T Lavitz
Encyclopedia
Terry "T" Lavitz was an American
jazz-rock/fusion
keyboardist
, composer
and producer
. He is best known for his work with the Dixie Dregs
and Jazz Is Dead
.
. He started taking piano lessons at the age of seven and was offered a scholarship at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan where he studied before attending the University of Miami
's School of Music. While in his senior year at the UM he was asked to join the Dixie Dregs
. He accepted the invitation and played his first show in January 1979. 'Dregs of the Earth', released in 1980, was the first Dregs album he could be heard on. In 1981 he won the 'Best New Talent' category of Keyboard Magazine's Annual Readers Poll.
The Dregs broke up in January 1983 and T Lavitz, Rod Morgenstein
and Andy West went on tour with former Little Feat
guitarist/singer Paul Barrere
. 'Extended Play', a five song EP, was released in 1984. The album also featured future Dregs and Steve Morse Band
bass player Dave LaRue
. In 1985 Lavitz joined the Bluesbusters, a blues-rock quintet also featuring Paul Barrere, guitarist/singer Catfish Hodge, bass player Freebo (Bonnie Raitt
) and drummer Larry Zack. They released two albums and toured extensively. His first solo album 'Storytime' was released in 1986. The critically acclaimed 'Players' album with Jeff Berlin
, Steve Smith
and Scott Henderson
was released in 1987.
The Dregs reunited in 1988 to record two songs as a demonstration CD for the Ensoniq company. A short tour followed with Dave LaRue replacing Andy West. Later that year T Lavitz joined the reformed Mother's Finest
on tour. Tours with Bill Bruford
and the Billy Cobham Trio
followed.
In 1991 T Lavitz was invited to join Widespread Panic
after playing keyboards on their first album for the revived Capricorn Records label. Lavitz toured with Widespread Panic from April 1991 through the end of that year, but left the band as the Dixie Dregs reunited and re-signed with Capricorn Records in 1992. The re-formed Dixie Dregs shared a bill with Widespread Panic at two events in February 1992 with Lavitz performing with both bands; these were his final two appearances as the keyboardist for Widespread Panic. The Dixie Dregs recorded 'Bring 'Em Back Alive' during a tour in February. Violinist Allen Sloan, who had become an anesthesiologist, was unable to continue touring and was replaced by former Mahavishnu Orchestra violinist Jerry Goodman
. That year T Lavitz won the 'Jazz Keyboardist of the Year' category of Keyboard Magazine's Annual Readers Poll. 'Full Circle', the first Dregs studio album in 12 years, was released in 1994. Another solo album 'Gossip' was recorded before T joined Jefferson Starship
in 1996. Jazz Is Dead
was formed at the end of 1997 with T Lavitz, Jimmy Herring
, Alphonso Johnson
and Billy Cobham interpreting the Grateful Dead
's music in a jazzy, instrumental vein. "Blue Light Rain" was recorded during the first tour in 1998. Billy Cobham was replaced by Rod Morgenstein and Jeff Sipe by the time the second album 'Laughing Water' was released.
The Dixie Dregs did a short tour in late August 1999. The band was joined by original members Andy West and Allen Sloan. Lavitz continued touring with Jazz Is Dead and also whenever possible with the Dixie Dregs.
In the first part of the new millennium T Lavitz took part in several projects. 'Endangered Species', with Jimmy Herring, Richie Hayward
and Kenny Gradney
was released in 2001, 'Cosmic Farm', with Rob Wasserman
, Craig Erickson and Jeff Sipe, was released in 2005 and 'Boston T Party', with Dennis Chambers
, Jeff Berlin and Dave Fiuczynski, was released in 2006. In the summer of 2006 he began teaching at the Summer Performance Program at the Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA.
Lavitz died on October 7, 2010.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
jazz-rock/fusion
Jazz fusion
Jazz fusion is a musical fusion genre that developed from mixing funk and R&B rhythms and the amplification and electronic effects of rock, complex time signatures derived from non-Western music and extended, typically instrumental compositions with a jazz approach to lengthy group improvisations,...
keyboardist
Keyboardist
A keyboardist is a musician who plays keyboard instruments. Until the early 1960s musicians who played keyboards were generally classified as either pianists or organists. Since the mid-1960s, a plethora of new musical instruments with keyboards have come into common usage, requiring a more...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and producer
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
. He is best known for his work with the Dixie Dregs
Dixie Dregs
The Dixie Dregs are an American band formed in the 1970s. Their mostly instrumental music fuses jazz, southern rock, bluegrass and classical forms in an often unique style.-Formation and early years:...
and Jazz Is Dead
Jazz Is Dead
Jazz is Dead is an instrumental Grateful Dead cover band that interprets classic Dead songs with jazz influences. Although the group's composition has changed over time, with T Lavitz being the only constant member, the group is notable in featuring veterans of jazz and jazz fusion ensembles[]...
.
Biography
Born on April 16, 1956, Lavitz grew up in New JerseyNew Jersey
New Jersey is a state in the Northeastern and Middle Atlantic regions of the United States. , its population was 8,791,894. It is bordered on the north and east by the state of New York, on the southeast and south by the Atlantic Ocean, on the west by Pennsylvania and on the southwest by Delaware...
. He started taking piano lessons at the age of seven and was offered a scholarship at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan where he studied before attending the University of Miami
University of Miami
The University of Miami is a private, non-sectarian university founded in 1925 with its main campus in Coral Gables, Florida, a medical campus in Miami city proper at Civic Center, and an oceanographic research facility on Virginia Key., the university currently enrolls 15,629 students in 12...
's School of Music. While in his senior year at the UM he was asked to join the Dixie Dregs
Dixie Dregs
The Dixie Dregs are an American band formed in the 1970s. Their mostly instrumental music fuses jazz, southern rock, bluegrass and classical forms in an often unique style.-Formation and early years:...
. He accepted the invitation and played his first show in January 1979. 'Dregs of the Earth', released in 1980, was the first Dregs album he could be heard on. In 1981 he won the 'Best New Talent' category of Keyboard Magazine's Annual Readers Poll.
The Dregs broke up in January 1983 and T Lavitz, Rod Morgenstein
Rod Morgenstein
Rod Morgenstein is an American drummer and music educator. He is best known for his work with the late '80s Heavy metal band Winger and with the Jazz fusion band Dixie Dregs. He also played with Fiona, Platypus, The Steve Morse Band, and Jelly Jam...
and Andy West went on tour with former Little Feat
Little Feat
Little Feat is an American rock band formed by singer-songwriter, lead vocalist and guitarist Lowell George and keyboardist Bill Payne in 1969 in Los Angeles....
guitarist/singer Paul Barrere
Paul Barrere
Paul Barrere is a current member of the band Little Feat, having joined the band in 1974...
. 'Extended Play', a five song EP, was released in 1984. The album also featured future Dregs and Steve Morse Band
Steve Morse
Steven J. "Steve" Morse is an American guitarist and composer, best known for his work in the hard rock band Deep Purple since 1994. He began his career to form the unique styled instrumental rock band Dixie Dregs in the 1970. Morse's musical inspiration comes from country, funk, jazz fusion, and...
bass player Dave LaRue
Dave LaRue
Dave LaRue is a bassist who has performed with the Dixie Dregs since 1988 and with the Steve Morse Band since 1989. He also has worked with Dream Theater's John Petrucci, Mike Portnoy and Jordan Rudess...
. In 1985 Lavitz joined the Bluesbusters, a blues-rock quintet also featuring Paul Barrere, guitarist/singer Catfish Hodge, bass player Freebo (Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Raitt
Bonnie Lynn Raitt is an American blues singer-songwriter and a renowned slide guitar player. During the 1970s, Raitt released a series of acclaimed roots-influenced albums which incorporated elements of blues, rock, folk and country, but she is perhaps best known for her more commercially...
) and drummer Larry Zack. They released two albums and toured extensively. His first solo album 'Storytime' was released in 1986. The critically acclaimed 'Players' album with Jeff Berlin
Jeff Berlin
Jeff Berlin is an American jazz, jazz fusion and progressive rock electric bass player.Jeff Berlin's bass playing is somewhat similar to that of Jaco Pastorius, though Berlin plays a fretted bass and has stated his distaste for Jaco imitators.-Early life:Jeff Berlin was born to parents who were...
, Steve Smith
Steve Smith (musician)
Steve Elliott Smith is an American drummer who has worked with hundreds of artists in his career, but is mostly known for being the drummer of the rock band Journey during their peak years of success. Modern Drummer magazine readers voted him the #1 All-Around Drummer five years in a row...
and Scott Henderson
Scott Henderson
Scott Henderson is a fusion and blues guitarist best known for his work with the band Tribal Tech.-Early days:Born in West Palm Beach, Florida, Henderson began playing guitar at an early age...
was released in 1987.
The Dregs reunited in 1988 to record two songs as a demonstration CD for the Ensoniq company. A short tour followed with Dave LaRue replacing Andy West. Later that year T Lavitz joined the reformed Mother's Finest
Mother's Finest
Mother's Finest is a funk rock band founded in Atlanta, Georgia by Joyce Kennedy and Glenn Murdock in the early 1970s. The group charted with the singles "Fire" , "Baby Love" , "Don't Wanna Come Back" , "Love Changes" , and "Piece Of The Rock" in the mid to late 1970s.-History:Mother's Finest...
on tour. Tours with Bill Bruford
Bill Bruford
William Scott "Bill" Bruford is an English drummer, percussionist, composer, producer, and record label owner. He was the original drummer for the progressive rock group Yes, from 1968-1972. Bruford has performed for numerous popular acts since the early 1970s, including a stint as touring...
and the Billy Cobham Trio
Billy Cobham
William C. Cobham is a Panamanian American jazz drummer, composer and bandleader, who has called Switzerland home since the late 1970s....
followed.
In 1991 T Lavitz was invited to join Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic
Widespread Panic is an American rock band from Athens, Georgia. The current lineup includes guitarist/singer John Bell, bassist Dave Schools, drummer Todd Nance, percussionist Domingo "Sunny" Ortiz, keyboardist John "JoJo" Hermann, and guitarist Jimmy Herring...
after playing keyboards on their first album for the revived Capricorn Records label. Lavitz toured with Widespread Panic from April 1991 through the end of that year, but left the band as the Dixie Dregs reunited and re-signed with Capricorn Records in 1992. The re-formed Dixie Dregs shared a bill with Widespread Panic at two events in February 1992 with Lavitz performing with both bands; these were his final two appearances as the keyboardist for Widespread Panic. The Dixie Dregs recorded 'Bring 'Em Back Alive' during a tour in February. Violinist Allen Sloan, who had become an anesthesiologist, was unable to continue touring and was replaced by former Mahavishnu Orchestra violinist Jerry Goodman
Jerry Goodman
Jerry Goodman is an American violinist best known for playing electric violin in the bands The Flock and the jazz fusion Mahavishnu Orchestra. Goodman actually began his musical career as The Flock's roadie before joining the band on violin. Trained in the conservatory, both of his parents were...
. That year T Lavitz won the 'Jazz Keyboardist of the Year' category of Keyboard Magazine's Annual Readers Poll. 'Full Circle', the first Dregs studio album in 12 years, was released in 1994. Another solo album 'Gossip' was recorded before T joined Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship
Jefferson Starship is an American rock band formed in the early 1970s. The group is a spin-off from the iconic 1960s psychedelic/folk group Jefferson Airplane. The band has undergone several major changes in personnel and genres through the years while retaining the same Jefferson Starship name...
in 1996. Jazz Is Dead
Jazz Is Dead
Jazz is Dead is an instrumental Grateful Dead cover band that interprets classic Dead songs with jazz influences. Although the group's composition has changed over time, with T Lavitz being the only constant member, the group is notable in featuring veterans of jazz and jazz fusion ensembles[]...
was formed at the end of 1997 with T Lavitz, Jimmy Herring
Jimmy Herring
Jimmy Herring is an American guitarist who is currently the lead guitarist in the band Widespread Panic. Herring is a founding member of Aquarium Rescue Unit and Jazz is Dead...
, Alphonso Johnson
Alphonso Johnson
Alphonso Johnson is an American jazz bassist who has been influential since the early 1970s.-Biography:Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Johnson started off as an upright bass player, but switched to the electric bass in his late teens. Beginning his career in the early 1970s, Johnson showed...
and Billy Cobham interpreting the Grateful Dead
Grateful Dead
The Grateful Dead was an American rock band formed in 1965 in the San Francisco Bay Area. The band was known for its unique and eclectic style, which fused elements of rock, folk, bluegrass, blues, reggae, country, improvisational jazz, psychedelia, and space rock, and for live performances of long...
's music in a jazzy, instrumental vein. "Blue Light Rain" was recorded during the first tour in 1998. Billy Cobham was replaced by Rod Morgenstein and Jeff Sipe by the time the second album 'Laughing Water' was released.
The Dixie Dregs did a short tour in late August 1999. The band was joined by original members Andy West and Allen Sloan. Lavitz continued touring with Jazz Is Dead and also whenever possible with the Dixie Dregs.
In the first part of the new millennium T Lavitz took part in several projects. 'Endangered Species', with Jimmy Herring, Richie Hayward
Richie Hayward
Richie Hayward was a drummer best known as a founding member and drummer in the band Little Feat. He performed with several bands and worked as a session player...
and Kenny Gradney
Kenny Gradney
Kenny Gradney, a native of New Orleans, is a member of the band Little Feat. He joined after their second album, replacing founding bassist Roy Estrada in 1972....
was released in 2001, 'Cosmic Farm', with Rob Wasserman
Rob Wasserman
Rob Wasserman is an American bass player, who has played with a wide variety of musicians including David Grisman, Lou Reed, Bob Weir, Jerry Garcia, Bruce Cockburn, Van Morrison, Rickie Lee Jones, Brian Wilson, Elvis Costello, Mark Morris, Aaron Neville, Chris Whitley, Studs Terkel, Pete Seeger,...
, Craig Erickson and Jeff Sipe, was released in 2005 and 'Boston T Party', with Dennis Chambers
Dennis Chambers
Dennis Chambers is an American drummer who has recorded and performed with John Scofield, George Duke, Brecker Brothers, Santana, Parliament/Funkadelic, John McLaughlin, Niacin, Mike Stern, Greg Howe, and many others. Despite a lack of formal training, Chambers has become well known among...
, Jeff Berlin and Dave Fiuczynski, was released in 2006. In the summer of 2006 he began teaching at the Summer Performance Program at the Berklee College of Music, Boston, MA.
Lavitz died on October 7, 2010.
Solo
- 1984 Extended Play
- 1986 Storytime
- 1987 From The West
- 1989 And The Bad Habitz
- 1991 Mood Swing
- 1996 Gossip
- 2009 Electric
with Dixie Dregs
- 1980 Dregs Of The Earth
- 1981 Unsung Heroes
- 1982 Industry Standard
- 1988 Off The Record
- 1989 The Best Of The Dregs - Divided We Stand
- 1992 Bring 'Em Back Alive
- 1994 Full Circle
- 1997 King Biscuit Flower Hour Presents: Dixie Dregs
- 2000 California Screamin
Projects
- 1987 Players - Players
- 1992 The Connection - Inside Out
- 2001 Jimmy Herring, T Lavitz, Richie Hayward, Kenny Gradney - Endangered Species
- 2005 Rob Wasserman, Craig Erickson, T Lavitz, Jeff Sipe - Cosmic Farm
- 2006 Dennis Chambers, Jeff Berlin, Dave Fiuczynski, T Lavitz - Boston T Party
- 2007 T Lavitz, Dave Weckl, John Patitucci, Frank Gambale, Steve Morse, Jerry Goodman - School of The Arts
other appearances
- 1979 University of Miami Concert Jazz Band - Halcyon Days
- 1980 Darryl Rhoades and the HaHaVishnu Orchestra - Burgers From Heaven
- 1981 Projections - Projections
- 1983 Art In America - Art In America
- 1983 Paul Barrere - On My Own Two Feet
- 1984 John Macey - Meltdown
- 1984 Steve Morse Band - The Introduction
- 1984 Paul Barrere - Real Lies
- 1984 Stretch - Stretch
- 1985 Steve Morse Band - Stand Up
- 1985 Nils Lofgren - Flip
- 1985 Jeff Berlin & Vox Humana - Champion
- 1985 Electric Tigers - Electric Tigers
- 1987 Mark O'Connor - Stone From Which The Arch Was Made
- 1987 Col. Bruce Hampton - Arkansas
- 1987 Electric Tigers - Here To Stay
- 1988 Widespread Panic - Space Wrangler
- 1989 Steve Morse - High Tension Wires
- 1990 Lonesome Val - Lonesome Val
- 1991David Becker TribuneDavid Becker TribuneThe David Becker Tribune is an American contemporary jazz band. The band is led by namesake David Becker, who is the guitarist and composer.-History:...
- In Motion - 1991 Widespread Panic - Widespread Panic
- 1992 Various Artists - Legacy II: A Collection Of Singer Songwriters
- 1992 Kiko - Kiko
- 1992 Dave LaRue - Hub City Kid
- 1992 Bob Mansueto - Like A Stranger
- 1993 Glenn Alexander - Rainbow's Revenge
- 1994 Steve Bailey - Evolution
- 1994 Jeff Richman - The Blue Heart
- 1995 Catfish Hodge - Like A Big Dog Barkin
- 1995 Greg Koch And The Tone Controls - Strat's Got Your Tongue
- 1995 Gary TaninGary TaninGary Tanin is a veteran Milwaukee musician/producer/engineer with a career spanning decades and reflecting two central themes: music and technology.-Biography:...
- Sublime Nation - 1996 Kacee - Seeing Red
- 1997 Pat Benatar - Innamorata
- 1998 Peter Himmelman - Love Thinketh No Evil
- 1998 [Soundtrack] - The Souler Opposite
- 1998 Robbie Krieger - Cinematix
- 1998 Jeff Richman - Sand Dance
- 2000 Soulfarm - Live At Wetlands
- 2000 Jim Stubblefield - Cities Of Gold
- 2000 Inasense - Get Your Shinebox
- 2001 C Lanzbom - From This Day On
- 2002 Andy West With Rama - Rama 1
- 2003 Bluestrain - Dancing With My Baby
- 2003 Widespread Panic - Panic In The Streets
- 2003 Peter Himmelman - My Best Friend Is A Salamander
- 2003 Roy Vogt - Simplicity
- 2003 Zyg - To The Rescue
- 2005 Steve Yanek - Across The Landscape
- 2007 Woody Moran - Tu-Toned Stranger
- 2008 Teresa Storch - Stream Of Concrete
- 2009 Laura Siersema - Talon of The Blackwater
- 2010 Julien Kasper Band - Trance Groove