Internationally renowned jazz flutist Ali Ryerson, consistently voted among the top jazz flutists in the Downbeat Jazz Poll for nearly a decade, tours with her quintet and in several other configurations. She is currently promoting her new Capri Records release, "Game Changer," a historic big band recording featuring 16 of the music's most influential flutists.
The Ali Ryerson Quintet features players well-known for their contributions to the contemporary jazz scene: keyboardist and arranger Pete Levin, a top NY session player & Moog synthesizer pioneer, best known for his 15 year association with the legendary Gil Evans and his 8 year stint with jazz icon Jimmy Giuffre; guitarist/composer Mike DeMicco, long-time guitarist with the Brubeck Brothers; the original bassist from the Pat Metheny Group, Mark Egan, with his unique fretless electric bass sound, and the exciting addition of drummer Karl Latham, a veteran of the European Jazz scene since 1993, now a sought after drummer in the NY area.
The music is adventurous and contemporary, with a focus on original material.
Tony Lombardozzi has been a fixture on the jazz scene since the 1970s and throughout the decades he has performed extensively with some of the legendary jazz greats. He has worked with Clark Terry, Kenny Baron, Bill Baron, Harold Danko, Art Davis, Don Friedman, Milt Hinton, Anthony Braxton and Grady Tate, as well as scores of other well-known jazz musicians.
As a jazz guitarist, Lombardozzi has shared the stage with fellow jazz guitarists including the legendary Les Paul, Bucky Pizzarelli, Sal Salvador and Joe Puma. He has been a member of orchestras that have accompanied such stars as Sammy Davis, Jr., Liza Minnelli, Mel Torme, Gladys Knight, Lou Rawls and Ray Charles.
No stranger to jazz festivals nationally and internationally, Lombardozzi has performed at The Detroit Jazz Festival, Syracuse Jazz Festival, International Festival of Arts and Ideas, The Hartford Jazz Festival, Lake George Jazz Festival, Dizzy's Club Coca Cola, The Blue Note, The New Haven Jazz Festival, JVC Jazz Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center and Jazz at the Pilot Pen Jazz.
In addition to a full schedule of performing, Lombardozzi is an educator. He has been on the Wesleyan University Music faculty since 1986 where he is the director of the Jazz Ensemble and the jazz guitar instructor. He is a faculty member at the Neighborhood Music School in New Haven and has participated and conducted jazz clinics and master classes at Yale University, Syracuse University, Berklee School of Music, New York University and at The International Association of Jazz Educators (IAJE).
