“As music director and conductor of the Rock River Philharmonic, Rob Tomaro normally doesn’t do gigs at the Back Bar. Every rule has its exception,” writes Ann Fiore in Wednesday’s (/4) Janesville Gazette (Wisconsin). “Tomaro will perform at the local rock/metal venue Thursday, June 12, to help his friend Susan Aquila debut her new album, ‘Broken Angel.’ ‘This band can really crank it up,’ said Tomaro, who plays electric guitar in the Susan Aquila Band.… Tomaro … is well known in the area as a composer and jazz musician. Aquila, a respected violinist from New York City, also is no stranger to Rock County. She has performed several times with the Beloit Janesville Symphony, the Philharmonic’s predecessor. And she wields a unique rock instrument: a purple Viper six-string electric violin. She and Tomaro … have worked on other music for the symphony.… Tomaro began writing rock songs in 2012, and all the tracks on ‘Broken Angel’ are his. Aquila called the album ‘quite a departure’ from her regular work, which has included gigs with orchestras and rock musicians, from Paul McCartney to Metallica.… Aquila plays her electric violin on 10 of the 12 rock tracks. Her 1926 acoustic violin soars on the two ballads…. ‘It’s been a wonderful collaboration so far,’ [Tomaro] said.”
Posted June 9, 2014
