Neil Zaza
Encyclopedia
Neil Zaza is a melodic instrumental
guitarist
who has become well known for his technical accuracy and adaptation of classical works by Bach
and Mozart
into his own blend of neo-classical
, melodic, guitar
instrumental
s.
His CDs often include guest appearances by veteran musicians including:
He has also shared the stage with notable guitarists such as Joe Satriani
and Michael Angelo Batio
. He holds an annual concert called One Silent Night at the Palace Theater
in Cleveland with the backing of the 60 piece Cleveland Rock Orchestra and features his adaptation of popular Christmas
songs to his melodic style.
Neil Zaza is known for his heroic and spectacular entrances, often suddenly appearing from behind projector screens to provide his signature brand of neo-classical guitar virtuosity.
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
who has become well known for his technical accuracy and adaptation of classical works by Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach
Johann Sebastian Bach was a German composer, organist, harpsichordist, violist, and violinist whose sacred and secular works for choir, orchestra, and solo instruments drew together the strands of the Baroque period and brought it to its ultimate maturity...
and Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , baptismal name Johannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart , was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical era. He composed over 600 works, many acknowledged as pinnacles of symphonic, concertante, chamber, piano, operatic, and choral music...
into his own blend of neo-classical
Neo-classical metal
Neo-classical metal is a subgenre of heavy metal music that is heavily influenced by classical music. It refers to a very technical performanceExact quote from the french text: "L'arrivée du néoclassique remet au goût du jour la virtuosité et le travail de l'instrument", « Les secrets du metal-...
, melodic, guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
instrumental
Instrumental
An instrumental is a musical composition or recording without lyrics or singing, although it might include some non-articulate vocal input; the music is primarily or exclusively produced by musical instruments....
s.
Biography
Before beginning a solo career, Neil Zaza formed in 1987 the rock band ZAZA which toured U.S. and released an album called Party With The Big Boys in 1991. After his second solo album, Zaza was as a guest soloist with The Hartford Symphony Orchestra, performing “1492” and a guitar interpretation of “West Side Story”.His CDs often include guest appearances by veteran musicians including:
- Jordan RudessJordan RudessJordan Rudess is an American keyboardist best known as a member of the progressive metal band Dream Theater and the progressive rock supergroup Liquid Tension Experiment.-Biography:...
- keyboard player from Dream TheaterDream TheaterDream Theater is an American progressive metal band formed in 1985 under the name Majesty by John Petrucci, John Myung, and Mike Portnoy while they attended Berklee College of Music in Massachusetts. They subsequently dropped out of their studies to further concentrate on the band that would...
appears on his When Gravity FailsWhen Gravity Fails (Neil Zaza album)When Gravity Fails is the eighth studio album by Neil Zaza released in 2006. Peter Frampton and Jordan Rudess are guest musicians on the album.-Track listing:# Something Anything # Purple Plush # Cinematic # In My Dreams # Bleed...
CD; - Michael Anthony - bass player from world famous Van HalenVan HalenVan Halen is an American hard rock band formed in Pasadena, California, in 1972. The band has enjoyed success since the release of its debut album, Van Halen, . As of 2007 Van Halen has sold 80 million albums worldwide and has had the most #1 hits on the Billboard Mainstream Rock chart...
and ChickenfootChickenfootChickenfoot is an American rock supergroup, consisting of former Van Halen members Sammy Hagar and Michael Anthony , solo artist Joe Satriani and Red Hot Chili Peppers drummer Chad Smith. The band released their self-titled debut album, Chickenfoot, on June 5, 2009...
appears on his When Gravity Fails CD and his current studio project in progress; - Steve SmithSteve Smith (musician)Steve Elliott Smith is an American drummer who has worked with hundreds of artists in his career, but is mostly known for being the drummer of the rock band Journey during their peak years of success. Modern Drummer magazine readers voted him the #1 All-Around Drummer five years in a row...
and Ross ValoryRoss ValoryRoss Lamont Valory is Journey's noted bass player. He and Neal Schon are the only original members of the band still performing with the group. Aside from his termination from the group during the Raised on Radio album sessions in 1986, Ross has played on all of Journey's albums...
- from JourneyJourney (band)Journey is an American rock band formed in 1973 in San Francisco by former members of Santana. The band has gone through several phases; its strongest commercial success occurred between the 1978 and 1987, after which it temporarily disbanded...
appeared on his Staring at the SunStaring at the Sun (Neil Zaza album)-Track listing:#I Spy#Lift#Lost In Your Dream#Zen, Karma And Other Good Things#The Wonder Of You#New, New Math#Rain#Every Thought Of You#Baking @ 350°F#Fargo#Angel#Definition#Purple Rain-Personnel:* Neil Zaza - guitar* Michael Lee Firkins - guitar...
CD.
He has also shared the stage with notable guitarists such as Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
and Michael Angelo Batio
Michael Angelo Batio
Michael Angelo Batio also known as Mike Batio or MAB, is a guitarist and columnist from Chicago, Illinois. His work has encompassed many genres, notably metal and its subgenres. Batio was voted the "No. 1 Shredder of All Time" by Guitar One Magazine in 2003...
. He holds an annual concert called One Silent Night at the Palace Theater
Palace Theater, Cleveland
The Palace Theatre is a theater on Euclid Avenue in downtown Cleveland, Ohio, part of Playhouse Square. The theater was originally named Keith’s Palace Theater after B. F. Keith, founder of the Keith-Albee chain of vaudeville and movie theaters...
in Cleveland with the backing of the 60 piece Cleveland Rock Orchestra and features his adaptation of popular Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
songs to his melodic style.
Neil Zaza is known for his heroic and spectacular entrances, often suddenly appearing from behind projector screens to provide his signature brand of neo-classical guitar virtuosity.
Solo Albums
- Two Hands One HeartTwo Hands One HeartTwo Hands, One Heart was the first album released by American guitarist Neil Zaza#"Climb The Alps"#"Bolt On Street"#"Funkin' Sheriff Full Of Led"#"Faith"#"Geronajoe"#"Hat's Off To You"#"Like It's Going Outta Style"#"Right Here"#"Woody's Revenge"...
(1992) - Thrills & ChillsThrills & Chills-Track listing:#"Joof"#"Ground Zero"#"Melodia"#"Champ"#"Tobaber"#"Red Meat"#"Higher and Higher"#"[Untitled]"#"Ain't No Thang"#"Haunt"#"Town Without Pity" -Personnel:* Neil Zaza - guitar* Blake Sakamoto - keyboards...
(1993) - Sing (1996)
- Staring at the SunStaring at the Sun (Neil Zaza album)-Track listing:#I Spy#Lift#Lost In Your Dream#Zen, Karma And Other Good Things#The Wonder Of You#New, New Math#Rain#Every Thought Of You#Baking @ 350°F#Fargo#Angel#Definition#Purple Rain-Personnel:* Neil Zaza - guitar* Michael Lee Firkins - guitar...
(2001) - One Silent Night... Volume 1One Silent Night... Volume 1-Track listing:# Carol Of The Bells #Joy To The World #Do You Hear What I Hear # Oh Holy Night # O Come All Ye Faithful # Jesus, The Joy Of Man's Desiring # The First Noel # Little Drummer Boy # O Come, O Come, Emmanuel...
(2002) - One Silent Night... Volume 2One Silent Night... Volume 2One Silent Night... Volume 2 is the second Christmas album by Neil Zaza released in 2002.-Track listing:# The Messiah Medley # Hark! The Herald Angels Sing # Silent Night # O Tannenbaum # Away In A Manger # We Three Kings...
(2002) - MelodicaMelodica (Neil Zaza album)Melodica is the seventh studio album by Neil Zaza released in 2004.-Track listing:#On With The Show#This Time#All My Life...#As I Go Before You#Melodica#Breadstick#Ship of Dreams#Flow#I Can See Miracles#Across the Sands#Rena...
(2004) - When Gravity FailsWhen Gravity Fails (Neil Zaza album)When Gravity Fails is the eighth studio album by Neil Zaza released in 2006. Peter Frampton and Jordan Rudess are guest musicians on the album.-Track listing:# Something Anything # Purple Plush # Cinematic # In My Dreams # Bleed...
(2006) - 212212 (Neil Zaza album)212 is the ninth studio album by Neil Zaza to be released on February 12, 2011. The title is explained here: -Track listing:# Magnus 212# Go!# King of the World# Is This Wonderland?# To the Moon and Back# Baroque Sky# If This is Goodbye...
(2011) - Clyde the Cat (2012)
Live Albums
- Snap, Crackle & Pop...Live!Snap, Crackle & Pop...Live!Snap, Crackle & Pop...Live! was an album by Bobby Rock & Neil Zaza, featuring Bill Dickens. While not an official Neil Zaza solo release, it is included on Neil's official .-Track listing:Disc One:#Intro#I Wish#Fearless#Lightworker#Guitar Intro...
(1998) - Neil Zaza's One Silent Night...A Night At The Palace (2007)
Collaborations/Guest Appearances
- Ten Zen Men ProjectTen Zen Men ProjectTen Zen Men Project was an album by Ten Zen Men, a project composed of American guitarist Neil Zaza, drummer Robin DiMaggio and LA bassist Andre Berry. It was written and recorded in 5 days...
(1997) - Guitar, Producer - Lords of Karma: A Tribute To Vai/Satriani (2002) - Guitar
- Warmth In The Wilderness: A Tribute To Jason Becker (2002) - Guitar
- Guitar Center Volume 1 (2004) - Guitar
- Mistheria -Messenger Of The Gods (2004) - Guitars on track 2
- Guitarists 4 The Kids (2006) - Guitar
- JRZ System - Cosmic String Theory (2008) - Guitar