News
March 1, 2021
The new CD Sarabande Blue is released! Sarabande Blue is a jazz/classical crossover for acoustic guitar and string quintet, featuring all original compositions.
The band:
Zvonimir Tot - acoustic guitars
Carmen Kassinger - violin
Lisa Fako - violin
Cheryl Wilson - viola
Paula Kosower - cello
Rob Kassinger - double bass
Produced by Cheryl Wilson and Freddie Breitberg
Mixed and mastered by Freddie Breitberg
Liner notes by Howard Mandel
Design by Michael Coakes
Photography: George Burns
"Sarabande Blue is a rare, indeed perhaps unique instance of finely detailed writing for unamplified strings along with inspired improvisation arriving at a warm, well-balanced blend."
From the liner notes by Howard Mandel
"(Sarabande Blue) carries the elegant gleam of top level musicianship and meticulous tune-smithing on a set of (almost) all Tot originals."
Dan McClenaghan, allaboutjazz.com
"With this brilliant and enthralling album Tot has crafted a genre defying work that is both intimate and cinematic."
Hrayr Attarian, Chicago Jazz Magazine
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December 17, 2020
CD release: Monday, March 1, 2021
My CD "Sarabande Blue" for acoustic guitar and string quintet will be released on Monday, March 1, 2021. All original music, a jazz/concert music crossover.
The band: Carmen Kassinger (violin), Lisa Fako (violin), Cheryl Wilson (viola), Paula Kosower (cello), and Rob Kassinger (double bass).
From the liner notes by Howard Mandel:
"Sarabande Blue is a rare, indeed perhaps unique instance of finely detailed writing for unamplified strings along with inspired improvisation arriving at a warm, well-balanced blend."
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August 13, 2020
I also play the Mexican requinto. Here's a new home project: Historia de un amor, for 4 requintos, guitar, bass, and percussion:
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July 29, 2020
The DIGITAL edition of my book Jazz Guitar Harmony - The Melodic Approach is now available, PDF + audio examples. Price: $20.
Order the book HERE
"I know aspiring guitarists will love this book."
Jazz guitar master Larry Coryell (full-length quote on back cover)
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March 7, 2020
Sarabande Blue, the CD of all original music with my Stringtet is completed. Release is being planned for October 2020.
I am currently writing music for a world music CD, to be recorded in August of 2020. The CD will be a mixture of Balkan folk songs and elements of jazz and concert music, written for a 9-piece acoustic band with a folk singer, accordion, acoustic guitar, ethnic percussion, and string quintet.
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December 22, 2019
Welcome to my new website! This May/June I taught for five weeks at the jazz department of Goce Delčev University in Štip, Macedonia as a Fulbright Specialist. I also played several gigs with excellent local musicians in Skopje and Ohrid. It was a lovely experience. In July I taught at Jamey Aebersold's Summer Jazz Workshops in Louisville, Kentucky, working for one of my heroes. This August I recorded a CD of all original music with my string band, Zvonimir Tot's Jazz Stringtet. The release is expected in the fall of 2020. Here's a small sample from a recent concert: Video
