Why Vonrenzo?
Hi, friends! We're delighted to bring you the very latest news: Vonrenzo's very own Michelle Cruz is releasing her debut solo album "The Recovery" on September 15th! You can preorder a copy HERE. 
Sign up for her newsletter and you get a special gift with your purchase. Sweetness? You bet, kids.
"What's up with Vonrenzo?" you asked. Well we are well underway with the next album, bouncing back and forth between New York City, Philly, and Boston to bring you Vonrenzo goodness. No album date set quite yet, but let's just say that it will be the perfect warm weather season pocket of awesome. Hell, let's be honest... it's great for every season. Sign up for our NEWSLETTER to stay informed.
Vonrenzo
Adam Luaces was born into music. The child of a vocalist and a poet/musician, he began accompanying his mother on tour when he was just weeks old. A tour veteran by the time he was a toddler, Luaces found his way back to writing and performing while attending Manhattan College.
The creation of Vonrenzo, formed in the wake of the initial success and later dissolution of his first band, BEND, soon lead to collaborations with producer Kyle 'Slick' Johnson, resulting in 2006's darkly ethereal Intention and the Adequacy of Delusion and 2009's
lovely, heartbreaking-yet-hopeful Indica Dove Sei.
Adam has consistently awesome hair, and gives the most wonderful hugs.
Originally from Glens Falls, NY, guitarist/vocalist Nathan Brimmer started his musical career at the age of 3, delighting family audiences with his rendition of The Rainbow Connection. Brimmer's musical talents were nurtured by his parents as he picked up the viola at age 6, followed by the alto sax at age 8. Throughout his adolescence in the Lake George, NY area, Nathan continued to excel in music, moving through the sax family to tenor and baritone.
After establishing himself as an accomplished violist and saxophonist, Brimmer picked up the bass guitar, playing in a local Beatles cover band. While playing bass in a Phish cover band in his late teens, Nathan finally turned his attention to the guitar, reapplying his knowledge in music theory to develop his talent.
Brimmer began teaching music theory, guitar, and saxophone in 2001, passing along his love and passion for music to both adults and children in the Greater Rochester, NY area. After briefly relocating back home to Glens Falls, Nathan moved to Long Island in 2005. As fate would have it, Brimmer and Luaces, friends since childhood, happened to bump into one another while riding the same subway car in New York City.
Nathan Brimmer brings a variety of talents to Vonrenzo. In addition to a solid rhythm guitar, Brimmer adds string composition to the group. Prior to Vonrenzo, Brimmer played guitar with Andre Fox of George Clinton and the P-Funk All-Stars, The Sneaks, and Confined Liberation. As an accomplished baritone saxophone player, Nathan also had the opportunity to sit in with world-renowned trumpeter and composer Maynard Ferguson. In his free time, Brimmer is an outstanding engineer, Mensa, and Director of Fun and Tomfoolery.
Music has always been a big part of Michelle Cruz's life. She began singing as a toddler watching her mother sing along to artists like Cabo Verde's Cesaria Evora and Brazil's Astrud Gilberto. "I loved my mom's deep, rich voice, very Marianne Faithful. Music was always on in the house and I can't thank her enough."
Named "Sultry" by the Jeff Buckley International Newsletter, Michelle has opened for folk legend Judy Collins, appeared on WXPN's World Cafe Live in Philadelphia and was asked to perform for her music hero, the late Jeff Buckley, at a Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Fan Gathering and Tribute concert in Cleveland. Another career defining moment was when Cruz met another large influence, the late Odetta, at the Newport Folk Festival in 2006. "We chatted for a while and the last thing she said to me was 'Do well. Do very well.' That really stuck with me."
Michelle founded The Lost Chord – a nonprofit organization that provides free music instruments and lessons to children. The Rhode Island-based musician is gearing up for her first trip to Cabo Verde, Africa to develop "Sounds Across Waves," a program allowing children from two nations to interact through music and her first music release, due out in late fall.
Ariana Shore was once described as a perfect combination of a West Coast girl with an East Coast Attitude. Growing up in Los Angeles, California, Ariana used to spend her time watching the street
musicians on Venice beach, going to as many concerts as she could milk out of her Hanukkah presents, and writing, producing and performing in her very own variety shows. All the while, she always knew she would end up in New York and thrive on it's very unique music community and performers heaven. Since moving there, she has been performing on
stage anywhere from stand up comedy to starring in two Off Broadway shows. She also landed a spot on the Home Shopping Network, where she successfully convinced you to buy things you never thought you needed. Graduating from University of Miami's Music Conservatory gave her the tools to eventually become the singer/songwriter she is today. She
has successfully been writing songs for other musicians in New York and L.A., but is most excited about her own debut album "Make Good Choices" coming out this summer. And even though she has been singing backup for several bands in New York, none have been as thrilling as working with Vonrenzo.... love, love, love, those guys!!!
Guitarist/vocalist Pete Pidgeon has recorded his music with Levon Helm of The Band and Nate Albert of Mighty Mighty Bosstones, been bandmates with Grammy-nominated Killswitch Engage drummer Justin Foley, written music recorded by Beyonce drummer Nikki Glaspie, been a member of Blue Man Group and has performed with Kanye West drummer Charles Haynes.
Pete's 2007 album "Doubt Is For Losers" was recorded at Radiohead producer Paul Kolderie's Camp Street Studios with the assistance of Grammy-winner Adam Taylor. The rhythm section on the disc is comprised of John Scofield/DAP Kings drummer Eric Kalb and John Brown's Body bassist Nate Edgar. Arcoda, Pete's backing band, included Soulive member/Dave Matthews Band guest Sam Kininger in the horn section. Pidgeon's 2005 release "Happy Song EP" was mentored by Vertical Horizon/Doobie Brothers drummer Ed Toth.
Pete is an active producer based in Brooklyn, NY, managing his company Now Power Productions . He co-produced "Indica Dove Sei" alongside Modest Mouse/The Hives producer Kyle 'Slick' Johnson and works with artists from all across America in all styles.
Giving back to the community, Pete was invited to speak to addiction-addled teens at Road Recovery, following producer Steve Lillywhite and Metallica bassist James Hetfield.
Having toured the U.S. as a lighting director for The Slip, written a book on an ill-fated trip to Virginia, acted in film, taken award-winning photography, started the Northeast in-home lesson business Pete Pidgeon Music School, and won a remote control car contest at the public library in junior high school, Pete doesn’t sleep, ever.
Colette Alexander began hitting things to make sound at the age of three. She quickly progressed to a box attached to a yardstick, with a nifty little bench her dad made. Every now and then, as she grew, her dad would re-adjust the bench a little higher. Before they knew it, Colette was sitting in a grown-up chair, playing a grown-up cello...at the age of four.
Colette learned how to play classical music (even though she listened to her dad's old rock records and loved to sing along to Bow Wow Wow). Realizing she didn't want to be in an orchestra, Colette decided to attend a liberal arts school (Sarah Lawrence College). She almost decided to go to law school, but at the last minute applied to the California Institute of the Arts, where she focused on contemporary classical music, North Indian and Persian classical music, and improvisation.
Colette has performed with Yo-Yo Ma, the New York New Music Ensemble, Jens Lekman, Josh Groban, Rilo Kiley and Rachael Yamagata. She currently resides in Brooklyn, New York, and when she grows up, aspires to become a chef. Or maybe an assassin. For now, though, it's the cello...
