New CD Release “First Take” available December 2009

Chet Catallo Productions, Inc. 147 Deerfield Drive Rochester, NY 14609 Email: chetsguitar@gmail.com Telephone: 585.482.6147

Internationally acclaimed guitarist-composer-producer and 6-time Grammy nominee Chet Catallo is a member of the Jazz Hall of Fame and an original member of the contemporary jazz innovating pioneers Spyro Gyra from 1978-1984.

When only in his 20s, Catallo was responsible for writing some of the group's gold and platinum popular hits like “Café Amore,” “Lovin' You,” “It Doesn't Matter” and many more. Chet headlined as a member of Spyro Gyra at jazz and music festivals all over the world, including Carnegie Hall, Radio City Music Hall, and Newport, playing on the same bill as legends George Benson, Miles Davis and Herbie Hancock. This CD set features musicians who played with Chet since he and Eli Konikoff left Spyro Gyra at the end of 1984.

At that same time, Chet & Eli brought Ralph Ortiz back here from Puerto Rico to join the new band, Chet Catallo & the Cats, along with the late Matt Greeley (percussionist and vocalist from Chuck Leval's band Sea Level), Andy Calabrese and Jim Richmond. A short time later the band added Vince Ercolamento and Steve Curry (Eli Konikoff was recovering from near-fatal accidental injuries}. Adding percussionist Charlie Curran completed the sound Chet had envisioned from the start.

Chet is constantly composing and creating new material. Not a big fan of the “jazz fusion” or “smooth jazz” monikers, Chet feels his music is not just jazz. It is much more adventurous, combining Latin influences with funk, blues, R&B and many pop elements. This long-awaited CD set reflects Chet's commitment to maintaining the purity of his versatile style.

I'm showing thewhole spectrum of where I'm coming from in my music ... keeping things fresh, spontaneous and always inspired!

First Take is the title of Chet Catallo & the Cats new and long-awaited release. The phrase “first take” refers to studio musicians going into a recording session and getting it right, hot and inspired the first time.

And that's exactly what we did! After hearing the tracks from the live recording, the title was obvious. Top notch playing from everyone! First Take was recorded live and mixed on the spot by my long-time friend and engineer, Larry Swist, who has recorded and engineered albums for Spyro Gyra, Chuck Mangione, Kenny Loggins, Larry Carlton and so many more. This was a first take for Larry as well. Great job! This new CD set is being released worldwide online and in stores by Chet Catallo Productions, Inc., the production, publishing and record label for Chet Catallo and the Cats.

© Howard Koft 2009

Chet Catallo, guitars Andy Calabrese, keyboards Steve Curry, drums Peter Chwazik, bass Vince Ercolamento, alto, tenor and soprano saxophones, sax solos Jim Richmond, tenor saxophone section parts and vocals Charlie Curran, percussion

Photography:

© Howard Koft 2009