Tony Z

[SalAzz@aol.com]

bt1955 wrote:

>Another example of sounds we might like is the recording of a Hammond that
>Tony Z used in his CD.
>
>I did some leg work on this one and this confirms some of my beleifs.
>I talked with engineer Rick Renner from streeterville studio,s in Chicago,
>where Tony Z recorded his CD. I asked to pull the back off the organ and
>began to ask him some questions, and this is what he told me. First of all
>the organ is serial # 90459 wich probably puts it around a 64 or maybe a 65
>this is just a guess. The preamp is the original with the black transformer.
>He lifted up the felt generator cover and said the caps were the wax
>yellowish ones, wich again puts it stock.
>
>I had asked about miking technique and he told me they might have used 414
>akg on the top and RU20 or D112 akg on the bottom. He was not the actual
>engineer on that recording so he could not confirm.
>
>If any of you listen carefully to that CD you will notice all Tony,s drawbar
>changes with distinction. I love the sound of that recording, but then again
>its the way it was recorded to get that sound that one must keep in mind
when
>trying to put together a Hammond and Leslie combination.You can go absolutly
>crazy trying to copy ones
>sound that you hear on record vs a live playing atmosphere, not to mention
>the money spent on something that cannot be done by instruments alone.
>
>bt1955  

I've had this disc (Tony Z _Get Down With the Blues_, Tone-Cool CDTC1153) in
the car player all week (1000 miles worth) and it is BAD!  It is exactly the
record that I knew Tony was capable of making and that he would make someday.

Great recording (not just the organ), fine stock-sounding Hammond, and while
I usually prefer to hear organ players that play with both hands and both
feet, this guy really plays and is using his left hand continually on the
drawbars and Leslie switch. The registration choices and changes, and use of
the Leslie tremolo/Hammond vibrato are artfully and tastefully done.

I saw Tony Zamangi play twice locally with Ronnie Earl and the Broadcasters,
both times on a used-up looking CX-3 with no Leslie. This band was HOT!  He
is wildly animated and a very exiting player live, and he wrung out every
possible sound from the CX-3 into a beautifully mixed house sound system.
(One of those nights when you wish everyone you know could have been there!).
 We chatted at length, and I felt that if I told him where I lived, I may
missing a Hammond or two when I got home!   As a feature in one show, they
played Jimmy McGriff's _Turn Blue_  (from one of the obscure Sue releases,
can't remember which one).  He was amazed that I knew the tune, and I was
amazed that he knew it much less Earl having the good sense to have the tune
in the bands book and share the spotlight..

Great CD!  Get it; I hope you like it as much as I do, and others seem to.

SalAzz@aol.com    Buffalo, NY