Though comfortable in all forms of our diverse
American musical heritage, Washboard Chaz Leary has achieved
dominance and international recognition in acoustic country
blues.
He has played professionally with an impressive array of
world-class musicians, both on the stage and in the recording
studio. His reputation as a consummate musician and performer
- along with a delightful stage presence has brought him
countless excellent reviews and wide popularity.
Originally from New York, Chaz lived in Boulder, CO from
1975-1997, and played with a wide variety of bands including
the legendary Ophelia Swing Band, Prosperity
Jazz Band, BBQ Bob & Washboard Chaz, Judy Roderick and
the Forebears, and Bleecker St.
During this time, Chaz was a two time finalist
in KBCO's Boulder songwriting contest.
Upon arrival in New Orleans in December 2000, Chaz established
himself as a seasoned musician, forming his Washboard
Chaz Blues Trio with Ben Maygarden on harmonica and Roberto
Luti on slide guitar. Shortly afterward, Chaz joined Alex
McMurray and Matt
Perrinne on sousaphone to form the Tin Men, one
of New Orleans' most unique and recognized bands.
Since then,
Chaz has also played with the cream of New Orleans musicians,
including the New Orleans Nightcrawlers,
The Iguanas, Tuba Fats, Royal Fingerbowl, and The Jazz Vipers.
Chaz's talents are becoming synonymous with New Orleans and
he was recently featured in a 2005 New Orleans commercial.
He is currently playing a small part in the upcoming CBS
movie titled "Just Like the Ones", about miraculous
snow storms that hit all over the country, co-starring Mary
Tylor Moore and Poppy Montgomery.
Chaz has shared the stage with Bonnie
Raitt, John Hammond, Taj Mahal, Anders Osborne and Corey
Harris among others.
He has opened for many blues greats, including Muddy
Waters, Robert Cray, Doc Watson and Keb Mo.
Chaz's musical talents
have been featured on over 70 recordings, including John
Hammond's 1998 Grammy nominated "Long
as I have You"
He has played festivals and clubs from coast to coast, including
the Bottom Line in New York City, the New
Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, Telluride Blue Grass
Festival, the AmericanMusic Hall in San Francisco and Red
Rocks Amphitheatre in Denver.
He has played successful International tours, with his band
Bleecker St. in Germany, in Holland
and Germany with David Booker, and in Japan with Chris Mule.
His talents extend from washboard, congas and other hand
percussion, drum kit, lead and background vocals, to songwriting
and arranging.
Chaz has also developed a strong program of percussion workshops
both for adults and for children, as well as having performed
for Blues in the Schools programs in Colorado, Kansas and
Missouri.
To enhance your performance in the studio and/or live, Washboard
Chaz is a guaranteed crowd-pleasing professional.
The Washboard Chaz Blues Trio
The Washboard Chaz Blues
Trio is a New Orleans band that has rapidly become a fan
favorite. They
perform acoustic blues, covering the Piedmont finger-picking
style as well as Delta and Chicago-style
blues. The group mixes in originals and Western Swing as
well.
Consisting of Washboard Chaz on
washboard and vocals, Andy J. Forest on harmonica and vocals
and Roberto Luti on guitar, the trio has
amazed audiences with its full sound and the ability to
get the crowd up and dancing.
The band will be on tour in Italy with Max
de Bernardi on guitar,
a famous italian guitar who played with Washboard in Italy
for three years. (click
on the red name to know more about them!)
Their three
recordings, 2002’s “Courtyard
Blues”,
2004’s “Dog Days” and 2006’s “Hard
Year Blues”, capture the
authenticity of their sound.
The band has played the 2003-2005
French Quarter Festivals in New Orleans,
and the 2005 New Orleans Jazz and
Heritage Festival. The
band was awarded OffBeat Magazine’s Best
Emerging Blues Band trophy for 2004.
The numerous reviews
and articles written about the group have
confirmed what their fans already knew: This is one hot
band. Check them out!
