Musical Director for VANEESE THOMAS Soul/Blues Artist. Vaneese has released four CD’s of Soul and Blues music that celebrate the rich musical tradition of her hometown, Memphis, TN, and her musical family, her father Rufus Thomas, and her siblings Carla and Marvell. Participating in these recordings has been a great joy. The list of great musicians joining Vaneese on these records is long- Will Lee, Shawn Pelton, Charles Hodges, Tash Neal, Marc Franklin, Robbie Kondor, Katie Jacoby, Carla Thomas, Lisa Fischer, and many more.
Highlights:
Al held the Guitar 1 chair at Kinky Boots on Broadway from February of 2018 until it’s closing in April 2019.
Supporting Singer/Actors Brendon Urie(Panic! At The Disco), Wayne Brady, Billy Porter, David Cook(American Idol), Jake Shears(The Scissor Sisters), Connor Maynard, Tyler Glenn(Neon Trees), Kirstin Maldonado(Pentatonix), and Tiki Barber(The NY Giants). A pleasure to be in the pit with headphones hearing these performers and the rest of the great cast delivering night after night.
Member of BEN E. KING BAND. Ben E. King was the legendary singer of such hits as “Stand By Me”, “Spanish Harlem”, “Save the Last Dance For Me”, “This Magic Moment”, and many more.
In addition to playing guitar with Ben, Al also was his Musical Director from March of ’96 until his passing in 2015. Work has included gigs at many venues nationally and internationally, ranging from intimate clubs to 15,000+ seat outdoor concerts, and national television broadcasts.
Highlights:
ACT of CT (Regional Theatre Company in Ridgefield, CT).
Guitarist for 2024 Production of Kinky Boots.
Guitarist for 2022 Production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
Guitarist for 2021 Production of Smokey Joe’s Cafe.
Wonder Trio!
Guitarist for this organ trio celebrating the music of Stevie Wonder featuring Organist Ed Alstrom and Drummer Bobby Deitch.
Sub-guitarist on over 1000 performances of Broadway Productions including the hit shows “A Beautiful Noise-The Neil Diamond Musical”, “Beetlejuice the Musical”, “Ain’t Too Proud-The Life and Times of The Temptations”, “Beautiful The Carole King Musical”, “Kinky Boots”, “Something Rotten”, “Motown The Musical”, “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” “Aida”, “Hairspray”, “Footloose”, “Saturday Night Fever”, “Rocky Horror Show”, “Little Shop of Horrors” “Legally Blonde”, “Catch Me If You Can”, “Jesus Christ Superstar”, “Seussical” and “Brooklyn”.
Leader of The Al Orlo Band. Performances in NY Metro area clubs, including Zanzibar and Le Bar Bat in Manhattan. The band played original guitar oriented instrumental music and featured many top NY jazz/fusion musicians, including George Whitty and Rodney Holmes (of the Brecker Brothers), Zach Danziger (Michel Camilo), Pete Levin and Tim Hegarty (Gil Evans Orchestra), Ned Mann (The Mann brothers), Rob Aries (John Scofield), Leo Traversa (Astrid Gilberto), Andy Korn and Danny Obadia (Aftertouch), Aaron Heick (Chaka Khan, David Letterman), and Cornelius Bumpus (Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers). Also, on occasion, the line-up included vocalists Tommy McDonnell (The Blues Brothers), and James “Crabbe” Robinson (Jeff Lorber).
Al also performed at Sam Ash Music Guitar Clinics in NY, and at the Winter Namm Show in Anaheim, CA, as an endorser of La Bella Guitar Strings.
Guitarist on 4 city Tour for The Manhattan Transfer. Played in Chicago, Reno, Las Vegas, and Tucson with the preeminent Jazz/Pop vocal group.
Orlo & Hegarty
Performances and recordings with my good friend Tim Hegarty, a superb Jazz Saxophonist.
Barbara Lee George, singer/songwriter/guitarist.
Earth Day Anthem, video seen over 100K times.
Member of Vincent Pastore’s Gangster Squad. Vin is best known as “Big Pussy” from the mega HBO hit “The Sopranos”. He’s also been a friend since 1981 when he was the owner of the legendary club, The Crazy Horse in New Rochelle, NY.
Appearances at The Cutting Room in NY, Daryls House in Pawling, NY, the 360 Bar at Resorts Casino in Queens, NY, and many other venues in the NY, NJ, CT Tri-state area.
Member of Jazmo, an eclectic original band led by songwriter Jeff Lasdon. Appearances at The Cutting Room, and Iridium.
NENAD BACH BAND, songwriter/vocalist/pianist.
Appearances The Towne Crier(Pawling, NY), The Mercury Lounge, NY.
Concert at Lisinski Hall, Zagreb November 30th, 2012. Recorded for national Television Broadcast in Croatia.
Appearance in the film “Everything Is Forever”, a documentary by filmmaker Vic Zimet about Nenad’s journey as an artist from Croatia to America.
Performed with Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.
Appearances at Cotton Club Japan & BB Kings.
Performed dates with Jay & The Americans.
Blues Corruption, a bar band of great guys and great fun.
Paul Connors Trio, guest performer with organist Paul Connors and drummer Jon Doty, at Jazz at the Lodge in Ossining NY.
Funkasaurus Rex, a Funk Fusion band led by Saxophonist Joey Berkley featuring drummer Chris Parker.
Grace Doty Band, a talented singer/songwriter/guitarist.
The Bensen-Scott Big Band, fun band in the tradition of Basie, Kenton, Maynard…
A Nordic Sound Big Band, plays the challenging arrangements of composer/arranger/trombonist Jens Wendelboe
Top Shelf, a great R&B pop cover band led by Steve Wexler, featuring top NY vocalists and musicians. Appearances at The Cutting Room, NY.
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