BIO-
Giles Ponticello began studying piano about age 9 ( mother was a piano teacher) but switched to guitar at about age 10. Some influences include The Beatles, The Youngbloods, James Taylor, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Santana, Jimi Hendrix, Traffic, Bob Dylan, Arlo Guthrie, The James Gang, Eric Clapton, Loggins and Messina, Little Feat, Pat Metheny, George Benson, etc...
My first band, at age 16, was named "Calico" ( Erie Pennsylvania ) and performed for high school dances and college theaters including the Gannon college playhouse.
After relocating to Columbus Ohio (1974) I began taking guitar lessons at Jazz City Workshop where I later began teaching guitar.
I attended The Ohio State University and studied music and audio engineering.
While at OSU I studied with faculty guitarist Tom Carroll and also privately with Don Hales (who formerly performed with saxophonist Eddie Harris).
I joined the OSU Jazz Lab Ensemble under the direction of John Emche and later performed with The OSU Jazz Ensemble under direction of Tom Battenberg.
The OSU Jazz Ensemble (1978-1979) won several awards for college big band including first place at the Notre Dame Jazz Festival (1978) and best performance at The National Association of Jazz Educators convention in Philadelphia, Pa., and The Downbeat Award (from Downbeat Magazine) for best college album. (see album "Acorn's Tavern" on CD page)
The OSU Jazz Ensemble performed in concert with special guest artist/flutest Hubert Laws, saxophonist Phil Woods, drummer Peter Erskine (of famed jazz group Weather Report), among other top-notch performers.
Since college, I played music full time for a few years on hotel circuits and bars. The work was very off and on and became to unsteady to make a living on. After playing over a year with a full time hotel band and then another year with a country/rock band (Alum Valley Band) the group decided to split up. I decided to take a job as an electronics technician while continuing to play and record. During this time period I worked with the group "Project One" and recorded the Album "It's About Time" by Project One.
I have continued to perform around central Ohio at hotels, clubs, bars and restaurants, festivals, coffee houses weddings, and parties.
Some recent and past groups have included : The Alum Valley Band, Janet's Planet, Teaser, Project One, Linda Dachtyl Blues Quartet, Hombre Secreto and the Cats of Tonic. I have also continued to record and perform as a soloist. See my latest CD "Near the Bridge".
Some venues I have played at include:
Holiday Inn Lane Ave
Holiday Inn -Bellefontaine, Ohio
The Sheraton North
The Ramada Inn South
The four Keys Hotel- Portsmouth, Ohio
Sedans Restaurant- Parkersburg, West Virginia
The Crazy Horse Saloon
The Wooden Horse
Screamin' Willies North
Screamin' Willies East
The No Name Saloon
Ruby Tuesday's -Columbus
Ruby Tuesday's -Springfield, Ohio
Rally in The Alley
The Columbus Arts Festival
The Jazz and Ribs Festival
Comfest
Creekside Blues and Jazz Festival
The Funnybone Comedy Club
The Colorado Rose Restaurant
The Colorado Cattle Company
The Dell Resturant
The Columbus Music Hall
The 501/Park Street
The Flat Iron
The Thirsty Ear Tavern (The Woodlands Tavern)
The Southern Hotel
Moundbuilders Country Club
The New Albany Country Club
The Columbus Country Club
Patrick J's
Dick's Den
The Lobby
The Village Inn- Kenyon College
Victorian's Midnight Cafe
Vonn's Jazz Lounge
Mohican Gardens- wedding (9/25/10) with Cats of Tonic.
Stache and Lil' Brothers
Oldfields
Victory's
Mudflats Bar - Galena, Ohio
Middle Bass Island City Hall
Women in Jazz Festival- Dayton, Ohio
Jazz Central- Dayton, Ohio
Mirror Lake Cafe
Lakes Country Club
Espresso Yourself Music Cafe
Fat's Billiards
Bernie's
The Shadowbox
Larry B's Sports Lounge
Grandview Cafe
Peasant on the Lane
Borders Books
Scottie MacBeans
Cimanellos Garden
The Mattress Factoy- Pittsburgh
(To be continued)
If you are interested in booking me as a soloist or with a group please go to: www.gigmaster.com/americanaguitar/gilesponticello
Currently I perform as a soloist, with my trio The Cats of Tonic or with The Linda Dachtyl Blues quartet.
Most recent performances are at Jimmy V's and The Old Bag of Nails (in Westerville), Vonn Jazz Lounge, the Creekside music and arts festival.
