WELCOME

Welcome to the Steve Polezonis website! Hope you're all enjoying the New Year...all the best to all for a happy and healthy 2013. I was surprized by my optometric colleagues this month when I was named Connecticut Association of Optometrist (CAO) "2012 Optometrist of the Year". Needless to say I am still in a state of shock. I must say it is an emotional high to be recognized for the volunteer work that I do. Thank you colleagues for the recognition. On the music front, the Trio is gearing up for 2013...we'll be adding some more jazz to the repetoire as well as some new "old" rock tunes. Don't forget to check the UPCOMING DATES list to the left and as always you can check under the LIONS, OPTOMETRIST and MUSIC LIBRARY headings for updates as well as updated band information under the BAND heading. There will be more additions, photos and things as well as almost daily gig updates as time goes on so keep checking back periodically. Thanks for your interest and enjoy!

For direct contact to book the band or for more information on the Trio, Lions or eye care e-mail me at mgenlot@snet.net.

Steve Polezonis, Blues Musician:

Blending original blues with songs from the great American blues and jazz catalog, Steve Polezonis entertains a crowd with professionalism and taste.

Steve's influences are varied...the "masters", such as Muddy Waters, Howlin' Wolf, Little Walter, Sonny Boy Williamson, Freddie King, Albert King and BB King, J.J. Cale, Louis Jordan, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Chet Baker and Miles Davis; as well as the "pupils" such as Eric Clapton, Dave Mason, Stevie Ray and Jimmy Vaughan, Robben Ford, Robert Cray, Debbie Davies, Wynton Marsalis and Kim Wilson.

Steve started playing trumpet in the fifth grade in the Bridgeport, CT schools and played through college and beyond, most recently with the Plainville Wind Ensemble as well as the dance band and brass quintet of the Plainville group as recently as 2005. He studied guitar with Richard Sandler and Dale Anderson in the mid '70s and later with Dino Lappas and Gary Fortier and vocals, harp and guitar as well as blues musicology with Ed Vadas in the late '80s and early '90s. He studied voice with Maria Kallitsi McFarland (City Opera of Cologne, Germany, New Orleans Opera, Mobile Opera and Fort Worth Opera) and has been singing baritone in the Choir of St. George, New Britain since 1993. He played in various "garage bands" through the '70s and '80s and, along with his "Blues Brother" Les Cooke, played in various blues bands in the Springfield, MA and Hartford, CT areas through the '90s and '00s, including the Blusicians, Mudcats, Pythons and Free Chicken & Beer (voted "Best Blues Band" in the Valley Advocate poll in 2000).

He's opened for Johnny Hey & The Bluefish and Debbie Davies and for the 2003 Berlin Blues Festival which was headlined by The Nighthawks and Jeff Pitchell. He has played the Terryville Fair as both a supporting and headline act. He's blessed to have played with bassist Rich Neville (Poco and Dave Mason) and has jammed with Paul Cotton (Poco), Mark Nomad, Bonnie Bramlet (Delaney & Bonnie), Tommy Whalen (Eight to the Bar) and James Montgomery just to name a few. Currently Steve is fronting the Steve Polezonis Trio.

A regular at the famous Tic-Toc Blues Jam, he recorded his first album there in 2002, "Steve Polezonis & Friends Live at the Tic-Toc". It captures the feeling of their Thursday night open jams and Saturday night "Free Chicken & Beer" invitation jams. A second album, "Live @ The Berlin Blues Festival" is a raw testament to the band in action.

Come and see why Steve and his Friends won the Valley Advocate's Poll for best Blues Band...ask your favorite venue to book Steve Polezonis...and be prepared to have a ball!

Steve is a member of the Connecticut Blues Society.