Jazz Saxophonist Larry Slezak was born in Manhattan in 1946. He gravitated to the saxophone after hearing Bill Doggett’s hit recording of “Honky Tonk.” Growing up in New York afforded him the opportunity, while still in his teens, to hear all the great musicians live: from Armstrong to Ellington and Basie. He was drawn to the music and was working professionally by the time he was 14.

Since relocating to Houston in 1973, Slezak has mastered the entire reed instrument family and has performed in the orchestras for Johnny Mathis, Liza Minnelli, Burt Bacharach, Tony Bennett, Joe Williams, and countless others. He also performs with the Houston Symphony and Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, and he teaches saxophone and applied jazz studies at Rice University, where he directs the Rice Jazz Ensembles.

Slezak brings an assured swing, a warm soulful tone, and a wealth of experience to No Worries, his first CD as a leader, which was released by Houston’s Tierra Studios on November 25, 2008.

He is joined on the recording by the Larry Slezak Quartet and by his B3 Hammond Organ Band¬: veteran guitarist Clayton Dyess, bassist Thomas Helton, pianist and organ player José-Miguel Yamal, vocalist Sheri Lavo, and Larry’s son Joe Slezak on drums.

“The band is playing the kind of music people don’t get to hear that much anymore,” says Slezak, who first played with a B3 at the age of 15. “Small-group jazz is to American music what the string quartet is to classical music.”

For more information, visit www.larryslezak.com.

Larry Slezak – No Worries

12 tracks

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 24, 2008HOUSTON TENOR SAXOPHONIST & EDUCATOR LARRY SLEZAK
DEBUTS ON CD WITH “NO WORRIES,” TO BE RELEASED BY TIERRA STUDIOS NOVEMBER 25

Saxophonist Larry Slezak brings an assured swing, a warm soulful tone, and a wealth of experience to No Worries, his first CD as a leader, which is set for release by Houston’s Tierra Studios on November 25.

The New York native and longtime Houston resident is joined on the recording by his Hammond Organ Band—veteran guitarist Clayton Dyess; bassist Thomas Helton; the young pianist José-Miguel Yamal, who also plays Hammond B3 organ on several tracks; and Larry’s son Joe Slezak on drums.“The band is playing the kind of music people don’t get to hear that much anymore,” says Slezak. “You can’t listen to B3 and feel bad. It makes you feel good.” Adds the saxophonist, who first played with a B3 at the age of 15, “Small-group jazz is to American music what the string quartet is to classical music.”The Slezak quintet is augmented on two tracks apiece by their regular vocalist, Sheri Lavo; by former Woody Herman trumpeter Dennis Dotson; and by percussionist Fernando Ledesma. “Our goal was to get the sound we get live,” says Slezak, “and that’s what [engineer] Glenn Wheeler did. This is what we sound like in a club.”No Worries also features the saxophonist with orchestral backing on four selections. Strings were arranged by Bernie Hatch (who also composed the CD’s lead track, “Floatin’”) and conducted by CD producer Dr. Robert Linder.Larry Slezak was born in Manhattan in 1946 and gravitated to the saxophone after hearing Bill Doggett’s hit recording of “Honky Tonk.” Growing up in New York afforded him the opportunity, while still in his teens, to hear all the great musicians live, from Louis Armstrong to Ellington and Basie. He was drawn to the music and the culture, and was working professionally by the time he was 14.Since relocating to Houston in 1973, Slezak has mastered the entire reed instrument family and has performed in the orchestras for Johnny Mathis, Liza Minnelli, Burt Bacharach, Tony Bennett, Joe Williams, Billy Eckstine, and countless others. He also performs with the Houston Symphony and Houston Grand Opera Orchestra, and is instructor of saxophone and applied jazz studies at Rice University, where he directs the Rice Jazz Ensembles.Among the many artists he’s worked with are Arnett Cobb, Elvin Jones, Hank Crawford, King Curtis, Roy Eldridge, Jimmy Smith, and Clifford Scott (whose saxophonics on “Honky Tonk” changed Slezak’s life).

For more information, contact Lana Smith at 713-492-3527 or lsmith@tierrastudios.com. ▪
www.tierrastudios.com
www.larryslezak.com

Producer Robert Linder and arranger Bernie Hatch have been working hard at Tierra Studios lately on a jazz standard album, featuring Houston saxophonist, Larry Slezak and his band. The songs are a collection of jazz standards and original tunes by Bernie Hatch and Larry Slezak. Here we see engineer Glenn Wheeler preparing to track string musicians for the album.

Houston Jazz Quartet: The Larry Slezak Band was in to record rhythm tracks and string accompaniment for an upcoming Tierra Houston Jazz Album