- Al Cheznovitz
Al Chesnovitz, also Alan Chez is an American musician who principally plays the
trumpet and theflugelhorn on theCBS Orchestra for theLate Show with David Letterman . Alan Chez joined the CBS Orchestra onFebruary 3 ,1997 , after years of sitting in on trumpet and flugelhorn withPaul Shaffer on "Late Night with David Letterman " and the "Late Show".Beginnings in Music
Chez started his extensive music career at the age of 9 when he joined his father's local drum corps, the Saints. He went on to join the Garfield Cadets and, in
1979 , joined forces withJon Bon Jovi to create the band the Atlantic City Expressway, which playedNew Jersey shore clubs for five years.Chez still donates his time to drum corps-activity and also conducts brass-music clinics throughout the country. Mostly donating his time to the
Crossmen .He first met Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra's Will Lee at a club in
New York in1986 and was asked to tour with Shaffer's band. As "The World's Most Dangerous Band," they performed at such venues as the Jacksonville Jazz Festival and Summerfest in Wisconsin.He is particularly well-known for hitting extremely high notes for long periods of time.
Chez has also played with such artists as
Tower of Power , theRobert Cray Band ,Dave Edmunds , Dion,Graham Parker ,Kim Wilson and Bon Jovi. He has performed at such events as the1989 Presidential Inauguration, theRock and Roll Hall of Fame inductions,John Lennon 's 50th Birthday Celebration, the1996 Olympic Games Closing Ceremonies, the Concert of the Century, the Concert for New York, and the Very Special Christmas Concert. Al was also in the famous New Jersey shore band, La Bamba and the Hubcaps.Recently, he has performed in numerous halftime shows with the University of Virginia Cavalier Marching Band in its second and third years (2005 and 2006) as well as in the halftime show for the 2008
Konica Minolta Gator Bowl , being featured alongside student soloists for Misunderstood and Rhythm of the Night. He also played the National Anthem for the Drum Crops World Semi-finals Competition in August of 2008.Chez was born in
Jersey City , N.J., onJuly 7 ,1961 . He and his wife, Cat, continue to live in New Jersey.
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