Nick Zala

Nick Zala (born 21 January 1959), is a pedal steel and guitar player from Barnet, Hertfordshire, England.

Early life

Born Nicholas Michael Anthony Zala, Nick was exposed to music from a very young age. His grandparents were both skilled pianists - one a sight reader, and the other a jazz musician who played entirely by ear. He took up the cello at the age of seven but gave it up only two years later in favour of the more portable guitar. By the age of 15, he had received jazz guitar tuition from Ike Isaacs and some useful advice in a one-to-one with Joe Pass.

Career

After 30 years as a professional guitar-player and teacher,Nick took up the pedal steel guitar. His first band, The Loose Salute, contacted him eight weeks after he had bought his pedal steel. A positive review of his first gig with The Loose Salute appeared in the The Guardian, boosting his career. Between 2003 and 2007, he recorded on eleven albums, toured in Europe and the United States, appeared on television and radio, and made it into the top ten of the UK Albums Chart, with pop band McFly's platinum-selling album Motion In The Ocean.

Numerous albums have subsequently followed, both in the retail and production music areas, and likewise many sessions, both on guitar, pedal steel and other instruments, including banjo, mandolin, ukulele and harmonica.

His latest title Jazz Guitar described by him as "a homage to Ike (Isaacs), and Joe (Pass), and a fresh look at the genre".

In 2012 Nick played guitar and pedal steel in "Acetones" with Alan Darby (guitar - We Will Rock You, Eric Clapton, Sting, Van Morrison, Mark Knopfler), Jim Watson (keyboards - Katie Melua), and Jonathan Noyce (bass - JethroTull, Gary Moore, Rick Wakeman, and We Will Rock You).

2016 Nick has been working with composer Chris Bangs on the feature film "Highly Functional" set for release ( US) September 2016 (Pedal Steel, Guitar, Mandolin)

Discography

2003 - Seafood - As The Cry Flows
2004 - The General Store - Mountain Rescue
2004 - Frankie Miller - Long Way Home ^[1]^[2]
2005 - The Loose Salute - Suck It Up Buttercup
2006 - Mojave Three - Puzzles Like You
2006 - McFly - Motion In The Ocean
2006 - Songs From The Blue House - Tree ^[3]
2007 - Jessica Blake - Three Good Reason
2007 - Matt Willis - Crash
2007 - The Loose Salute - Tuned To Love
2007 - Virginia Younger - Fall In Love Again
2010 - Bottleneck Banjo (Library/Production)
2010 - Light Country Ballads (Library/Production)
2010 - Light Country Ballads Volume 2 (Library/Production)
2010 - Pedal Steel Themes and Beds (Library/Production)
2010 - Pedal Steel Themes and Beds Volume 2 (Library/Production)
2011 - Classical Guitar Concertos
2011 - Classical Guitar Concertos Volume 2
2011 - Pedal Steel Heaven
2011 - Pedal Steel Heaven Volume 2
2011 - The Ultimate Folk Collection
2011 - The Ultimate Folk Collection Volume 2
2011 - The Ultimate Folk Collection Volume 3
2011 - The Ultimate Folk Collection Volume 4
2011 - Classical Guitar Masterpieces
2011 - Classical Guitar Masterpieces Volume 2
2011 - The Platinum Country Collection
2011 - The Platinum Country Collection Volume 2
2011 - The Platinum Country Collection Volume 3
2011 - The Platinum Country Collection Volume 4
2011 - American Anthems
2011 - American Anthems Volume 2
2011 - Ultimate Love Songs Collection
2011 - Ultimate Love Songs Collection Volume 2
2011 - The Hank Williams Songbook
2011 - Bluegrass Greats
2011 - Music Of Love
2011 - Music Of Love Volume 2
2011 - Music Of Love Volume 3
2011 - Strictly Swing
2011 - Strictly Ballroom Swing
2012 - Absolute Guitar
2012 - Romantic Guitar Collection
2012 - Romantic Guitar Collection Volume 2
2012 - Country Classics
2012 - Light Jazz Guitar Themes and Beds (Library/Production)
2012 - Light Jazz Guitar Themes and Beds Volume 2 (Library/Production)
2012 - Absolute Love
2012 - 40 Folk Classics
2012 - Songs From The Blue House - IV
2012 - Songs From the Blue House - You’re So Vain
2013 - Peter Sanford - Help For Heroes
2013 - Jazz Guitar

References

External links

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