Al performing on stage with group of musicians

Resumé

2014-Present

Musical Director for VANEESE THOMAS Soul/Blues Artist. Vaneese has released four CD’s of Soul and Blues music that celebrate the rich musical tradition of her hometown, Memphis, TN, and her musical family, her father Rufus Thomas, and her siblings Carla and Marvell. Participating in these recordings has been a great joy. The list of great musicians joining Vaneese on these records is long- Will Lee, Shawn Pelton, Charles Hodges, Tash Neal, Marc Franklin, Robbie Kondor, Katie Jacoby, Carla Thomas, Lisa Fischer, and many more.

Highlights:

  • Baden Blues Festival May 2015.
  • Live appearance on Good Day NY August 2015.
  • Lucerne Blues Festival November 2015.
  • Lugano Blues to Bop Festival August 2016.
  • Halloran Center, Memphis TN September 2017 with Carla Thomas.
  • CD Release Show for “Down Yonder” with guest Tash Neal at Brother Vic’s at The Heights in South Salem, NY September 2019.
  • Showcase in Memphis in conjunction with the IBC, playing with the Memphis band featuring Marc Franklin, Jackie Clarke and Steve Potts January 2020.
  • “Down Yonder” received 4 Independent Blues Award nominations June 2020.
  • Performance at 2022 BMA’s in Memphis.

February 2018 - April 2019

Al held the Guitar 1 chair at Kinky Boots on Broadway from February of 2018 until it’s closing in April 2019.

Supporting Singer/Actors Brendon Urie(Panic! At The Disco), Wayne Brady, Billy Porter, David Cook(American Idol), Jake Shears(The Scissor Sisters), Connor Maynard, Tyler Glenn(Neon Trees), Kirstin Maldonado(Pentatonix), and Tiki Barber(The NY Giants). A pleasure to be in the pit with headphones hearing these performers and the rest of the great cast delivering night after night.

1990 - 2015

Member of BEN E. KING BAND. Ben E. King was the legendary singer of such hits as “Stand By Me”, “Spanish Harlem”, “Save the Last Dance For Me”, “This Magic Moment”, and many more.

In addition to playing guitar with Ben, Al also was his Musical Director from March of ’96 until his passing in 2015. Work has included gigs at many venues nationally and internationally, ranging from intimate clubs to 15,000+ seat outdoor concerts, and national television broadcasts.

Highlights:

  • Mt Fuji Jazz Festival 2004.
  • Osaka and Fukuoka Blue Notes in Japan, Summer of 1993.
  • Live on The Today Show (NBC) 1991. Taped performance Friday Night Videos (NBC) 1992.
  • Lou Rawls Parade of Stars Telethon taped at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, NY 1992.
  • Arkansas Inaugural Ball for President Clinton in Washington, D.C., January of 1993.
  • Concerts with the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra March 1996, the San Jose Symphony & the Columbus Symphony Orchestra July, 1996, and dozens more from ’97 on, performing Ben E’s hits with arrangements for 62 pieces. Amazingly, the arrangements were done by Stan Applebaum, who also did the original recordings in the late ’50s and early ’60s!

2021 - Present:

ACT of CT (Regional Theatre Company in Ridgefield, CT).

Guitarist for 2024 Production of Kinky Boots.

Guitarist for 2022 Production of Jesus Christ Superstar.

Guitarist for 2021 Production of Smokey Joe’s Cafe.

2023 - Present:

Wonder Trio!
Guitarist for this organ trio celebrating the music of Stevie Wonder featuring Organist Ed Alstrom and Drummer Bobby Deitch.

June 1995 - Present:

Sub-guitarist on over 1000 performances of Broadway Productions including the hit shows “A Beautiful Noise-The Neil Diamond Musical”, “Beetlejuice the Musical”, “Ain’t Too Proud-The Life and Times of The Temptations”, “Beautiful The Carole King Musical”, “Kinky Boots”, “Something Rotten”, “Motown The Musical”, “Smokey Joe’s Cafe,” “Aida”, “Hairspray”, “Footloose”, “Saturday Night Fever”, “Rocky Horror Show”, “Little Shop of Horrors” “Legally Blonde”, “Catch Me If You Can”, “Jesus Christ Superstar”, “Seussical” and “Brooklyn”.

1990 - 2000

Leader of The Al Orlo Band. Performances in NY Metro area clubs, including Zanzibar and Le Bar Bat in Manhattan. The band played original guitar oriented instrumental music and featured many top NY jazz/fusion musicians, including George Whitty and Rodney Holmes (of the Brecker Brothers), Zach Danziger (Michel Camilo), Pete Levin and Tim Hegarty (Gil Evans Orchestra), Ned Mann (The Mann brothers), Rob Aries (John Scofield), Leo Traversa (Astrid Gilberto), Andy Korn and Danny Obadia (Aftertouch), Aaron Heick (Chaka Khan, David Letterman), and Cornelius Bumpus (Steely Dan, The Doobie Brothers). Also, on occasion, the line-up included vocalists Tommy McDonnell (The Blues Brothers), and James “Crabbe” Robinson (Jeff Lorber).

Al also performed at Sam Ash Music Guitar Clinics in NY, and at the Winter Namm Show in Anaheim, CA, as an endorser of La Bella Guitar Strings.

May 1997

Guitarist on 4 city Tour for The Manhattan Transfer. Played in Chicago, Reno, Las Vegas, and Tucson with the preeminent Jazz/Pop vocal group.

1993 - Present

Orlo & Hegarty
Performances and recordings with my good friend Tim Hegarty, a superb Jazz Saxophonist.

1987 - Present

Barbara Lee George, singer/songwriter/guitarist.
Earth Day Anthem, video seen over 100K times.

2010 - Present

Member of Vincent Pastore’s Gangster Squad. Vin is best known as “Big Pussy” from the mega HBO hit “The Sopranos”. He’s also been a friend since 1981 when he was the owner of the legendary club, The Crazy Horse in New Rochelle, NY.
Appearances at The Cutting Room in NY, Daryls House in Pawling, NY, the 360 Bar at Resorts Casino in Queens, NY, and many other venues in the NY, NJ, CT Tri-state area.

2011 - Present

Member of Jazmo, an eclectic original band led by songwriter Jeff Lasdon. Appearances at The Cutting Room, and Iridium.

2009 - 2013

NENAD BACH BAND, songwriter/vocalist/pianist.

Appearances The Towne Crier(Pawling, NY), The Mercury Lounge, NY.

Concert at Lisinski Hall, Zagreb November 30th, 2012. Recorded for national Television Broadcast in Croatia.

Appearance in the film “Everything Is Forever”, a documentary by filmmaker Vic Zimet about Nenad’s journey as an artist from Croatia to America.

2005 - 2016

Performed with Martha Reeves and the Vandellas.

Appearances at Cotton Club Japan & BB Kings.

2013 - 2014

Performed dates with Jay & The Americans.

2010-Present-Performances with these NY based bands and artists:

Blues Corruption, a bar band of great guys and great fun.

Paul Connors Trio, guest performer with organist Paul Connors and drummer Jon Doty, at Jazz at the Lodge in Ossining NY.

Funkasaurus Rex, a Funk Fusion band led by Saxophonist Joey Berkley featuring drummer Chris Parker.

Grace Doty Band, a talented singer/songwriter/guitarist.

The Bensen-Scott Big Band, fun band in the tradition of Basie, Kenton, Maynard…

A Nordic Sound Big Band, plays the challenging arrangements of composer/arranger/trombonist Jens Wendelboe

Top Shelf, a great R&B pop cover band led by Steve Wexler, featuring top NY vocalists and musicians. Appearances at The Cutting Room, NY.