 Friday, December 9, 2011 @ 7:00 PM
$10 adv /$13 dos
THE ALEX SKOLNICK TRIO bends the conviction of rock with the elegance and sophistication of jazz.
Alex Skolnick, born in 1968, grew up in Berkeley, California. At age nine, a fascination with the rock group Kiss led to a desire to learn guitar.
At age sixteen, Alex tried out for a local band called Legacy. Shortly after graduating from high school, he found himself recording his first album with the group, who by this time had changed their name to Testament. What followed were five albums and countless tours with, among others, Megadeth, Slayer, Judas Priest, and White Zombie. Alex received critical acclaim for his lead guitar work, which had been inspired by heroes such as Eddie Van Halen and Randy Rhoads, ranking high in many guitar magazine polls, often as Best Thrash Guitarist and Most Underrated Guitarist.
In addition to his metal accomplishments, Alex has made a mark that no one would have predicted: as a jazz guitarist. In 1988, while working on the second Testament album, nineteen year old Alex happened to capture one of Miles Davis guitar driven electric bands on television. This inspired an intense study of jazz, leading to, his eventual relocating to New York City, where he earned a BfA from New School Universitys jazz program (class of 2001).
It was at the New School where Alex Skolnick Trio was born. Their first recording, Goodbye To Romance:Standards For A New Generation brought together the worlds of metal and traditional jazz in an unprecedented blend. GTR reached the top 30 on the US jazz radio charts, earned a full page article in Billboard and received rave reviews from Downbeat, Jazziz and other magazines; on-line retailer CDBaby listed GTR among its top sellers. What followed was a recording contract with Magnatude Records and a sucessful follow up CD, Transformation. Alex Skolnick Trio continues to tour at jazz and rock venues as well as festivals, including the Rochester Intl. Jazz Festival and the Riverbend Festival in Chatanooga.
Alex is also a featured member of several high profile rock/pop/theater projects. Most notable of these is the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, which performs to sold out crowds across the U.S. at such venues as New Yorks Madison Square Garden. With TSO, Alex has regular television appearances including Good Morning America and Live With Regis And Kelly. Alex is also featured in Jekyll & Hyde In Concert, the first touring version of the hit Broadway show, and is a key element in the new Jekyll soundtrack album on Koch records. Jekyll & Hyde composer Frank Wildhorne writes in the liner notes It all became clear when I heard Alexs incredible guitar playing. It is his sound, his sense of theater and the passion that lives in his playing that was, for me, the musical voice I had to have for these songs. Another hit composer who Alex has been working with lately is Jim Steinman, who created the songs for Meatloafs classic album Bat Out Of Hell. Jims latest project, the Dream Engine is a group including Alex and AST drummer Matt Zebroski, performing a collection of his new songs and classics including Total Eclipse Of The Heart whose singer, Bonnie Tyler, is a frequent guest at the Dream Engines live shows.
Past collaborations have including bassists Stu Hamm (Joe Satriani/Steve Vai), Les Claypool (of Primus), Michael Manring (Wyndam Hill recording artist), singer Ozzy Osbourne (the Prince of Darkness himself), rock band Savatage (Atlantic recording artists) and more. Alex has composed pieces for the EA video game Hot Wheels Turbo Racing, the USA Networks broadcast of the 2002 Westminster Dog Show (a big band jazz piece), and the MTV series Makin The Band.
Stick around late night for The Deadbeats, playing a DSO afterparty.
*Times listed are when doors open. Music typically begins one hour later. Prices listed are for tickets only, an additional $5 door charge may apply for those under age 21 at our 18 and over shows.
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