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Click HERE to download Press Photo - (540 kb) Click HERE to book Azz Izz Band
Best World Beat Band For Immediate
Release "The campaign is a real departure from typical radio advertising," said Tim Amundson, Modelo Brands Marketing Director for Barton Beers. "And the best part is, we're offering listeners what they are most interested in hearing... the MUSIC!" "It's a great deal for the band!" claims Mark Reckling, Steel Drum player and co-leader of the group, "the best part is, the spot primarily features the music and the band, not so much the plugging of the product! It would be hard to get this kind of national exposure any other way. Even major labels don't have the kind of marketing dollars to put behind their acts that Corona is spending." Fogarty Klein 312 of Chicago is producing the campaign for Barton Beers, Corona's U.S. importer. The ad was recorded at Vintage Recorders in Phoenix and mixed at Terry Fryer Music in Chicago. The radio ads will partner with Corona's new $21 million national television campaign of 30 and 15 second spots to further entrench the brand's long-popular image of fun, sun, and the beach. Although the commercial will air nationwide, it can be heard locally on 101.5 FM KZON, 104.7 FM KZZP, 96.9 FM KMXP, 97.9 FM KUPD, as well as two AM stations, all beginning this week. Contacts: Crowning Glory: Azz Izz Snags Corona Beer Radio
Ad 
It's a marriage made in party heaven: the Azz Izz Band and Corona beer. Azz Izz, whose good-time stew of R&B, reggae, funk and jazz has been a Valley staple for 12 years, will get some well-deserved national exposure shortly after Memorial Day from a 60-second radio commercial it cut recently for the beer company. "This is payback for all the things that never happened for us," said Mark Reckling, who plays keyboards and steel drums and co-founded the band with Steve Strauss. "It's like, 'Right on! Where do we sign?'" The band performs an abbreviated version of its song Jump to the Rhythm for the spot, scheduled to run through the end of the year. "There's a small tag (for Corona) at the beginning," Reckling said, "but then it's really just a 60-second song. You couldn't get this kind of airplay unless you were signed (to a record label), and the ad says the name of the band." Said Strauss, explaining why the music is front and center: "Corona is selling a lifestyle, more than anything else. ...Advertisers have to align themselves with what's happening. When you see an ad for Levi's, do you even know what they're selling? It's all a concept." Azz Izz recorded the spot May 10 at Vintage Recorders in Phoenix, and a video crew was on hand in case Corona decides to take it to TV. It's a great break for the eight-member band, which plays around 200 dates a year and has long been a regional favorite, particularly in Southern California and Las Vegas. Azz Izz added Katherine Quinif as its lead vocalist about a year ago. "With Katherine, we have a little broader appeal," Reckling said. "Reggae purists may not like us, but we're really more of an R&B band with a reggae feel. She's not Black and doesn't have dreadlocks, but her voice, energy and style get that off our back." After all this time, it's still a party with a capital P. "We're interactive, " Strauss said. "You've got to jump up and jam with us." Azz Izz will play locally at Club Rio in Tempe on Friday and at the Billet Bar in Scottsdale on Saturday. Azz Izz Band
Evolving 
For more than a decade, the Azz Izz Band has been infecting audiences with their bug. The disease? Terminal party. With side effects like an uncontrollable gyrating of the hips, frenetic excitement, and generally uninhibited behavior, it’s not a bad malignancy to have. But beware, it’s catchy. With two CDs under their belt and production of their third in the works, the ever evolving Azz Izz Band has added a new dimension to their mix of R & B, Reggae, Ska, Funk and Jazz. Lead vocalist Katherine Quinif. "We were not specifically looking for a female to join the group until we saw her perform and it just sort of hit us!" said percussionist Steve Strauss. "It has exceeded our expectations" chimed in Keyboardist and Steel Drum player Mark Recking, who co-founded the band with Strauss in 1988. "It’s been a perfect fit, I think for both the group and for her." Quinif’s radiant personality brings a strong stage presence to a band already adept at entertaining a crowd. Her smooth vocals lend a soothing flavor to a recipe that is rich in upbeat Funk and Reggae groves. "I have felt so comfortable playing with these guys. It is really coming together for us." Quinif said. How’d they choose the name? "It just seemed to fit the band’s personality," says Reckling. "We considered calling ourselves the Butthole Surfers but that name was already taken," adds a sarcastic Strauss. "We thrive on being a little spontaneous so it really stuck." And spontaneity is routine for this band. Although musically a tight ensemble, each show is injected with a strong dose of improvisation that keeps the audience guessing. At a recent performance one Azz Izz devotee named D.C. exclaimed "You never see the same show twice with these guys. It’s always an adventure!" The latest release from the group entitled In Another World sold close to eight thousand copies locally in the Phoenix area, but the band is still in search of that elusive recording contract that most ensembles crave. They hope that 1998 is their year. Reckling recalls "We’ve come close to inking a variety of deals numerous times but haven’t quite gotten over the hump yet. When the right time and place come, which is what it takes, we’ll be ready. Until then, we’re having a great run and really love the music we’re playing." Based in Tempe, AZ the Azz Izz Band consistently tours the club scene throughout the Southwest with regular stops in Southern California and Las Vegas. They can also be found regularly at nightclubs in Phoenix, Tempe, and Scottsdale areas in Arizona. |
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