Alex Lazaroff Drummer Deluxe

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Alex Lazaroff

Alex Lazaroff, Canadian Drummer Deluxe was born in Toronto in the late 20's. He started playing drums at a very early age performing at Macedonian picnics and dances. He had to stand and play because he wasn't tall enough yet to reach the bass drum pedal. Playing ethnic music of this type he was exposed to different time signatures and the very improvisational nature of the music from that area. These early years layed down a foundation for a long and successful career centred in the Toronto Jazz scene which still continues today.

Still in his teens Alex joined the Benny Louis Big Band playing in Montreal for a stint, developing his skills as a Jazz drummer. Trough the late 40's into the 50's Alex played at clubs in downtown Toronto including The Mercury Club and The Edison Hotel. Another venue was starting to play an important role in the developing Toronto Jazz scene. Clem Hambourg's House of Hambourg after hours club was becoming a mecca for Jazz musicians from across the country. Jazzers came to play, jam, experiment and create. Some of Toronto's best known players honed their chops in this club and developed into the top players they are today.

In the early 60's while maintaining a busy club and concert schedule Alex appeared on the CBC pop music television show called "Music Hop" with "Norman Amadio and the Rhythm Rockers". This was a weekly show hosted by Alex Trebek that featured Canadian and American artists. This started a long relationship with Norman Amadio who Alex performed with as the "Nornan Amadio Trio" along with the late, great bassist Bob Price. This merry threesome played as a unit in all the jazz clubs and then some for over three decades. The trio backed up many soloists and vocalists from all over the the world including Mel Torme and Henry Questa. Alex also appeared on "Rob McConnell's Boss Brass " earlier recordings on CBC's Canadian Talent Library record label.

In the 70's Alex appeared on the weekly radio gospel music show called "Celebration" that featured Tommy Ambrose as vocalist and Doug Riley on the Hammond. Throughout this decade Alex became one of the most used studio jingle drummers in town appearing on countless radio and T.V. commercials. From soap detergent to baked beans to the chick-chick of the charge-card machine, he's done them all. If all this wasn't enough, Alex also played in the Toronto production of the stage hit "Hair" which ran at The Royal Alex Theatre.

During the 80's Alex continued playing at clubs in the city including an extended stint as the house drummer at "The Imperial Room" in The Royal York Hotel. He also played many gigs at George's Bourbon Street backing up major U.S. Jazz greats such as Chet Baker and Illinois Jacquette.

Due to some recent health issues Alex has taken a well deserved break from performing. He has now played the drums for more than 60 years and still has one of the sweetest, smoothest press rolls around. His phenomenal playing in accented with a sense of showmanship sometimes overlooked by his contemporaries. His playing is very melodic with the smoothest feel around. His solos are like songs themselves; compositional in nature and can be dangerously explosive. Very powerful yet very in tune to the subtleties of sound and time. "Drummer Deluxe".

What follows is a partial list of the artists Alex has performed with either in a club on stage, T.V., radio or recordings. (in no particular order)

Lenny Breau / Chet Baker / Illinois Jacquette / Monty Alexander / Mel Torme / Henry Questa / Peggy Lee / Joni Mitchell / Gordon Lightfoot / Mama's and the Papa's / Staple Singers / David Clayton Thomas / Bo Didley / Dizzy Gillespie / Joe Venutti / Ed Bickert / Don Thompson / Sonny Greenwich / Don (D.T.) Thompson / The Coasters / Don Franks / Peter Appleyard / Moe Koffman / Rob McConnell / Tommy Ambrose / Norman Amadio / Bob Price / Sonny Rollins / Clifford Brown / Sam Noto / Doug Riley / Paul Grosney / Jack Sheldon / Pat Labarbara / Eddie Fisher / Oscar Peterson / Ray Brown / Fred Stone / Eugene Amaro / Jack Zaza / just to name a few. I'm sure I've missed many other notable artists but I think that's about enough.