Flying Home
Syracuse, New York, United States
Music
Press
“Flying Home creates music with wisdom, beauty, and passion.”
--Mark Bialczak, Syracuse Post Standard
“Tom Bronzetti…knocks your socks off with his effortless and imaginative virtuosic riffing; watching him enjoy improvising with his band mates is like seeing Derek Jeter skipping around the bases after hitting a home run.”
--Johanna Keller, The Good Life CNY Magazine
“Virtuosic guitarist Tom Bronzetti explores his remarkably wide vocabulary of melodies. He’ll play a fast-flying riff reminiscent of Wes Montgomery, then follow it up with a snippet of your favorite nursery rhyme… Flying Home brings more than wisdom and passion to their live performance. They share their deep sense of love and friendship, an aspect of jazz sometimes overlooked. The audience didn’t hesitate to cheer or yell if they liked what they were hearing…
--Gene Wexler, Syracuse University Journalist
“The cats in Flying Home show plenty of pluck and professionalism. The rhythm section, is a dream-come-true for any bandleader.”
--Russ Tarby, Syracuse Eagle
“This is old school jazz with a fresh understated discipline”
--Walt Shepperd, Syracuse Eagle
“Flying Home Soars In Debut”
Article written by Russ Tarby, Syrause Eagle
Guitarist Tom Bronzetti’s newest combo made a stunning debut Feb. 5, celebrating a CD release party at Jazz Central, in front of an SRO crowd of about 140.
Bronzetti, the ultra-talented 24-year-old guitarist, named the sextet Flying Home, and its initial disc is called First Contact.
Alicia Bronzetti, Tom’s sister, sweetly sings tunes such as “Almost Like Being in Love” and “Bye-Bye Blackbird,” but the band also excels instrumentally. Sometimes they take an old standard and supercharge it. You’ve never heard “I Found a New Baby” the way these guys play it! Smokin!
Paying humble respects to his primary influence, Indianapolis jazz guitarist Wes Montgomery, Tom Bronzetti fully channels Wes’ spirit by picking “Fried Pies.” Bronzetti gets so into it, he often vocalizes randomly over his own creative guitar lines.
Like Montgomery, Bronzetti revels in octaves, single-note playing and block chords voiced directly below the melody.
The cats in Flying Home show plenty of pluck and professionalism. The rhythm section, a dream- come-true for any bandleader, features bassist Mike Robbins; drummer Greg Evans and perhaps the most versatile percussionist on the planet, Josh Dekaney.
- Russ Tarby, Syracuse Eagle
Discography
First Contact recorded 1/05/10
Photos
Bio
“Meet the Band”
Tom Bronzetti – Guitar
Tom Bronzetti was born in Syracuse, NY on June 3rd, 1985. He comes from a very musical family; his sister, Alicia Bronzetti is one of the World’s Great Jazz Vocalists of our time. Bronzetti started music at the age of 9, playing classical French horn in the schools orchestra. In grade school, he learned how to read music and the importance of playing in a group.
Bronzetti started learning guitar relatively late, at the age of 17 by listening to and learning the recordings of his idol, guitarist Wes Montgomery. He joined up with band members Andrew Carroll and Greg Evans and the age of 17 and they’ve become extremely close. He made a decision to play music professionally and spent most of his time on his instrument and was gigging professional a few years after.
Bronzetti attended Ithaca College to study with guitarist Steve Brown from 2003-2007. Since then, he has been playing professionally in the bands of Jane Monheit and Hanna Richardson.
He recently recorded his first album with his band “Flying Home” in 2010 entitled First Contact.
He has performed with such notables as Vinnie Falcone, The Drifters, Anwar Robinson ,Joe Piscopo, Eddie Mekka, the Syracuse Symphony, John Allred, Charlie Bertini, Ronnie Leigh, Steve Brown, Nancy Kelly, Cookie Coogan, Rick Montalbano, Mike Melito, Bob Sneider, John Stowell, Phil Flanigan, Jim Mullen, and Dino Losito.
He formed Flying Home to bring his family together.
Mike Robbins – Acoustic Bass
Mike Robbins is a string bassist currently living in Syracuse, NY. This past spring Mike completed an associate’s degree in music at Onondaga Community College, where he studied both electric and string bass with Syracuse Symphony bassist Darryl Pugh.
While at OCC, Mike performed in jazz and latin ensembles, the latter performed twice at the Landmark Theater. He also performed with the percussion ensemble, playing with percussionists Jeff Moore and Rob Bridge. Mike has played at the Syracuse Jazz Festival, Hobart William Smith Guitar Festival, and Oswego’s Jazz Guitar and more Festival where he had the opportunity to play with guitar legends Gene Bertoncini, and Frank Vignola.
Mike has performed at Tournedos at the Inn on Broadway, the Landmark Theater, Rochester's Park Ave. Festival, Taste of Cortland Festival, the Ohm Lounge, Westcott Theater, Mezzanotte Lounge, Downtown Manhattans, as well as private events at Syracuse University, Syracuse Technology Gardens, and Amanda Padgham Photography Studios. In February of 2009 Mike began playing with the Onondaga Civic Symphony Orchestra. Mike has been studying with world-renowned jazz bassist Phil Flanigan.
Greg Evans – Drum set
Greg Evans, a native of Syracuse, NY has been on the professional music scene for more than half his life.
His drive, positive attitude and abilities on the drum set have given him access into multiple aspects of the industry.
Greg’s playing can be heard on studio recordings, at live clubs, and venues as well as festivals.
His influence expands beyond performing, as he is a co-founder of Remington Rock Camp and is also a co-owner of Blue Collar Music LLC.
Andrew Carroll - Piano
Andrew Carroll, a native of Syracuse, NY has also been on the professional music scene for more than half his life.
Being a multi-instrumentalist; he plays piano, flute, bagpipes, guitar and acoustic bass, but his first love is jazz piano. Andrew began playing classically when he was four and started jazz lessons in fourth grade. He has been a member of the 315 All-Stars that won the Essentially Ellington Competition in 2001 and was a finalist in 2002 and 2003 and won an Outstanding Piano Soloist Award.
Andrew was named “Best Jazz Pianist” by the New York State School Music Association. Since then, he has performed with Burt Bacharach.
Josh Dekaney - Percussion
Originally from Houston, Texas, Joshua Dekaney has played percussion and/or drums with artists Dave Valentin, Peter Cetera, Kaïssa, Jimmy Haslip, Anwar Robinson, Ashley Cox and Aretha Franklin. Playing everything from Americana to Jazz to World Music, Dekaney has accompanied modern dance artists Jawole Zollar and Maia Claire Garrison and worked with composers Michael Daughtery, Andy Waggoner, as well as animator Heath Hanlin. Dekaney is an Affiliate Artist of Percussion at Syracuse University, where he teaches drumset and hand percussion, leads Samba Laranja: The SU Brazilian Ensemble, and directs the drum line of the SU marching band.
Joshua has traveled extensively throughout Brazil studying folk and popular music. Dekaney exclusively plays Paiste cymbals, sounds, and gongs, Pearl percussion and drums, Vic Firth sticks, and Evans drumheads.
Influences include Wes Montgomery, Charlie Christian, Paul Chambers, Red Garland, Wynton Kelly, Nat King Cole, Philly Joe Jones, Steve Gadd
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