Tommy Strazza has been a staple of the New Jersey music scene for the better part of the last two decades as both a singer/songwriter and lead guitarist for several bands (The Strazzacasters, Hey Bulldog, Misguided Muse, The DeLoreons.) and solo artists (Anthony Walker, Anjelia, Emily Grove, and Michael Askin).
His last album “The Model Citizen L.P.” earned him a “Top Local Release” nomination at the 2010 Asbury Music Awards, and his guitar work earned him a “Top Guitarist” victory at the 2011 Asbury Music Awards.
“‘The Model Citizen L.P.’ was my greatest accomplishment as a singer/songwriter as well as a guitarist,” says Tommy, regarding his last release. “Where to go next..?”
“I didn’t want to make the same album twice, so I struggled for my next direction for the next 2 years.” That direction presented itself on a cold night in March of 2012. “I needed to practice for an upcoming show and my girlfriend and I were living in an apartment building, so I couldn’t practice at home without disturbing everybody in the building. So… I thought I’d go out to my little Ford Escape, record my practice session, and listen back to it when I got back inside.” After listening back, Tommy couldn’t help but notice that the recording he had just made sounded really good. “I decided right then and there that I was going to make an acoustic album in my car.”
The subject matter for the next album presented itself shortly thereafter. The “Breakup/Relationship” album… there are but a few that are held in such high regard. Derek and the Dominoes had “Layla”, Bob Dylan had “Blood On The Tracks”, Bruce Springsteen had “Tunnel Of Love”, and Tommy Strazza will give it his all to be among those greats with “Songs From the Escape”.
After a year of writing, recording and post-production, “Songs From the Escape” is complete, and will be ready for release in the summer of 2014.
“This is the most personal record I have ever made, and oddly enough it has been the easiest of all of my records to make. I also had the best supporting cast a singer/songwriter could ever ask for.”
Local musicians a plenty have made both vocal and instrumental contributions on this album. Jerzy Jung, Deirdre Forrest, Michael Askin, Gerry Rosenthal (Big Wake), Anjelia, Peter Horvath (The Anderson Council), and Bob Hart (Claire and the Reasons), to name but a few, have all contributed tracks on this album. “I literally got by with a little help from my friends.”
The final result is a diverse album that addresses relationships and breakups with sincerity, introspection, and even humor. “Songs From The Escape” is sure to be one of the top local releases of 2014, and who knows…possibly even more than local.
Tommy has been performing solo shows all over New Jersey, including an opening slot for Denny Laine (Wings) at the Strand Theater in Lakewood, and will be scheduling a tour of the U.S. and U.K. in the very near future.