LaFuSo

Artist Information

Biography

Theo Reynolds (vocals, keys) is one of the Midwest's most talented singer/songwriters and keyboard players. Originally from Omaha, Nebraska, he now lives and performs in the Southwest Missouri and Northwest Arkansas area. He has appeared with numerous groups across the USA including Percy Sledge. He has recorded as a studio musician on both coasts. He was personally trained in music as a child from some of the leading players in the industry such as Chick Corea and Herbie Hancock, (NO JOKE!) The man is an extraordinary talent with a remarkable voice and a passion for entertaining.

Vocalist Liz Lottmann’s high-energy blues and R&B performances have earned her the respect of musicians and audiences alike. She has worked her way though the blues and jazz clubs of the U.S., Europe, Japan, South and Central America and Canada. While touring with her own bands, she also frequently sang with Donn McMinn’s Memphis Blues Revue, whose players included Jeff "Stick" Davis and Billy Earheart of Amazing Rhythm Aces, and Willie Hall of The Blues Brothers. She has shared the stage and jammed with artists such as Taj Mahal, the Nighthawks, ZZ Top, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Dizzy Gillespie, George Benson, and Spyro Gyra. Liz is proud to be born-and-raised in Northeast Arkansas. While still in high school there, she began composing and performing her own special brand of "barbed-wire" folk. She was a solo artist at Memphis coffeehouses and soon attracted the attention of Jud Phillips, who produced an album of her original songs at Sun Studios in midtown Memphis. When Jerry Lee Lewis heard her album, he encouraged her to reach out toward the blues. At that time, Furry Lewis, the legendary "country bluesman," was working the Memphis area, and each time they’d run into each other, Liz pestered him to show her a few licks on guitar. Furry’s brief lessons allowed her to glimpse the backbone of the blues, and she’s never lost sight of it. Her latest CD release can be found at www.cdbaby.com/lizlottmann. Liz was awarded a Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 by the Northwest Arkansas Music Awards organization. She has served on the board of the Ozark Blues Society of Northwest Arkansas since 2003, and was president of that board from 2006-2010.

Juergen Lottmann (percussion) moved to the U.S. in 1988 from Jugenheim, Germany, a little town located between Frankfurt and Heidelberg. He lived for some time in Nashville, Tennessee and now lives in Bella Vista, Arkansas. He studied percussion in 1982-84 at the Ralf Moufang Percussion School in Darmstadt, Germany. In 1992 he produced and appeared in an instructional videotape for congas and bongos, which is distributed throughout the U.S., Mexico and Canada. He has also taught percussion at the University of Arkansas/Fayetteville and at Tahlequah, Oklahoma. Juergen has toured with country artist John Anderson, and has done a lot of studio work in the last 15 years. He recently formed LaFuSo, and says he hopes everyone gets a lot of enjoyment out of it.

Ben Harris (lead guitar) is a versatile guitarist whose playing reveals a wide range of influences and styles. An Arkansas native, Ben grew up playing Rock and Blues and later studied Jazz and Classical music in college. Ben holds two degrees in music; a Bachelor’s degree from UALR in Little Rock, AR, and a Master’s degree in Music Composition from the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville. Ben is currently an Associate Professor of Music at Northwest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville where he teaches Music Theory and Ear Training, and also serves as the director of the NWACC Jazz Ensemble and the NWACC Rock Band.

John Hines (bass) began playing piano at age six then trumpet at age nine. He bought his first guitar when he was 15 and his first bass when he was 17. Growing up in a house filled with classical and jazz music greatly influenced John's love for all kinds of music. The study of music and those who have created it has been a life-long source of great pleasure. As a bassist, his greatest influences have been Geddy Lee, Flea, Rocco Prestia & Victor Wooten.Before moving to Northwest Arkansas, John also taught bass to budding musicians. He has played many hot spots in Houston, Texas as a member of Total Strangers. He still collaborates with the band as a song writer and performer. Total Strangers has an album due out soon. Check them out on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Total-Strangers/291134268775?ref=ts

Tom Bowen (drums) began his musical career at the age of 9 years old when he was offered the opportunity to study drums in grade school. His musical interests diversified when he became a member of the middle school’s jazz band and the Danbury Community Orchestra in Danbury, CT and then into the award winning Marching Band at Newtown High School in Newtown, CT. The Marching Band received first place awards in state competitions and first place recognition in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade in NYC which later led to an invitation to participate in the Rose Bowl Parade in California. The Marching Band also toured several European Countries giving award winning concerts throughout. He was also a founding member of a local band, Jazzmen Buddha and played with the band Tweed at the New Haven, CT hot-spot, Toad’s Place. In 2004, he played bass guitar at the Reflection Pool in Washington, DC for the Falun Dafa Light and Peace concert. Though most of his years have been spent playing the drums and other percussion instruments, he also plays the guitar, bass and piano. In more recent years, he took over the Peaks Island Rocks project teaching high school students music as well as playing in various line-ups in southern Maine. Tom has given private music lessons to a variety of students, on several different instruments for over 15 years. Tom currently resides with his wife Robyn in North West Arkansas.

Achim Enssle (rhythm guitar) joined his first band in 1975 in his hometown in Germany -- four guys from school, but not really a school band. In1979 we added a bass player which was very much needed. That same year we started playing some gigs in the former Yugoslavian Ski Resorts, then in 1985 we toured Germany with Casey Jones and the New Governors. After a one-year break he joined a seven-piece party band which played locally, and then another band in 1990. That band recorded their first album in ‘94 and moved to America in 1998. Here he is focused more on recording and songwriting, which is still a passion.

Chris Kyzer (trumpet) began playing trumpet in the 7th grade, after he heard the William Tell Overture on an old 33 record. He has never quite recovered from the experience and has played the trumpet ever since, except for a short stint doubling as a french horn player in mid-high school and tuba player in junior high. He has been a part of multiple groups over the years, but his most memorable achievements were sharing the stage with The Scabs, The Dirty Dozen Brass Band, and Maynard Ferguson. He attended The University of Arkansas and was a member of the Marching Razorbacks and the Hogwild Band. He continues to be a Razorback fan. He has volunteered his time teaching young brass students in the Oklahoma City area and continues to enjoy sharing his skill and knowledge as time allows.

Chad Smith (alto and tenor sax) started playing saxophone in 5th grade and was first introduced to Jazz in the middle school jazz ensemble. He was instantly drawn to play jazz saxophone and played both Baritone and Lead Alto Saxophone through high school in Grove OK. He was lead alto for the 1991 Oklahoma Music Educators Association All State Band. Chad continued to play with big bands through college at the University of Oklahoma and Northeastern Oklahoma A&M College and graduated from the University of Arkansas in 1999 with his Bachelors in Mechanical Engineering. After college, he moved to Baytown Texas to work as a refining engineer for ExxonMobil. After building his career for a few years and sitting in with bands in South Texas, Chad moved back to Northwest Arkansas to start a family, began playing in local NWA bands. Chad currently is lead alto for the Jack Terry Big Band and sits in with other area big bands, to fill in time between LaFuSo gigs. Chad is the owner of Continuous Improvement Solutions, a nationwide consulting business and Vice President of a start-up energy efficiency company, IB Technology Group. Chad enjoys playing music, fishing, sailing and flying. He has been married to his lovely bride and best friend Jennifer for nearly 16 years. They have a 6 year old daughter who loves music and sings non-stop.

An active performing musician, arranger, and educator, Michael Post (trombonei in LaFuSo) is a multi-instrumentalist who plays yuba, trombone, electric bass guitar, and keyboards. Michael is working on a master's degree in Tuba Performance at the University of Arkansas under Dr. Benjamin Pierce. Michael serves as a Razorback Bands Graduate Assistant and works closely with the University of Arkansas athletic bands, including the Razorback Marching Band and Hogwild Bands, as well as concert bands.

Perhaps it seems strange for a Presbyterian minister to be a member of a funk band, but Art Fogartie (baritone and alto sax) has been playing all kinds of music most of his life. He began his love affair with the saxophone when he was 8. After 4 years at the University of North Carolina where he was the lead alto in the Jazz Lab Ensemble, he played with and led a big band while he earned his Divinity Degree at Princeton. Art is the pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Bentonville and plays locally with the Jack Terry Big Band. He regularly substitutes with other area bands. A student of the legendary Jon R. Smith (founder of the White Trash Horns and an original member of the Edgar Winter Band), Art enjoys teaching sax and playing golf.

Instrumentation

Theo Reynolds - Vocals, keys
Liz Lottmann - Vocals
Juergen Lottmann - Percussion
John Hines - Bass
Tom Bowen - Drums
Achim Enssle - Rhythm Guitar
Ben Harris - Lead Guitar
Chris Kyzer - Trumpet
Art Fogartie - Baritone & Alto Saxophone
Mike Post - Trombone
Chad Smith - Alto & Tenor Saxophone

Discography

Liz Lottmann, "Memphis Revisited" -- www.cdbaby.com/lizlottmann

Official Website

http://www.lafuso.net

Links

• Facebook

Audio

• Wanna Take You Higher
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• Superstition
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Video

LaFuSo - I Want To Take You Higher

Photo Gallery

Press

• An Artist At Heart [+ Show ]
  

  Chromed Out Motorcycle Magazine asked me if I would write another article for them after Bikes Blues...Chromed Out Motorcycle Magazine asked me if I would write another article for them after Bikes Blues & BBQ and I happily agreed. The problem though was what was I going to write about. As I was lying in bed just a few days before the deadline, I was beginning to think there wasn't going to be an article. I just wasn't coming up with anything. ... I started thinking that night abouat what impressed me most at Bikes Blues & BBQ and that's when it hit me -- the band LaFuSo. ... I know with all the things going on at Bikes Blues & BBQ you might not have expected me to pick a band that plays Latin, Funk and Soul, but for me personally this was the highlight of the rally.
  
  There was one musician that impressed me more than any other and his name was Theo Reynolds. ... If anyone could be said to have funk and soul in their bones it was this guy. Theo is and was probably one of the most talented musicians I had ever had the pleaseure of meeting. ... Like old friends that haven't seen each other in years, when our eyes met I saw that amazing smile come on his face and knew this was one band I didn't want to miss. Theo was ... doing what he was meant to do and it didn't take long until he had the whole crowd up and dancing.

Setlist

Latin, Funk, Soul, R&B cover songs such as:
SHAKY GROUND
PLAY THAT FUNKY MUSIC
LET THE CHILDREN PLAY
TOO HOT TO TROT
TAKING IT TO THE STREETS
PICK UP THE PIECES
INNER CITY BLUES
WHAT'S GOIN' ON
SING A SIMPLE SONG
SUPERSTITION
THE LETTER
BLACK MAGIC WOMAN
634-5789
TELL ME SOMETHING GOOD
SING A SIMPLE SONG
PAPA WAS A ROLLING STONE
GOT TO GIVE IT UP
PASS THE PEAS
SOUL SACRIFICE
CUT THE CAKE
SOUL MAN
SOUL FINGER
HEARD IT THROUGH THE GRAPEVINE
TELL MAMA
HIGHER GROUND
GET UP OF THAT THANG
BRICK HOUSE
I"M GONNA TAKE YOU HIGHER

Basic Requirements

Calendar