Episode #316 of the Iron City Rocks Podcast welcome Alex Skolnick of the Alex Skolnick Trio and Testament.

“Alex and his jazz trio are currently touring the US and make their way into Pittsburgh on September 13th at the Pittsburgh Winery. Alex discusses with us how is love of jazz guitar developed, his jazz influences, how is playing differs in these shows and of course we discuss the forthcoming Testament album Brotherhood Of The Snake.”

Tune in at this location.

A televised performance of the Miles Davis Electric Band in the late 90s led guitarist Alex Skolnick to New York City, where he immersed himself in the jazz world. For the past decade, Skonick has led a double-life as a member of Testament, the seminal thrash metal band he joined at the age of 16. In the summer of 2016, he’s both toured Europe with Testament and performed with Miles’ keyboardist, Alan Holzman.

Live Unbound (September 16th, Skol Productions) marks the first live album from the Alex Skolnick Trio (AST), featuring his longtime bandmates, Nathan Peck on bass and drummer Matt Zebroski. Recorded live in December, 2014 for a gathering of friends at Spin Studios in NYC, Live Unbound pairs five of Alex’s compositions with reimagined versions of “Dream On” (Aerosmith) and “Still Loving You” (Scorpions). The latter two are from Musiktheater Piano in Dortmund, Germany, during AST’s European tour in 2016.

“This recording says that we don't have much use for limitations,” says Skolnick. “Our live performances can take us anywhere, from the spirit of quintessential jazz guitar trios to distortion and chaos. It’s all possible.”

Live Unbound tracklisting
 
“Unbound” (Skolnick / Zebroski)
“Culture Shock” (Skolnick / Zebroski)
“Shades Of Grey” (Skolnick)
“99/09” (Skolnick / Zebroski / Peck)
“Veritas” (Skolnick)
“Dream On” (Tyler)
“Still Loving You” (Schenker/Meine)

"Still Loving You" (studio version):

Tour dates:

September
12 - Nighttown - Cleveland, OH
13 - PGH Winery - Pittsburgh, PA
14 - The Saint - Asbury Park, NJ
15 - Iridium - New York, NY
16 - The Van Dyck - Schenectady, NY
17 - Havana - New Hope, PA
18 - World Cafe - Philadelphia, PA
19 - The Empty Glass - Charleston, WV