Unsupervised, Craig Pilo's newest solo endeavor, will be releasing in early 2011.
Winner of the 2007 L.A. Music Award for Jazz Artist of the Year, for his "thrash jazz endeavor" Just Play, his first CD on Rue de la Harpe, drummer Craig Pilo has spent a good portion of his career as a touring musician with such notables as Edgar Winter, Frankie Valli, Maynard Ferguson, the Red Elvises, Pat Boone, Player, Deniece Williams, Billy Vera, The Dazz Band, Peaches & Herb, Don Rickles, Tommy Roe, Greg Adams, Chris Montez, Honycone, Malo, and Heatwave, to name a few; and has had the opportunity to record for several TV shows, radio theme songs, and several movies.
Originally from Connecticut, Craig Pilo graduated from the University of North Texas College of Music in 1995 with a Bachelors Degree in Music. In August of 1996, Craig moved to Los Angeles, released his first solo CD, This n' That, and took whatever playing jobs came his way. In the fall of 1997 he got a call to go on the road with famed trumpeter Maynard Ferguson, to promote Maynard’s Big Bop Novouea Band's CD One More Trip to Birdland. Craig attributes his early success to some of his private teachers, Alan Dawson, Ed Soph, Dave Weckl, and Jeff Hamilton.
From 1998 until 2002 Craig worked around Los Angeles and maintained a regular schedule with Player ("Baby Come Back"), a few local artists, and did sessions for TV, Film, and local artists' CD’s. A partial list of credits from this period includes: Ally McBeal, Boston Public, Sex in the City, CSI Miami, Malcolm in the Middle, Sabrina, The Osborne’s, and the Movies Basic and Dirty Dancing II Havana Nights. Some of the artists include: Billy Vera, Malo, Heatwave, Blue Magic, Deniece Williams, Don Rickles, The Delfonics, Tommy Roe, Chris Montez, and Danny Weis (Iron Butterfly).
In the Spring of 2002 Craig began playing regularly with Pat Boone. He did several tours over the next few years and recorded for a few of Pats CD’s. Craig played on the title cut “Under God” for the re-release of Pat’s American Glory CD released in 2002. In 2004 Craig broke away from his regular gigs and began playing with Angela Carole Brown and did a few tours with the Red Elvises. Each project produced a CD that included Craig on the drums. The Red Elvises recorded and released a live CD from one of the concerts in Russia, and Angela Carole Brown recorded and released The Slow Club. In the summer of 2005 Craig rejoined Pat Boone for his tour of Ireland. And in the summer of 2006 Craig played the Playboy Jazz Festival with Angela Carole Brown and The Slow Club Quartet. This year he releases, as producer and player, The Slow Club Quartet's Expressionism.
In November of 2005, Craig joined "Rock N Roll Hall-of-Fame" singer Frankie Valli for his touring band. Craig continues touring with Frankie into 2007, but can also be seen touring with Edgar Winter, and Player.
In 2008, Craig produced the The Slow Club Quartet's Expressionism, also on Rue de la Harpe, and in early 2011 is releasing his second solo endeavor with Rue de la Harpe, Unsupervised.