Lao Tizer has built a career by refusing to recognize musical boundaries. The Colorado-bred, Los Angeles-based keyboardist, composer, and bandleader has emerged as one of contemporary jazz’s most adventurous voices, blending jazz, world music, rock, funk, soul, and sophisticated orchestration into a sound that is both globally inspired and unmistakably his own. The Lao Tizer Band will perform Saturday, Sept. 5, 2026 at the John Coltrane International Jazz and Blues Festival. Over the years, The band has evolved into an internationally respected fusion jazz ensembles featuring an extraordinary roster of musicians including: vocalist and standout from the Voice Maiya Sykes (Scary Pockets, Billy Idol), platinum-selling American Idol star vocalist, Elliott Yamin, three-time Emmy-winning guitarist, producer and composer, Chieli Minucci, GRAMMY-winning drummer, Gene Coye (Hiromi’s Sonicwonder, Terence Blancherd), Rolling Stone 2022 “Bassist of the Year” nominee, Anthony Crawford (Erykah Badu, Alan Holdsworth) and percussionist extraordinaire, Joey De Leon (Poncho Sanchez, Gordon Goodwin’s Big Phat Band).
RECEPTIVE
Tizer grew up surrounded by an eclectic soundtrack that shaped his expansive musical vision long before he discovered jazz. His parents’ record collection ranged from Ravi Shankar and Native American flutist R. Carlos Nakai to Motown legends, Buddy Holly, Sam Cooke, Janis Joplin, and The Temptations — whose music became an early favorite. Jazz, however, arrived later and changed everything.
That turning point came during his teenage years through a pair of Miles Davis recordings, “Kind of Blue” and “Miles & Quincy Live at Montreux.” The experience opened an entirely new musical universe for Tizer and inspired him to apply his classical piano training to improvisational music. By high school, he was already self-producing solo keyboard albums and developing the artistic identity that would later define his career.
“Instead of going to music school, I just got my butt kicked on the bandstand,” Tizer has said. “There’s no better way to grow than playing with people who push you.”
That approach paid off quickly. At just 19 years old, he formed The Lao Tizer Band, inspired in part by the compositional and improvisational balance of The Pat Metheny Group. The ensemble became a vehicle for Tizer’s increasingly sophisticated musical vision — blending intricate arrangements, rhythmic diversity, and fearless improvisation.
EXPLORATION
Across six albums as a leader, Tizer has continually expanded his musical palette while staying committed to authenticity and artistic individuality. His critically acclaimed 2018 release Songs From The Swinghouse marked a significant creative evolution, introducing vocal performances and imaginative reinterpretations of songs by U2, Led Zeppelin, and Cat Stevens alongside original instrumentals. The album reached the Top 10 on Billboard’s Contemporary Jazz chart and showcased the band’s versatility and crossover appeal.
Tizer pushed those ideas even further with Amplify, a project that blended original vocal compositions with jazz-infused instrumentals and expanded the ensemble’s sonic reach. Featuring new collaborators such as saxophonist and flutist Danny Janklow and acclaimed bassist Anthony Crawford, the album also introduced a horn section, background vocalists, and American Idol standout Elliott Yamin as featured vocalist.
While rooted in jazz, Tizer’s music consistently reaches beyond genre labels. His work reflects a musician equally comfortable with cinematic composition, global rhythms, soulful grooves, and contemporary production. Whether leading an expansive festival stage performance or crafting richly layered studio recordings, Lao Tizer continues to redefine what modern contemporary jazz can sound like in the 21st century.
