Pittsburgh's premier red-hot Swing, Latin & Jazz band, Dr Zoot can easily switch gears to play a variety of music styles and hits from the 40s through today. The band's distinctive sound has the ability to maintain its contemporary feel while reaching back across the years to link with the legendary singers who have come before them.
Band members include Sal Ventura, John Oscar, "Smokin O" Menosky, Craig "Izzy" Arlet, Mark Snyder, Jay Constable and Jason May. Their influences include Count Basie, Frank Sinatra, Duke Ellington, Dean Martin and Nat King Cole.
The seven-piece ensemble includes horn section (trumpet, trombone and saxophone), keyboards, drums, upright bass and guitar. Dr. Zoot's song list covers it all from Swing & Jazz, Dance/Pop, Rock & Oldies, R&B/Motown to Latin and music they refer to as Lounge music with songs such as The Lady Is A Tramp, Witchcraft, Fly Me To the Moon and Beyond the Sea which was a big hit for the late Bobby "Mack the Knife" Darin.
1956 Chrysler in Shell Pink
Some of their great Motown selections are I Can't Help Myself, Ain't To Proud to Beg, My Girl, Shout, Midnight Hour, It's Alright, Shotgun, I Feel Good, Heard It Through The Grapevine, Hold On I'm Comin' and Knock on Wood.
At first, it was just a weekday gig in 1998 at a small swing club in Pittsburgh's South side. All the musicians had good weekend work in other bands, but the band grew in popularity and soon Dr Zoot was .. packin' em in!
Eventually, it was time to record!
By the time Dr Zoot's first CD "Ghosts of Swing" was released they were playing the city's largest rooms nearly every night of the week! It seemed time to take the show on the road. So, in 2013, Dr Zoot traveled to Bemus Point and appeared on the Bemus Bay Pops floating stage on August 10.
The band continues to thrill their audiences from the Showboat Casino in Atlantic City NJ, Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville in Key West to fine clubs and all venues in-between.
Be safe.
Pat Locke
Maestro Muse
