trioPAYAZZO (pronounced pie – OT – zoh) is:
Bernard Kunz, guitar Harry
Fackelman, saxophones and clarinet
Andrew Peruzzini, trumpet, flugelhorn, trombone, tuba, percussion
How did the name of the band come about?
Bernard came up with it – it means “clowning” in French. There is PAGLIAGGIO in Italian and PAJASS in German which mean joker in English. The band was an experiment – a dare. How do we make great jazz without a bass or drum set?
When did it form?
We started around 4 years ago
Where are you from originally?
We are all teachers. Andy and Harry are from Buffalo, Bernard is Swiss.
What’s it like to perform in front of a crowd? Give me three words.
Andy: Meaning of life
Kunz: I get nervous.
When and why did you start playing?
Andy: 7th grade at Maryvale middle school in the late 60’s
Harry: 2nd grade on clarinet
Kunz: played the recorder in 2nd grade, started piano in 5th and guitar in 7th. I had a great guitar teacher who’d send me home without wanting my money if I did not practice. So I did practice. He taught me all the scales and stuff.
What was the first tune that you remember “really” playing well, when you knew that you would be a musician?
Andy: The Teaberry Shuffle in 1967
Harry: I don’t recall a specific tune, but I used to come home for lunch in elementary school, and I’d get the clarinet out and practice for my next lesson. I loved it.
Kunz: My first jazz tune was probably All the things you are. By that time I was already in my mid twenties.
Describe your instrument. If you were to name your instrument (maybe you have) what would its name be?
Andy: anything you can blow, bow, pluck or hit
Harry: My poor instruments remain nameless..
Kunz: I wish I had more time, but I stick with the guitar. That’s enough work and practice right there.
Did music come naturally to you? Or were you driven to learn and play? What sparked the passion? Do you come from a musical family?
Andy: I did music well as a kid so It gave me some bragging rights so I kept practicing. I eventually made it my career, though there were some side trips along the way. Half of my family is musical, though undeveloped. The other half is clueless.
Harry: For me, some things come naturally while others take some work. To this day, it’s still true, so it’s motivation keep working and learning new things. My parents didn’t play, but they were always very supportive. My two sisters played through high school.
Kunz: My mom plays the piano as well as my one sister. My other sister is a professional flutist. I always wanted to play music, but at the same time I was kind of lazy in terms of practicing, so by the time I was done with HS I did not have the skills to seriously consider going to the conservatory or the jazz school, but listening to music has always been my number one thing to do.
Are you schooled in music? From where?
Andy: Yes – Maryvale HS and up through the NYSSMA system to All-State, All-Eastern. Eastman School of Music for a bachelor’s in music education and a Masters in Fine Arts from University of Texas @ Austin
Harry: Yes-South Park HS, NYSSMA, etc and BFA University at Buffalo
Kunz: I had two good guitar teachers, one in HS the other one later at the conservatory in Geneva. He taught me the jazz stuff.
Which famous musician(s) do you admire?
Andy: Bernard Kunz and Harry Fackelman. Also the guys in Kickstart Rumble and Leon and the Forklifts
Harry: Too many to mention
Kunz: Anybody who plays from the gut and doesn’t sell out. Miles, John McLaughlin, Bill Evans, Coltrane.
Where is your favorite place to play/sing in Buffalo? Where would you most like to play/sing in Buffalo?
Andy: the Colored Musicians Club or any bar with a good beer list and the audience 2 feet away
Harry: I like Andy’s answer. Also, I’m looking forward to our visit at the Pan Am. It will be my first performance at that venue.
Kunz: Pausa Art House is great, Hallwalls great sound, Canvas small but good sound, Tralf used to have very good sound, looking forward to playing at PanAm again!
What’s your day job?
Andy: Husband to Mrs. Peruzzini (I am also the Band Director at South Park High School)
Harry: Adjunct Instructor at the University at Buffalo, and I teach woo
dwinds at my home studio and Nardin Academy
dwinds at my home studio and Nardin Academy
Kunz: French teacher at Hutch Tech, Guitar club advisor/teacher, grand-father…
How would you describe your music style? Influences?
Andy: inventive, irreverent, technically solid. Influences: the 3 Stooges, George Carlin, Doug Stanhope, Clark Terry, Elvis, Sam Cooke
Harry: Eclectic. Jazz, classical, Eric Alexander, David Sanborn, Christian Scott, Herbie Hancock. Definitely the 3 Stooges
Kunz: I don’t like playing the same thing twice the same way. Best moments are when the music plays the group of musicians. Currently I’m into the Pilc/Mouton/Hoenig trio. They are totally into that. Incredible work together.
What was the last live music performance that you caught?
Andy: Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Chick Corea at the Rose Theater, NYC
Harry: My Nardin students recital. They rocked.
Kunz: Gretchen Parlato at Albright Knox. Bruce Eaton brings in some of the greatest jazz musicians.
What was the best show you ever caught?
Andy: Tower of Power @ Tralf this last spring
Harry: The 3 Tenors in NYC. Michael Brecker, Dave Liebman, and Joe Lovano
Kunz: Chick Corea with Lenny White, Bill Connors and Stanley Clarke, Return to Forever, 1974 in Zurich. They killed and had so much fun doing it.
What was the show that got away – the one that you never got to see?
Elvis live
Kunz: Would have loved to see Astor Piazzolla live.
Do you play/sing covers or all originals? Ar a combination of both?
Andy: both – in Jazz the tune is covered then we invent everything else. Sometime we jam with no credit to anyone else.
Kunz: With this group it’s mostly standards which we try to make our own to the best of our abilities. I’ d like to have more time to write and practice our own stuff, but……
If you could play for one famous person (alive or dead), who would that be?
Andy : my father, Nazzareno, who passed in 2010.
Kunz: I’d love to play for my parents, but that would mean to hook up a tour in Switzerland.
If you could play with one famous band (any time in history), what would that band be?
Andy: the Miles Davis Quintet with Cannonball Adderley and John Coltrane
Harry: Andy took my first answer, but I think it would be fun to play in a group with Jeff Lorber or Cedar Walton. Wait! Tower of Power on Baritone Sax
Kunz: Mid sixties Miles with Tony Williams, Ron Carter, Wayne Shorter and Herbie Hancock. Or today’s Wayne Shorter group with John Patitucci, Brian Blade and Danilo Perez.
What are your strengths?
Andy: I keep waking up in the morning
Harry: Persistence
Kunz: Stubbornness.
What are your weaknesses?
Andy: someday, I won’t
Harry: There are times when I procrastinate.
Kunz: Procrastination and spacing out.
Do you have a label?
Andy: yes: Peruzzini Heavy Industries
A recording studio?
Andy: yes, in my basement
Have you recorded a CD?
Andy: Just a demo with this group and on Noa Bursie’s Talkstory. I did some vinyl with Eastman Wind Ensemble
Harry: Mostly with the Amherst Saxophone Quartet, but I’ve recorded with quite an assortment of groups from pop to jazz
Kunz: On our own label two with Straight Forward and two with Grüvology.
Where and when is your next gig(s) in the city?
Andy – Pan Am Grill and Brewery, July 10 then July 13 at the Tralf with the Pole Play Dance girls and Mike Pinelli and group. Also, August 24 at Lewiston Jazz Festival with My Cousin Tone’.
Harry: Along with the Pan AM, we’ll be at Milkies on August 27. I’ll be around with JJ Swing, Pocket Change, Mark Mazur, and the Lewiston Jazz Festival with the Pete Ciraolo Big Band
Kunz: Coco on June 28, Pausa Art House on July 12 with Grüvology.
TrioPAYAZZO: Facebook
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