ReviewsOn Just Play
Originally from Connecticut, Craig Pilo graduated from the University of North Texas College of Music in 1995 with a Bachelors Degree in Music. In the fall of 1996 he moved to Los Angeles, where he resides today. In 1997 Craig did the fall tour with famed trumpeter Maynard Ferguson to promote his "One More Trip To Birdland" CD. Craig attributes his early success to some of his private teachers, Alan Dawson, Ed Soph, Dave Weckl, and Jeff Hamilton.
From 1998 until 2002 Craig worked around Los Angeles and maintained a regular schedule with Player ("Baby Come Back"), a few local artists, and did sessions for TV, Film, and local artists' CD’s. A partial list of credits from this period includes: Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Sex and the City, CSI Miami, Malcolm in the Middle, Sabrina, The Osbornes, and the movies Basic, Dirty Dancing II: Havana Nights. Some of the artists include: Billy Vera, Malo, Heatwave, Blue Magic, Deniece Williams, Don Rickles, The Delfonics, Tommy Roe, Chris Montez, and Danny Weis (Iron Butterfly).
In the Spring of 2002 Craig began playing regularly with Pat Boone. He did several tours over the next few years and recorded for a few of Pats CD’s. Craig played on the title cut “Under God” for the re-release of Pat’s American Glory CD released in 2002. In 2004 Craig broke away from his regular gigs and began playing with Angela Carole Brown and did a few tours with the Red Elvises. Each project produced a CD that included Craig on the drums. The Red Elvises recorded and released a live CD from one of the concerts in Russia, and Angela Carole Brown recorded and released The Slow Club. In the summer of 2005 Craig rejoined Pat Boone for his tour of Ireland. And in the summer of 2006 Craig played the Playboy Jazz Festival with Angela Carole Brown and The Slow Club Quartet.
In November of 2005, Craig joined "Rock N Roll Hall-of-Fame" singer Frankie Valli for his touring band. Craig continues touring with Frankie into 2007, but can also be seen touring with Edgar Winter, and Player. In April of 2007 Craig released a solo CD Just Play on Rue De La Harpe Records.
I first met Craig Pilo back in the late 90's, just after he moved to Los Angeles, through another organization I had at the time, the Drum Ring International. Craig, along with the likes of Dom Famularo, Carmine Appice, Peter Erskine and others, were all a part of this internet based community which later evolved into what is now known as the Drummer Cafe. I haven't kept in close contact with Craig, outside of an occasional email from time to time, but I was very excited to hear about his new CD, Just Play ... not only as a fellow drummer, but as a friend.
I'm very impressed with Craig's musicianship on this CD! Not only is he a great drummer, but his compositional skills are superb ... and he did a fantastic job producing the entire album! Craig arranged all three of his own tunes and was co-arranger of all the jazz standards which fills out the rest of the album. Impressed yet? Wait to you hear his playing!
Every tune on this instrumental jazz CD breaths and has life. It's obvious that each instrumentalist gave it their all; playing with a lot of passion, heart and soul. The overall vibe of the album comes off with a live feel, even though it was recorded in a recording studio (Wolftone Studios, Reseda, CA). When it comes to jazz, I think this is extremely important ingredient; it's what jazz really is ... spontaneous, 'in the moment', music.
I first listened to this CD in my car without checking out the track list. I got past the first tune and thought 'nice playing'. With about a minute passing on track 2, I said outloud (I'm alone in the car mind you) "I know this tune ..." amd quickly went for the liner notes. Reading outloud "'Autumn Leaves' ... what a great arrangement!" I think I made verbal praises on every tune, not just for the playing (every instrumentalist is great), but the arrangements really got me ... especially on the standards. I think it's worth mentioning at this time that Just Play has been nominated for two Los Angeles Music Awards in the Instrumental Jazz category!
As I listen to the CD while writing this review, I try to think back and reflect on why I like the album so much. I believe one of the biggest positives I get from Just Play is all the space, sound and color ... ala Joe Zawinul / Cannonball Adderley. Another reason I dig this album, besides that it just makes me smile, is that I can hear all of the influences of Craig's teachers/instructors in his playing. Dave Weckl, Jeff Hamilton, Ed Soph and the late Alan Dawson whom I was also fortune to briefly study with. I can think of no greater tribute to one's mentor than to hear them in what you do. Craig has definitely done this ... and more ... coming into his own with his unique musical language and approach.
Young players and students of drumming may be wondering ... what about the drumming? Well, Craig Pilo has a lot to say, and what he does say ... he says very well. The drum sounds on the CD are great, and drums are mixed up front ... where they should be!!! The listener will quickly be able to hear that Pilo has a strong understanding of the jazz/funk/latin music styles, not to mention the firm hold he has on polyrhythms, rhythmic displacment, odd note groupings/figures. But the beauty in all of this lies not in that Craig Pilo has a lot of chops and can solo his tokus off ... rather that he knows how and when to use them to make music ... which is what it's all about ... right?! No short-cuts here. Musicianship comes with time and seasoning, and Pilo has been marinating a very long time.
– Bart Elliott, Drummer's Cafe
On Just PlayPilo is a pro drummer (Frankie Valli, Maynard Ferguson) whose solo jazz project features a group of adept musicians on his original themes (and choice covers). Pilo allows his Fender Rhodes player to shine on the mellow "Early Cynical Mystery." His bassist and sax player groove with skill and feel on "Shades of Blue." Pilo's pounding drums take center stage on "Awkwardly Mobile." This disc will please listeners who've got a taste for hard jazz and impressive musicianship.
– Los Angeles Music Connection Magazine (Oct 2007 issue)
On Just Play
Too often, a jazz CD opens with a cover of someone else’s work and the artist who has released the album relegates their own work to further down in the song list. Not that there is anything wrong with that, but when you are as good a composer and musician as Craig Pilo it is nice to see his new CD Just Play open with one of his own compositions the smooth “Early Cynical Mystery.” The song has an easygoing melody, great deep grooves and of course, the drummer Pilo supplies superb beats. Particularly noticeable due to the quality of his playing is Mitchel Forman whose excellence on the Fender Rhodes in and of itself makes the opening track worth listening to. I fell in love with Forman’s introduction to the second song on the album, “Autumn Leaves,” a tune that American lyricist Johnny Mercer translated into English from the original French composition “Les Feuilles Mortes,” authored by Joseph Kosma and Jacques Prévert. Pilo and Reuben Valtierra wrote new arrangements for “Autumn Leaves.” The Los Angeles native has long been regarded as one of the music industry’s top drummers, having played with Maynard Ferguson, Player (“Baby Come Back”), Pat Boone, Billy Vera, Chris Montez, Deniece Williams, Edgar Winter, Frankie Valli and numerous other high profile artists. In fact, Pilo is appearing this week on the Jimmy Kimmel show with Frank Valli. Watch for him on the evening of September 27th. In his liner notes, Pilo thanks the musicians who appear on Just Play. Particularly poignant is his comment, “The playing speaks for itself.” That it does! The solo by saxophonist Roman Dudok on the song “Shades Of Blue,” is outstanding. He adds depth and a moody sensibility to the track. Freddie Hubbard’s “Red Clay,” has new arrangements penned by Pilo and features another superb sax man Doug Webb. There is an extended sax solo at the mid point of this 8:57 rhythmic journey. When you listen to song after song of excellent grooves roll off of the Just Play disc, it is very easy to discern why two of the songs “Shades Of Blue,” and “Early Cynical Mystery,” have received nominations for the 2007 Los Angeles Music Awards, to be held in November. The songs are nominated in the jazz instrumental category. I have not often heard a call and response between a drummer and a keyboardist but I liked what I listened to on another Craig Pilo original, “Awkwardly Mobile.” The funky exchange between Pilo and Ed Czach is fresh and imaginative. Other highlights to listen for include Bryan Brock’s bongos on the cover of Miles Davis’ “All Blues.” Valtierra and Pilo have taken a great tune and made it even funkier with some new arrangements. The CD Just Play closes out with a good rendition of John Coltrane’s “Miles Mode.” Pilo, Czach and Dudok are all at the top of their game, while bassist Keith Hubacher builds a strong foundation.
– Riveting Riffs Ltd.
On Just Play
Like most college students in the '70s, I had a black light and some psychedlic posters. And though I owned the quintessential black light album, Pink Floyd's "Dark Side of the Moon," I usually listened to Stanley Clarke, Weather Report and Chick Corea's "Return to Forever" when I turned the light on. Drummer Craig Pilo's new album, "Just Play," is filled with pretty ballads and funky jazz fusion tunes that remind of those days and of that music. Pilo assembled a great crew for the album: Mitchel Forman and Ed Czach on keyboards; Tom Kennedy, Jim King, David Enos, Keith Hubacher and Jonathan Pintoff on bass; Roman Dudok and Doug Webb on saxophone and Bryan Brock on bongos. Every one of the musicians is outstanding. Not surprisingly, the album features "Teen Town," a track by the late great bassist Jaco Pastorius, a giant of fusion. But you'll also find some standards: "Autumn Leaves," "Softly as in the Morning Sunrise," Miles Davis' "All Blues," Freddie Hubbard's "Red Clay" and John Coltrane's "Impressions" and "Miles Mode." Those tunes have been covered too many times to count, but Pilo's funky fusion makes his covers sound fresh. The group also played three of Pilo's own songs and they're among the album's finest cuts. I don't own a black light these days, but if I put Pilo's album on the stereo and turn the lights down low, I can hear the vibrant hues of my old posters even if I can't see them.
– Carl Abernathy, Cahl's Juke Joint
On Just Play
"A highly dynamic jazz fusion atmosphere filled with positive energy. 'Just Play' showcases the work of an experimented musician whose bold personality is evident throughout the album. There are many wonderful sequences of vigorous, colorful jamming not to mention the excellent bass and organ grooves that make the music float around. Among the highlights "'Early Cynical Mystery' one of the originals, brings a breeze from the 'Return to Forever' years and Coltrane's 'Miles Mode' here cleverly arranged by Craig Pilo. An entertaining album of great clarity and power for fusion enthusiasts."
– Jazz World Quest
On Just Play
"Tight, yet fluent stick work, and a yen for selecting great tunes and accompanists. This just about sums up drummer Craig Pilo on his latest CD effort, 'Just Play.' Moving well beyond tired arrangements and re-treaded licks, Pilo covers a few classic standards such as 'Autumn Leaves,' 'All Blues' and 'Teen Town,' giving them novel readings. Craig’s pen is also in the spotlight on well-written pieces such as 'Early Cynical Mystery.' His mastery of sundry styles and meters shines through and there’s chemistry galore with the likes of featured keyboardist, the stellar Mitchel Forman, as well as saxophonist Roman Dudok."– John Stevenson, Ejazznews
On Just Play
"Drummer Craig Pilo is kept busy via his concert tours with pop and rock icons Frankie Valli and Edgar Winter. Yet this jazz-fusion studio date signifies an insightful glimpse into his enviable chops and overall musicality. With an attractive blend of originals, jazz standards, and pieces by Trane and Freddie Hubbard, the drummer generates pop, zip and fluid movement throughout. Featuring veteran session artists such as keyboardist Mitchel Forman, bassist Tom Kennedy and others, the various lineups convey a tightly-organized and thoroughly, in-the-pocket chemistry. Constructed upon largely, melodic pieces and groove-oriented rhythmic maneuvers, Forman’s Fender Rhodes piano work serves as the axis on several tracks. They execute a mid-tempo, Latin-jazz spin on “Autumn Leaves,” while projecting a contempo jazz outlook with saxophonist Roman Dudok’s appearance on various works. On Hubbard’s modern jazz classic “Red Clay,” the saxophonist judiciously improvises within the primary melody, firmed-up by Pila’s solid and throttling backbeats. Kennedy renders a literal reading of Jaco Pastorius’ “Teen Town,” as the trio’s interpretation of “Softly As In A Morning Sunrise, surfaces as a dreamy ballad, spiced-up with a distinct edge. No frills or revelations here! It’s more about a consortium of top-caliber musicians infusing their broad music vernaculars into a potpourri of jazz-tinged works that intimate a jubilant state-of-affairs. Everything seems to click rather naturally here."– Glenn Astarita, Ejazznews