

The long-awaited lessons flourished as he quickly exhibited his flair for composition and improvisation.

“Funnily enough, my sister did take lessons, but she didn’t start until after me,” he said.

Thanks to parents who encouraged him to pursue creativity, Lao learned early on how to improvise and be musically adventurous.

How adventurous? Well, he began his career during his high school years in his hometown of Boulder, Colorado, and self-produced and released his first three solo keyboard recordings by the age of 17.

Although the music of Lao and of Tizer, the band, is labeled as contemporary jazz or even smooth jazz, he considers it more “world fusion” than anything else.

“A lot of the songs have that Afro-Cuban flair, but the melodies can be outside of the box and we employ some odd time signatures here and there,” he said.

As such, Lao sees Tizer’s music as sort of a gateway drug for new jazz fans.

“I admire traditional jazz and bebop, but there is a rhythmic sense to Tizer’s music that makes it easy for an audience to connect. It adds more energy and makes it more free-flowing,” he said. “I feel like we’re ambassadors and exposing people to other horizons as well.”

###