Alex awarded Top Performer Prize at Tom Jackson's
June 5, 2010 - Nashville, TN - Today Alex Tintinalli was awarded the Top Performer Prize during music industry guru Tom Jackson's Young Performer Boot Camp in Nashville onstagesuccess.com/events/workshops-and-seminars/young-performers-bootcamp/. All boot camp attendees performed a song in front of a panel of music industry professionals and each were critiqued and scored. The prize includes a demo song produced by Grammy and Dove award winning producer, Mark Heimermann www.myspace.com/markheimermann. Mark has produced music from the genres of rock to urban to pop. Alex will be coming back to Nashville at a later date to record his demo song with Mark.
Genre-Busting Teen “Funk-Hop” Group to Showcase...
Genre-Busting Teen “Funk-Hop” Group to Showcase at Canadian Music Fest
Pocket City bridges Funk, Hip-Hop and Bluesy Rock – Creates Fresh Vibe
Kitchener, ON – March 10, 2010 – Set to kick-off the Canadian Music Fest blues showcase this coming Saturday at the Silver Dollar Room in Toronto, Pocket City’s fresh, energetic sound will stretch the boundaries of the blues. Pocket City bridges the soulful, energetic styles of funk, old-school hip-hop and bluesy rock to create a vibe that’s fresh and dynamic, dubbed “Funk-Hop”.
Pocket City’s front-man and award-winning Indie recording artist, Alex Tintinalli, provides passionate, soulful vocals, complimented by an arsenal of tasteful guitar licks that help define the band’s sound. His unique style has won him numerous awards for guitarmanship, vocals and songwriting skills including a CBC Galaxie Rising Star Award, a feature interview in U.K.’s “Blues Matters” magazine, and the 2009 season championship on Nashville’s “15 Minutes of Fame Jr.” youth talent competition on Nashville’s local cable TV channel.
With lyrics talking about issues concerning the younger generation, Pocket City openly expresses their views on modern day society. Musically, Pocket City is inspired by the likes of Tower of Power, A Tribe Called Quest, Bob Marley, Eminem and James Brown to name a few, resulting in a sound that’s all their own. Tintinalli states “lyrically we’re really telling similar stories of hardship, good times, bad and good relationships, and so on, just like the blues legends did many generations ago, however we’ve packaged them in a manner that captures the attention of the younger audiences of today”.
The band is anchored by the rock-solid, dynamically funky rhythm section featuring Jordan “Ridm” Smith on drums and Donovan “Riko” McKinley on the bass with Nigel “Sporadik” Burke rounding out the sound with his modern percussive accents on the turntables and keyboard.
Since forming in the summer of 2009, Pocket City’s buzz continues to pack venues in their hometown of Kitchener, Ontario. Catch Pocket City at the Silver Dollar Room on Saturday, March 13. Pocket City will play a 40 minute set starting at 5:30pm. Also showcasing are Rick Taylor, Alfie Smith, Elyssa Mahoney & Lucas Haneman Band, Thom Swift and Monkey Junk. More details at www.canadianmusicfest.com.
Talented Teen Music Group to Showcase....
Talented Teen Music Group to Showcase At Hard Rock Café In Memphis
Alex Tintinalli Band Launches New CD during International Blues Challenge
Memphis, TN – January 21, 2010 – Award-winning teen recording artist, Alex Tintinalli and his super-group of teen, musical prodigies will be showcasing their talents to an international audience consisting of record labels, media, festivals, managers, talent buyers and of course die-hard blues fans tomorrow afternoon at The Hard Rock Café in Memphis on historic Beale Street as part of the 26th International Blues Challenge (IBC).
The band will also be releasing their new CD “Live At The Gig Theatre” and will perform songs from that CD during their set. The 8-song, 45 minute CD was recorded live during a concert in November 2009 hosted by the Grand River Blues Society in Kitchener, Ontario.
The IBC represents the world's largest gathering of Blues acts (39 US states, 12 countries, 5 continents and 453 performances in 21 venues) represents an international search by The Blues Foundation and its affiliated organizations for the best blues bands, solo/duo and youth acts ready to take to the international stage. This year there will be 110 bands, 82 solo/duo acts and 32 acts (a total of 730 musicians) that will fill the clubs up and down Beale Street today through Saturday as part of this prestigious event.
Originally referred to as the young, “blues guitar whiz”, singer-songwriter, recording artist, Alex Tintinalli has since grown to become a passionate, soulful vocalist and song-writer leveraging his arsenal of tastefully melodic guitar licks in a style of modern blues-rooted music all his own he likes to call “Funk-Hop”.
Since releasing his debut blues album, Nothing To Lose in 2007, this talented 17 year old has released two studio CDs, two live CDs (most recently in January 2010) and a DVD. Tintinalli has also won numerous awards for his guitarmanship, vocal ability and songwriting skills. Alex credits his local blues community for giving him the opportunity to develop as a credible artist while being schooled by some of best musicians.
Backing Alex is a group of tremendously talented, young Canadian musicians who have cut their teeth in the thriving blues scene in their hometown’s of Kitchener and Waterloo, Ontario. During the summer 2009 they performed together at blues festivals in Windsor, London and Kitchener, Ontario through to Mont-Tremblant Quebec and Lewiston, New York and received much praise for the incredible musicianship and professionalism they exhibited as they brought their audiences to their feet in applause and awe.
The Alex Tintinalli Band will be performing at the Hard Rock Café on Beale Street at 3:15pm on Friday January 22nd. The band will be selling their CDs at their performance. 
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Kitchener Teen Wins Top Prize in Nashville TV’s...
Kitchener Teen Wins Top Prize in Nashville TV’s Youth Talent Competition - Gets His Own Show on Nashville TV
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kitchener, ON – September 29, 2009 -- Music City is fast becoming a second home to Kitchener’s teen recording artist, Alex Tintinalli. Already this year he’s been to Nashville three times and will be heading back again at the end of October. What initially started out as a trip to Nashville just to check out the music scene while on his March school break, has blossomed into him winning a competition, getting his own 30 minute TV special on the local Nashville cable TV channel and teaming up with a prominent Nashville songwriter.
During his first Nashville visit he played at numerous songwriters’ nights. On one of those night’s he was approached by the producer of the youth talent competition “15 Minutes of Fame Jr.” to come back during the summer to compete with other youth singers on one of the shows in the series, and of course Alex obliged.
At the end of June, Tintinalli returned to compete and unanimously was voted by a panel of leading Nashville vocal coaches to move onto the finals on September 26th to compete against the winners from each of the other four shows for the top prize.
So on this past Saturday, Alex and the four other contestants gave it their best and once again, Kitchener’s own Tintinalli received the judges’ top marks and was awarded his own 30 minute special on local Nashville cable TV. We’ll be back at the end of October to tape my own 30 minute show and the Christmas show that I will also be on”, says an enthusiastic Alex. “It was a great experience competing with other very talented youth from across the United States.”
Additionally, during Alex’s visits he was invited to do some writing with one of Nashville’s well-known writers, James Breedwell. So far they have penned two songs and will be pitching them to publishers in Nashville.
“It’s been another great year for Alex”, states his father and manager Leo. “He performed more than 100 shows already this year, placed 3rd among 67 other songwriters in the Cambridge Songwriting Competition in June, released his second CD and is working on 2 more recording projects. “He deserves all the success he’s received. He’s worked very hard at it and we’re proud of him.”
“This truly has been a dream year and I’m looking forward to the coming months” remarks Tintinalli eagerly. 
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Nashville TV show competition, new album....
Nashville TV show competition, new album among highlights of “dream” summer for teen rising star
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Kitchener, ON – June 30, 2009 -- Fresh off the launch of his second album, teen guitarist, singer-songwriter, recording artist, Alex Tintinalli has kick-started his summer with a couple of prestigigous wins and a season full of high-profile shows across Ontario, Quebec, upstate New York and Nashville.
On June 6th, Tintinalli released his self-produced, self-titled, cross-over acoustic solo EP to a packed house of almost 200 people at Molly Blooms Irish Pub in Kitchener, Ontario. Known for his sizzling blues guitar solos from his debut blues album Nothing To Lose in 2007, Alex delivers a satisfying blend of soulful, rhythmic melodies and rich lyrical content on his new 5 song digital EP.
"For this project, I wanted to focus more on my songwriting and vocals than on guitar solos", confides Alex. Last Wednesday June 24th, Alex placed 3rd out of 67 songwriters in the 1st Annual Cambridge Songwriting Competition at Mulligan’s Sports Grill in Cambridge, hosted by Robbie Hancock of RJ Entertainment. “What an amazing experience being able to compete with so many accomplished songwriters. I’m very fortunate to have received this award.”
To top that, on Saturday Alex competed in the Nashville youth reality TV talent show 15 Minutes of Fame Jr. The talent show which is featured on local Nashville cable TV, is for artists ages 9 to 17 who are actively pursuing their music career and whose performances are judged by music industry professionals. After all 6 contestants performed, the judges unanimously voted Alex to move onto the finals in September where the winners from each of the five shows between April and August will showdown for the top prize in which the winner gets their own Nashville TV show along with a number of other prizes.
Throughout the rest of the summer Alex and his 5 piece “super group” will be entertaining audiences at blues festivals in Windsor, London, Kitchener and Mont Tremblant Quebec along with numerous other shows including one in upstate New York. “This is a dream summer for me and I’m stoked about it,” exclaims Alex.
Last year, Tintinalli was awarded CBC Galaxie’s Rising Star Award, a Kitchener-Waterloo Arts Award and was featured in the largest blues magazine in the U.K. Blues Matters. His music is played in over 60 countries around the world, and he performs about 100 shows each year across Ontario.
For more information about where to find Alex and his band this summer check out Alex Tintinalli’s website at www.alextintinalli.com or www.myspace.com/alextintinalli. 
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ECHO WEEKLY - INDIE SEEN, by Carrie Humphries
When teenager Alex Tintinalli walks into a room, he looks like an average kid: shaggy hair, baggy clothes and a forget–the–world–I’m–still–under–age attitude. Then you give him a guitar. To explain him as a great musician is completely underrated. Tintinalli has blues in his soul – stepping out on the stage over 200 times in the last 24 months, he’s been prepping to punch the indie community in the gut with his solo debut project. Completely self–produced, self–written and entirely acoustic, Tintinalli is only gearing up to do what he does best – entertain.
With influences that range from as far as Eminem and Dr. Dre to Michael Dainjah and Jimi Hendrix, he explains the EP as “a cross-over from the blues, is a rhythmic blend of rich lyrics spilling over with an abundance of passion that will uplift your spirits and is often compared to the music of John Mayer, Jason Mraz and Jack Johnson.” And he’s really, really, not kidding. When Tintinalli released 2007’s Nothing To Lose, he greeted 400 fans at the Wax in Kitchener and followed it up with a live, off–the–floor DVD recording. That kind of attention can’t and doesn’t go unnoticed – he was picked up by the largest blues magazine in the UK for a feature article and has gone on to snag the Kitchener–Waterloo Arts Award for his contribution to the arts community.
And as if that wasn’t enough, Tintinalli was named the CBC Galaxy Rising Star at the Tremblant International Blues Festival just last summer. So what would provoke a kid to pick up guitar and practice the hell out of it till he was good enough to demand the title of a teen blues prodigy? The answer is simple: he loves to do what he does. “I am continuing to make it as an indie artist by just playing as much as possible in as many places as possible,” Tintinalli explains. His secret? “Make sure you stand out from all other artists or else you will just blend in and be forgotten.” It’s tough to imagine Tintinalli slipping through the cracks, or simply blending in.
From an energetic stage show that includes his back up band of Brian Voll (keys), Chris Flannigan (drums), Donovan Mckinley (bass), and Devin Ereshan (guitar), to his music being included on three blues compilation discs, and even a steady rotation of his music worldwide, Tintinalli is a name engraved in the Tri–city music scene. And when you see a packed crowd cheering for the kid with the guitar, remember this – we told you so. 
Alex Tintinalli Digital EP Release, Saturday June 6, Molly Bloom’s Kitchener.
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Teen blues prodigy steeped in classics
Dominion hosts Alex Tintinalli Band Saturday
Ted Shaw, Windsor Star
Published: Friday, December 12, 2008
Leo Tintinalli sometimes feels a little like Walter Gretzky, but with one major difference. "Walter never got to play (hockey) with Wayne, but I get to play music every night with my son," said Tintinalli, the 45-year-old father of Kitchener's teenage blues prodigy, Alex Tintinalli.
The Alex Tintinalli Band, with Leo playing bass, performs Saturday at Dominion Golf and Country Club, 6125 Howard Ave.
Sixteen-year-old Alex took up the guitar a mere five years ago, but already he's one of the most talented in a new breed of Canadian rock and blues players, turning plenty of heads for his mindbending riffs and a style that recalls the late, great Stevie Ray Vaughan. He was inspired, in fact, by the recordings of Vaughan, Jimi Hendrix, and John Mayer he heard in the family household in Kitchener.
The band's debut, Nothing To Lose, on Scarlet Dragon Records last year, is dripping with influences. There are eight originals by Alex, as well as a pair of covers of songs by Colin James and Doyle Bramhall.
Alex Tintinalli is a garden-variety teen when not riffing on a Stratocaster. He is in Grade 11 at Kitchener's Forest Heights high school, and after school on weeknights he flips burgers at a Dairy Queen.
Leo grew up in Windsor, playing bass and guitar in a variety of local bands, including a very popular Italian wedding band in the early 1980s. He isn't sure where Alex's prodigious talent comes from, except to say: "I guess there has always been music in his life." Leo moved to Kitchener after graduating from St. Clair College in sales and marketing.
Those skills come in handy now that he's taking over management of Alex's career, and giving up his gig as the bass player in the band. This Saturday's Dominion Golf Club show, in fact, is his swansong. "We're getting someone a little closer in age to Alex to join the band," Leo Tintinalli said.
Fellow Kitchener native, Donovan McKinley, 17, will assume the bass duties. McKinley's father, John, was Alex's guitar teacher and mentor. "They've known each other for years," Leo said. "Donovan's almost like family."
The band's youthful lineup also includes Brian Voll, 16, on keyboards, and Chris Flannigan, 23, on drums. "You've got to hear this Voll kid," said Leo. "He's amazing, a mini-Mozart."
As for Alex, he's modest about his talent. "I've always loved the guitar. It's a passionate instrument to me," he says. Alex promised there'll be a stylistic shift on his next release, a largely acoustic mini-album due out in a few weeks.
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Alex Tintinalli wins CBC Galaxie's Rising Star
July 2008
There’s a highly impressive next generation waiting in the wings, and on Sunday, from the Molson Ex stage, it delighted the audience. The jury was made up of festival co-founder Trent Wilde, journalist and great blues connoisseur Claude Côté, and harmonica virtuoso Guy Bélanger. After a long period of deliberation, they announced the name of the winning team, the Alex Tintinalli Band, from Kitchener, Ontario, whose teenage lead Alex Tintinalli shows remarkable talent. His band, which includes his father Leo Tintinalli, experienced drummer Chris Flannigan, and Brian Voll, an extremely promising young keyboarder, won the attention of the audience who applauded the original and talented group loud and long.
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CD REVIEW: Blues Underground Network
By John Vermilyea
February 2008
The Alex Tintinalli Band featuring the newest Blues Guitar Prodigy Alex Tintinalli brings us back to a word not used to often nowadays, and that word is "Wow". In all regards "Nothing To Lose" is simply a blues soaked masterpiece, rich in texture and quality, which leaves those that listen to it simply wanting more of the same.
What a fabulous CD... Looking forward to the next cd.
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CD REVIEW: By Michael Scott Cain, Rambles.NET
Rambles.NET review by Michael Scott Cain
December 15, 2007
When I was 14, I could barely put a vinyl album on a turntable successfully. When Alex Tintinalli was 14, he had been playing professionally for four years, leading a blues band for two and had issued his first CD. It's like Samuel Johnson's comment on the talking dog: it doesn't matter what he says; the fact that he can do it at all is astonishing.
What is even more astonishing is that Tintinalli is an amazing guitar player, a fine singer and a very good blues songwriter. He is a wonderfully talented kid who can't be judged as a kid; he is a professional, playing in a man's game and he holds up to comparison to adult players very well. He can shred on a guitar and is well on his way to mastering many different forms of blues. On this CD, he plays jump blues, Chicago style, ballads, blues-rock -- Tintinalli can do it all. And he's only been playing for four years.
When I played the disc for a guitar playing friend of mine, he listened in amazement and said, "The only way you can get that good that fast is to play for 14 hours a day. I hope he doesn't burn out."
So do I. Tintinalli has a lot of blues in him and I really look forward to his future growth. He has the talent to become legendary.
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21st Annual Teddy Bear Affair will Rock Toronto...
21st Annual Teddy Bear Affair will rock Toronto November 17 to support the Children's Aid Foundation
Guests will celebrate with fabulous prizes and spectacular Canadian entertainment
TORONTO, Nov. 5 /CNW/ - More than 1,000 guests are expected to gather at the Metro Toronto convention Centre on Saturday, November 17 for a magical night of fun and philanthropy in support of the Children's Aid Foundation. The Foundation's annual Teddy Bear Affair, devoted to helping abused and neglected and high-risk children across Canada, is the city's ultimate fundraising event "The outcome of the Teddy Bear Affair far exceeds my expectations each year," says Sheilagh Johnson, Executive Director of the Children's Aid Foundation. "The generosity of our guests and donors helps us change the lives of so many children in need. Their support means so much, and we are proud to provide them with an unforgettable evening with magnificent prizes, mesmerizing entertainment and superb food."
"As always, 100 per cent of event proceeds from this year's event will be directed to children's programs in the areas of education, enrichment and
prevention," Johnson added.
Winner of the 2007 Canadian Industry Awards Best Fundraising Event, the Teddy Bear Affair is celebrating its 21st anniversary this year and is
expected to raise enough money to give more than 60,000 high-risk kids in Toronto - 300,000 nationally - the skills and support they need to overcome the challenging odds of poverty, neglect and abuse.
This year's theme, Teddy Sings the Blues, promises guests an evening of explosive entertainment with performances by Canadian icon Tom Cochrane, Juno Award nominee Sophie Milman, classic rock tribute band the Carpet Frogs, 15-year-old blues/rock guitarist Alex Tintinalli, Kollage and Canadian Idol Finalist, Toya Alexis, as well as exquisite silent and live auction items.
Get Your Bid in Now - Chic Condo Up for Grabs!
From November 1 - 16, everyone will be clamoring to bid on the sleek new Toronto condominium designed and donated by Cresford Developments. The suite is ideally located in the spectacular Sunnyside Beach area, and the building comes with public areas fashionably furnished by Fendi Casa. Building features include pools, tennis courts and a glass walkway with a tranquil water garden.
The retail value of the condominium is approximately $225,000CAD.
"Cresford is delighted to contribute this remarkable new condominium in support of the Children's Aid Foundation," says Maria Athanasoulis, vice president, marketing and sales for Cresford. "We are certain that the suite's
stylish design will appeal to the sophisticated supporters of the Foundation."
Bids will be accepted online for the condominium on the Children's Aid Foundation website at www.cafdn.org until November 16 at noon. Guests of the Teddy Bear Affair will also be able to bid on the condominium during the live auction, and the person with the most recent online bid will also be invited to participate in the auction. Don't miss out on this fantastic investment in Canada's children!
Other incredible live auction items up for bidding at the Teddy Bear Affair include:
- An all-expenses paid trip to Tuscany, Italy to learn about how to create gastronomic delights at Umberto's Villa Delia Culinary School,
- A Chrysler Town and Country minivan,
- A dream kitchen from Miele Deluxe Kitchens,
- A dramatic sight and sound home electronics package,
- An exclusive night to remember with the NHL and 11 friends,
- One of a kind teddy bears, including a 'Tiffany & Co. Bear', and more!
Legendary Canadian rock-music artist Tom Cochrane will also dazzle guests with his soulful lyrics and catchy vibe during a live performance.
Other musical sensations set to perform are:
- Juno Award nominee Sophie Milman,
- 15 year old blues sensation Alex Tintinalli and
- Classic rock tribute band, The Carpet Frogs
The Foundation would like to thank its presenting sponsors, CIBC World Markets Children's Foundation and CGI Canada for their continued help and support in ensuring this year's gala also enjoys a tremendous amount of success.
About the Children's Aid Foundation
Founded in 1979, the Children's Aid Foundation is a national charity dedicated to improving the lives of abused, neglected and high-risk children in Canada. The Foundation works with Children's Aid Societies and other child welfare agencies across the country to fund prevention, enrichment and education programming.
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REVIEW: Alex Tintinalli Band CD Release Party!
Grand River Blues Society Newsletter May 2007
March must be party time...because there was something kickin' at The Wax on March 11. The release party for the new Alex Tintinalli Band CD Nothing To Lose was a treat for local fans of this teen guitar sensation.
The afternoon event was hosted by proud papa Leo Tintinalli who had every reason to be beaming. The opening act, Matt Lees, performed solo, warming up the crowd with both covers and originals. The appreciative crowd of about 300 showed their appreciation when he started into Lois Lane.
After a short intermission, it was time for the main feature, fronted by fourteen year old Alex Tintinalli on guitar and vocals. The band is rounded out by Leo Tintinalli on bass, and Mike Boltz on drums. Local legend John Lee sat in on keyboards for the afternoon. Throughout two solid sets the band kept the large appreciative crowd happy and entertained. Not satisfied with just a CD, the band had a 3 man camera crew taping the show for a future live DVD.
The day featured cuts from the new CD including the title track Nothing to Lose, one of eight originals penned by the young blues prodigy, and covers including Voodoo Thing originally done by Colin James. Alex, who draws on influences from Stevie Ray Vaughn and Jimmy Hendrix, once again defied his age with his trademark blistering electric guitar solos and showed his versatility playing solo on acoustic guitar on Life By The Drop (made popular by Stevie Ray Vaughn).
A CD party wouldn't be complete without special guests and the band featured some fine ones. Charity Brown joined the band to perform two originals including a new one, No Talk Talking, featured on the Grand River Blues Society compilation Got Mojo. Local protege of John Lee, Brian Voll, wowed the crowd on keyboard, sitting in for a couple of tunes. Later, R&B legend Douglas Watson and Mississippi Pete joined Alex, in a version of Let The Good Times Roll, which had people rockin' on the dance floor.
The party finished with a traditional encore, and the Alex Tintinalli Band didn't disappoint. An extended version of Stevie Ray Vaughn's Rude Mood was highlighted by a five minute, walk-about solo in which Alex made it around the club including the upstairs balcony.
The day was certainly a proud moment for Leo and Jackie Tintinalli. The months of work in the studio, and evenings and weekends out at jams and performances culminated in a truly successful CD release and genuinely fun day. Most importantly, it was a showcase for a local youngster who seems destined to make the big time. Congratulations Alex!
Contributed by D Cuomo
CD REVIEW:The Alex Tintinalli Band Nothing To Lose
Grand River Blues Society Newsletter May 2007
Willy A's Reviews and Views
Before actually reviewing the musical merits of this recording, one can't help but be impressed by the aesthetic appearance of this first CD by this talented young guitarist. From its artistic design, colour selection, quality photos on down to the extensive thank you list in the liner notes, the whole package screams professionalism. Nicely presented. But the true test lies in the musical content of the product and in this regard, Nothing To Lose is a very good debut CD.
What every reviewer would like to do, is to rate this recording, putting aside Alex's age (only 14 years old at the time of recording). But that's impossible. The truth is, because of his musical ability, he's already competing for acclaim and gigs in a mainly adult blues world. Still, he's more than holding his own and has the talent to take it to a much higher plateau.
First, I should point out who The Alex Tintinalli Band is. The group consists of Alex Tintinalli - Guitars and Vocals; Leo Tintinalli - Bass and Mike Boltz - Drums.
Special guests on the CD are John Lee on keys and James Schneider on horns. Overall the guitar work by Alex is exceptionally strong on all tracks and he has learned at a very young age that a loud screeching blues guitar must be tempered from time to time with quiet, reflective licks. He applies that knowledge nicely on various cuts and emphasizes it by finishing the recording with two acoustic songs, Idle Time and Life By The Drop. His solos are scintillating but not over the top.
The choice of material and pace is diverse and enjoyable. Alex either wrote or co- wrote eight of the ten songs and they work well both musically and lyrically. So there are only two covers on this CD. It's nice to see that amount of artistic freedom given to any artist, let alone a fourteen year old. Granted, most of the lyrics are pretty basic but we can't expect deep meaningful lyrics at this point. That'll evolve with time and more worldly knowledge.
Highlights for me were; Nothing To Lose, a low down dirty blues a la Ronnie Earl, Breakdown, a hard rockin' romp that slides into an almost '60's psychedelic trance (think I had a flashback), Voo Doo Thing, a heavy bass driven Colin James tribute, that Colin would be proud of, You Will Be Mine, with guitar licks that would be right at home in any Chicago blues bar, Down and Dirty, with lyrics that belie a 14 year old songwriter and Idle Time, an exceptional up tempo acoustic instrumental, that will amaze in both technique and feeling. It's short but oh so sweet.
The final song leaves you in a quieter space and gives you time to pause and reflect on not just the nice diversity of this CD, but also this young man's bright future. This recording nicely sets the pace and slowly moves him forward.
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CD REVIEW: "Nothing To Lose", By Paul Breau
May 2007 Newsletter
May '03 was a date more people should have had marked on their calendar The place to be was the London Music Club where future guitar legend, (yes I'm saying it now) Alex Tintinalli held his CD release party for his premier offering "Nothing to Lose" 2007 Scarlet Dragon Productions.
I have witnessed very many talented young guitar players over the years, and most of them were impressive players in their own right, however playing a mean axe is one thing, but wailing, singing, writing and being a good front man are the attributes that get one noticed in the industry and most definitely by the audience and sets them apart from the "just another band" tag.
At 15 years of age, Alex performs like a seasoned professional. In the 4 short years since he started playing guitar, he has taken his love for the blues and turned it into a driving passion that is apparent in his presentation. He orchestrates the actions on stage with his band mates to play to the response of the audience, yet he always appears relaxed when playing which means he's having fun and that's what music is supposed to be about.
I had arrived early at the LMC as I wanted to talk to Alex and Leo before they hit the stage. The hall was about half full and Alex let them have it all, playing several selections from his new CD and also playing a new as of yet unrecorded song that he had just written 2 weeks ago. We were the first to hear him play it. He also surprised quiet a few people, myself included, by wailing out an Anthony Gomes tune "High Calorie Woman" in his second set. Alex confided that he would absolutely love to open for AG.
On the subject of his first CD, I find "Nothing to Lose" to be a good mix of traditional blues with a bite to it. The recording itself is of excellent quality, recorded at Edison Recordings, Waterloo Ontario by James Schneider, and mastered at Sound on Sound Recordings, Waterloo, Ontario by Nelson McCrossan and James Schneider. As a special guest on this CD he has a little help from John Lee on piano and organ on most of the tracks.
The mixture of original songs combined with 2 covers, "Voodoo Thing" and "Life by the Drop", enables one to see not only his talent, but also his appreciation and driving force he gathers from other performers. This 10-track offering is one that most blues enthusiasts would be happy to have in their collection. The purity, drive and some profound lyrics make this CD an enjoyable listen.
The old adage says that things get better with age and Alex has got a long run ahead of him. I will be able to tell people "I knew him when"! In my humble opinion I foresee a great future and career ahead of Master Tintinalli and I look forward to seeing him again, and finding out what he is going to come up with next.
This is one act that you must see live to truly appreciate the power and drive of this young dynamo as good as this first CD is, Live is where he shines the brightest!
Paul Breau
Reprinted from The Great Lakes Blues Society
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Brilliant bluesy debut from awesome teenage talent
Beatwire News Release
March 8, 2007
The Alex Tintinalli Band release their debut album, Nothing To Lose on March 11, on the Scarlet Dragon Productions label. Led by the 14-year-old guitar prodigy Alex Tintinalli, this is hard, authentic blues-rock at its sublime best, played with a technical virtuosity worthy of comparison with the greats.
The phenomenally talented Tintinalli, from Kitchener, Ontario, wrote and arranged the entire record, save covers of songs by his heroes, fellow Canadian Colin James (Voodoo Thing) and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan (Life By The Drop).
Sunday March 11 sees the album's launch party at The Wax Night Club in Kitchener, where Alex and his band will be performing.
Alex is a truly sensational musical proposition. In a mere three-and-a-half years since picking up the guitar, he has reached an astonishing level of accomplishment in his playing and writing, that he fuses with an on-stage passion and energy which leaves audiences on their feet and open-mouthed.
He writes his own lyrics and directs his band, and in 2006 received a scholarship to the prestigious Guitar Workshop Plus in Oakville a major recognition of his skill and potential. More validation came recently when the local daily newspaper The Record wrote a follow-up article about Alex, referring to him as the 'guitar-shreddin', blues-wailin', bar-rockin' mini-maestro of the local club scene. In 2005, The Record featured Alex on the front page at the request of his many fans.
Additionally the local cable provider Rogers Television will feature Alex and the band on their "Daytime" program on March 9.
Despite his tender years, Alex is referred to as 'an old soul' musically, a reference to his classic playing style and mature approach to writing, performing and recording. The new album is an example of his expert musicianship, and songwriting way beyond his years. He is ably backed up by his band: on drums is Mike Boltz, a passionate, versatile percussionist who grew up surrounded by musicians, as son of Charity Brown (who had 11 hit songs in the 1970's); special guest on organ is John Lee, a stalwart of the Canadian blues scene for many years (having played with Mel Brown, Matt Minglewood and the late Dutch Mason); and finally, Alex enlists his dad Leo, who is no stranger to the music scene, on bass. Leo also doubles as band manager and co-producer of the album.
The album is a melting pot of all Alex's influences, including Stevie Ray Vaughan, Colin James, Jimi Hendrix, John Mayer, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, BB King, and Jeff Beck.
Alex's stage performances have evolved over the years, incorporating the stage antics of AC/DC's Angus Young, the psychedelic guitar feedback of Jimi Hendrix and smoking hot blues guitar leads of Steve Ray Vaughan.
Despite his special ability, Alex keeps his feet firmly on the ground and remains your typical teenager (he is also a black belt in Kung Fu). He makes his admirably humble musical ambitions clear: "I feel that good music and entertainment can lift people's spirits and in this crazy world people need more positive, uplifting experiences."
The band, who are becoming household names in Kitchener, have had quite an adventure since their inception. They have performed almost 30 times in the past year from London to Toronto, and have even opened for The Yardbirds. What's more, the title track 'Nothing To Lose' was recently selected by the Grand River Blues Society for inclusion on a compilation CD, Got Mojo, out on February 25.
Alex sees an exciting future filled with shows that will one day enable him to travel and entertain all around the globe. He has already started writing music and lyrics for his next album.
Nothing To Lose is available for advance orders through www.nothingtoloseCD.com , and will be distributed throughout Canada by 250 retailers such as HMV/Amazon and Chapters/Indigo. It will also be available online through www.cdbaby.com, and for download at iTunes, Napster, Rhapsody, Puretracks and many others.
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Guitar whiz now set for CD release
FROM THE RECORD, SERVING KITCHENER, CAMBRIDGE, WATERLOO AND THE REGION
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 24, 2007
By Colin Hunter
Record Staff
Who: Alex Tintinalli, the guitar shreddin', blues-wailin', bar-rockin', elementary-schoolin' mini-maestro of the local club scene. When we first wrote about him: March 2005, when he was turning heads and winning fans at an open stage jam at the Still.
His rendition of Robert Johnson's blues classic Crossroads inspired many patrons to raise their pints in salute to his skills - a rather odd gesture, considering Alex was still seven years below the legal drinking age. Doubly surprising was the fact that Alex had only started playing guitar a year earlier, at 11, out of sheer boredom.
But he had learned fast - really fast - under the guidance of guitarist John McKinley, a veteran of the local live club circuit. Onstage, Alex was backed up by his proud dad Leo, while mom Jackie clapped and whooped from the crowd.
"That guitar is a part of Alex," his mom said. "It's like a part of his body." Since then, The guitar has remained firmly attached to Alex. "He serenades us when we get up in the morning," his dad laughs. "And after dinner, and before bed."
Like any teen, Alex has tastes that change quickly. Before he started playing guitar, he was really into hip-hop, much to his parents' chagrin. Then he discovered his dad's collection of LPs from the '70s - Hendrix, Clapton, Rolling Stones, Stevie Ray Vaughan - and started emulating them.
He was understandably stoked, therefore, when he got booked to open for The Yardbirds at the Starlight Lounge in Waterloo last July. "That was really awesome," says Alex, now 14. "That was one of the best gigs I ever had."
After that, it was time for Alex to take the next big step in his musical career: The album is recorded, pressed and ready for release.
Alex and his band spent most of their spare time over the past six months at Edison Recordings in Waterloo, recording the 10 tracks that make up Nothing to Lose. "We called it that because, really, I've got nothing to lose," Alex says. "This will be really good for me."
That title track has already been included on a compilation CD produced by the Grand River Blues Society, which will be launched tomorrow at the Boathouse in Kitchener.
To record and press the initial 1,000 copies of Nothing To Lose, Alex and his dad founded an independent record label, Scarlet Dragon Productions. Eight of the album's 10 tracks are original blues-rock tunes Alex wrote about the perils of teenagerhood in suburban Kitchener - not exactly the stuff of the Mississippi Delta, but it's from the heart.
Hear it live when Alex and his band celebrate the release of Nothing To Lose in the most appropriate way - by hitting the stage and playing their guts out. The CD release party will be at The Wax nightclub in downtown Kitchener on the afternoon of March 11, and will feature guest musicians John Lee, John McKinley and Matt Lees.
For Alex, the gig will be another giant leap in his accelerated quest for stardom. "I wanna travel, make more CDs, play different styles of music - everything." he says.
Tickets for the CD release party are $5 in advance, $8 at the door, and are available at the Still, Encore Records, Orange Monkey and City Pawnbrokers.
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