Alex Skolnick Trio, (aka Skol Trio), is a New York based group consisting of guitar, upright bass and drums. This may not seem unusual at first, but upon closer inspection, there are a few things, which set it apart from the many other trios performi [+]Alex Skolnick Trio, (aka Skol Trio), is a New York based group consisting of guitar, upright bass and drums. This may not seem unusual at first, but upon closer inspection, there are a few things, which set it apart from the many other trios performing in the New York area. One is that the group is fronted by guitarist Alex Skolnick.
In 1992, after several years as a heavy metal guitar hero with Testament, Alex decided to risk it all and devote his life to the process of music closest to his heart: improvisation. Eventually, he ended up in New York City, pursuing a BFA in jazz from New School University (received June 2001). It was here that he met two young twentysomethings: Matt Zebroski (a Pittsburgh Pa. Native who studied with Roger Humphries and Billy Hart) and John Graham Davis (who, in addition to being a working bassist, also runs live sound for the likes of Michael Brecker, John Pattitucci and others).
Another thing that sets this group apart is their choice of repertoire: Skol Trio is performing music that has never before been done in the acoustic trio context. After years of absorbing the songs of the traditional repertoire (such as "All The Things You Are" "Green Dolphin St. etc..."), Alex wondered would happen if he were to take some of the hard rock tunes he listened to in his youth, reharmonize them and open them up to improvisation? Would it be possible to take these songs out of the arena rock shows of the 70's and 80's, and move them into smoky lounges and nightclubs in the new millennium? The result was a most interesting creation: An early 80's hit song by Scorpions turned into a delicate Bossa Nova; a hard rock anthem by Kiss became a tour de force of swing, funk and Latin. And this was just the beginning. The group has gone on to do arrangements of Black Sabbath, Aerosmith, Ozzy Osbourne, and the Who which, along with a couple of Alex's original compositions, resulted in their debut recording "Goodbye To Romance: Standards For A New Generation (Skol Productions)."
Since then, the Trio have toured throughout the country to packed houses in such places as Cleveland, Boston, Chicago, San Francisco, Texas and New York City. They've recently appeared on XM Sattelitte Radio and Fox Morning News in Cleveland and they have
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