Thomas Castonzo

Tom leads several of his own groups including the traditional swing sextet, The Riff Rockets, which features the music of the Benny Goodman Sextet with the instrumentation of vibraphone, clarinet, tenor sax, trumpet, bass, drums. and electric guitar. The Riff Rockets have performed at the legendary jazz club The Green Mill, Green Dolphin Street, Grant Park Starlight Music Series, Chicago Cultural Center, Shedd Aquarium, First Night Evanston, and countless road gigs!

The Tom Castonzo Group, which showcases Tom's original compositions, has performed in clubs and festivals since 2003. Tom has also been an active composer/arranger and session guitarist in Chicago since 2006 and now resides and performs out of his new home base, Fort Wayne, Indiana.
 

Q:If I were to attend one of your performances, what would I hear?
A:Of course you'd hear some drunk guy yelling for "Freebird" but over the top of that, we like to keep things interesting so maybe Stardust followed by a rockin' B3 funky blues instrumental followed by our instrumental arrangement of a 70's soul tune followed by a reggae tune.

Q:What are you working on now?
A:I'm putting the Riff Rockets project together out here in Fort Wayne, IN. I've had the opportunity to play with some fantastic musicians out here which I'm really grateful for! I now have everyone that I need for the Riff Rockets. Other than that, I'm freelancing around town, at local jazz venues mostly.

Q:What was your most recent recording project?
A:I recorded myself at a solo jazz gig with a Zoom H4! Nice unit.

Q:What have been some important gigs or venues you've played?
A:Chicago's famous Green Mill Lounge, Chicago Cultural Center, Tulsa Blues Festival, Old Town School Of Folk Music, Chicago's Roots and Heritage Festival, Chicago's Grant Park, Blues City Cafe in Memphis, First Night Evanston, The Adler Planetarium, Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art, and The Val-Aire Ballroom. And for radio spots, WXRT's Local Anesthetic and Hambone's Blues Hour Show both in Chicago.

Q:So, I heard you moved to Fort Wayne, how's that going?
A:It's great! I took a position as a Web Programmer with Sweetwater Sound in February of '06. I've been a customer of Sweetwater's for years starting back when I was working as a studio musician in Chicago. They had an opening and I was looking for a job in Music Technology. I'm working on putting my band together out here as well as working with some local projects. I've had the opportunity to play with some fantastic musicians out here so I'm really grateful for that. I also just finished doing a guitar demo video for Sweetwater where I show how I use a TS-808 and a RAT pedal together to get some pretty unique overdrive and distortion tones. Check out my guitar demo with a Fender '57 strat reissue with Callaham pickups and bridge/block and a Marshall 1974X hand wired combo amp.

Music begins at 9pm and ends at 12am.
Reservations are not required for dinner so come down and have a martini and listen to some good jazz, blues, and a few Christmas tunes!

Club Soda
235 E Superior St
Fort Wayne, IN 46802
(260) 426-3442
 
December 1, 2007
Christmas Recording Session
Tom will be arranging/performing a selection of Christmas favorites with vocalist Yvonne Stokes, organist Eric Clancy, and drummer Carl Bleke. Songs will include: The Prayer, The Christmas Song, Merry Christmas Baby,and Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas
 
November 21, 2007
Duo Performance
Duo performance with bassist Patrick Gillan in Coldwater, Michigan. 7-10pm