.Ambrose Jazz - Press Release

Saxophonist / composer Ambrose Splescia's debut album, Pleasure Pain Dezire (Dezire with a "Z"), proves Ambrose is a master of the style of music he plays. An accomplished studio musician, live performer and composer, he has written, arranged, scored and recorded what is best described as a blend of smooth Latin Soul grooves that are geared to mass audience appeal, and speak clearly of his American, European and Latin roots.

Ambrose's own unique sound comes from a fusion of these diverse cultural backgrounds. His approach is extremely melodic with a dynamic edginess held together by tight Afro Latin Jazz rhythms. Ambrose uses only the best musicians in the field to achieve this goal. Musicians that have track records with names like Sergio Mendes, Sheila E, Prince, and Baby Face. Radio listeners in the US, Europe, Australia and New Zealand are discovering this special album.

Ambrose lived and performed extensively in NY, LA and now resides in Auckland, New Zealand. Ambrose's 2005 calendar has included a tour with the UK's "queen of jazz" Cleo Laine, directed by her legendary partner John Dankworth. Ambrose also opened up for and performed with NZ's own platinum selling Yulia. When NY guitar legend Jack Wilkins came to perform in Auckland, Ambrose was called upon to accompany Jack at the Gables in Auckland. Ambrose will be back in LA and NY once again this year to help promote Pleasure Pain Dezire.

2004 saw Ambrose performing with Petula Clark. At Auckland's Civic Theatre, Ambrose got to open up for the platinum selling supergroup "America" while performing as a special guest for NZ's own Larry Morris Band. In 2003 Ambrose was back on America's shores with "The Best of New Zealand Tour", represented by Pacific Entertainment, who discovered Hayley Westenra. Ambrose was featured with New Zealand and international stars such as Ben Morrison, the 17 year-old virtuoso violinist, Tim Beveridge, NZ's hottest Broadway star, million selling guitar legend Gray Bartlett, Kiwi "Voice of Country Music" Brendan Dugan and Maori singer Taisha.

Since arriving in New Zealand, Ambrose has toured with Michael Barrymore, played with Ben Morrison and the NZ Pops, Susan Prentice, Larry Morris, and Susie Lynch/Steve Larkins. When not touring, he's a staff musician /teacher at Studio 10/New Frontier Records and the Corelli School, NZ's only academic school of the arts headed by the gifted David Selfe. New Frontier is where Hayley Westenra recorded her first hit record. Ambrose has recorded with JamesRay, New Zealands top country/pop artist, winner of the '03 Trans-Tasman Entertainer of the Year award.

A graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, Massachussetts, Ambrose, a child prodigy multi-instrumentalist played sax at the age of eight, and professionally from the age of twelve. While at Berklee, Ambrose played lead tenor with the Berklee Jazz Rock Ensemble, his unique sound thrilling audiences. Ambrose (known as "Buck" to many old friends) began touring around New England, establishing long lasting friendships with notables such as Jeff Golub, a GRP recording star of Rod Stewart fame. Jeff plays on three tracks of Ambrose's latest cd, Pleasure, Pain, Dezire.

While in LA, Ambrose performed with members of Ambrosia and Frank Zappa. He played at BB Kings and at the House of Blues with blues legend Lowell Fulsom, the man who discovered Ray Charles. An instrumental solo he recorded for Greg Young was entered by Naras for consideration in the 44th Grammys.

.Pleasure Pain, Dezire - the CD

Ambrose called on producer Federico Pol, (now touring with Jose Feliciano) who learned production from Lindsay Buckingham of Fleetwood Mac. He called on Renato Neto, (Prince, Sheila E) from Brazil to provide the wonderful keyboard tracks. Kevin Winard (Sergio Mendes) played drums. Scott Breadman played percussion (Jose Feliciano, The Rippingtons). Mendes's recording and sound engineer Geoff Gillette came aboard, and Jeff Golub (GRP) provided guitar tracks on "The Equalizer", "My Sweet Baby", and "Strollin with B". Morris O'Connor (Stevie Wonder) added guitar on "My Only One". Tony Moore (Gerald Albright) programmed the grooves on "My Only One" and "My Sweet Baby".

CC Thomas Jr. (Baby Face) and Michael Sechrest of Sound Vision in LA provided the finishing production touches on "My Only One", and "My Sweet Baby. Latin Grammy Nominee Bobby Rodriguez played trumpet on "Tequila", "Fiero", and "El Vacquero". Violinist Jim Sitterly (John Tesh) and cellist Brian Asher (One World) provided the strings.

Mixing engineer and co-producer Tony Shogren learned mixing techniques from the legendary Grammy winning Moogie Canazio while he was with Mendes. Ambrose finally called on Danielle LoPresti to do the vocal work. "The end result was stunning."

This music breaks age barriers, international borders, and much of it is timeless. "My objective is to reach the person who comes home from a hard day's work, and make them feel good about life", Ambrose smiles and comments; "If I haven't done that, I haven't done my job".