American Blues News - "Dedicated to the promotion and celebration of the Blues."

(Washington DC) I have written here many times about the talent level in the Washington DC area. The area is not lacking for good musicians, and Tony Fazio is one of the reasons that the DC area is so respected in the music business.

It's hard to say where you might catch a show of Tony's. It seems he fills in for so many different bands, including the Stacy Brooks band. His versality comes through while he plays with different bands and their different styles.

It's really hard to put a label on what style best fits his music. He is first of all, a good blues guitarist, but you can hear the influences of some of the great guitarists of the 60's like Alvin Lee, Eric Clapton and others. I personally have a strong liking for these musicians talents, but I also feel that when you combine those skills with the blues stylings of BB King, Freddy King, and Stevie Ray Vaughan, you have the perfect music. Ok, so it's just MY opinion, but I think this way of thinking is fairly common in the blues world these days.


It's fun to watch a guitarist like Tony in small venues, as you can get up close and personal with his music. He's not a flashy guitaist ... he doesn't smash guitars, jump off amplifliers, or play feedback through his amplifier (at least I haven't seen that yet). It's refreshing to see someone who just plays the guitar flawlessly without trying to cover up for lack of skills with light shows and unnecessary flash. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the flash, feedback, jumping off amplifiers etc of artists like AC/DC etc, but they are at a different level generally than local musicians.

Tony has spent many years touring with highly regarded musician Memphis Gold. I've had the opportunity to see Tony jam with Memphis, and it was quite a treat. Tony is more than capable of hanging with Memphis in these jam sessions, and I would love to see Tony let go during these jams. Tony's slashing rock licks, combined with his obvious love for the blues makes him a totally enjoyable musician to watch.



Catch a show of his when you get a chance. He is playing in the DC area on a regular basis, and you can catch up on his regular communication with his friends and fans on facebook http://www.facebook.com/home.php?#!/tonygfazio?ref=ts He gives his fans regular updates, and it is easy to follow his shows by reading his updates.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email me at virginiabluesman@gmail.com