Biography
Lao Tizer serves as both keyboardist and leader of his own ensemble, delivering performances that weave together jazz, classical, new age, and jam-oriented elements. Born in Boulder, Colorado, he showed an early fascination with music and started piano lessons at nine. Drawing from classical and jazz sources, he advanced rapidly and began playing local gigs throughout Boulder while still in his teens. During those years he also issued several self-produced recordings, among them Arabian Dusk in 1994 and Praeludium in 1996.
After moving to Los Angeles in 1997, Tizer attracted the notice of guitarist Chieli Minucci, who asked him to work together on fresh material. With that support he assembled the Lao Tizer Band, also known as TIZER, and released the Minucci-produced Golden Soul in 2001. The album climbed to the Top 50 on the Billboard contemporary jazz chart and earned him the 2002 National Smooth Jazz Award for Best New Artist. He soon expanded his reach by opening shows for Dave Koz and the Rippingtons. In 2007 he issued the studio album Diversify, which included appearances by Minucci, violinist Karen Briggs, saxophonist Andy Suzuki, and additional guests.
For the 2009 release Passages, produced by Minucci and Jeff Kollman, Tizer stepped away from the band to spotlight his piano work. He later resumed touring, playing festivals in Johannesburg, Dubai, Barbados, and other international locations. The live recording TIZER Live arrived in 2010. In 2018 he presented Songs from the Swing House, captured with his band at Conway Studios in Hollywood.
After moving to Los Angeles in 1997, Tizer attracted the notice of guitarist Chieli Minucci, who asked him to work together on fresh material. With that support he assembled the Lao Tizer Band, also known as TIZER, and released the Minucci-produced Golden Soul in 2001. The album climbed to the Top 50 on the Billboard contemporary jazz chart and earned him the 2002 National Smooth Jazz Award for Best New Artist. He soon expanded his reach by opening shows for Dave Koz and the Rippingtons. In 2007 he issued the studio album Diversify, which included appearances by Minucci, violinist Karen Briggs, saxophonist Andy Suzuki, and additional guests.
For the 2009 release Passages, produced by Minucci and Jeff Kollman, Tizer stepped away from the band to spotlight his piano work. He later resumed touring, playing festivals in Johannesburg, Dubai, Barbados, and other international locations. The live recording TIZER Live arrived in 2010. In 2018 he presented Songs from the Swing House, captured with his band at Conway Studios in Hollywood.
Albums
