Progarchives, the progressive rock ultimate discography

TONY SPADA

Jazz Rock/Fusion • United States


From Progarchives.com, the ultimate progressive rock music website

Tony Spada picture
Tony Spada biography
Born in East Hartford, Connecticut, USA

Tony Spada was the main composer and one of the founding members of U.S. prog band HOLDING PATTERN. HOLDING PATTERN's original lineup was Tony SPADA (guitars), Robert Hutchinson (drums), Mark Tannenbaum (keyboards) and Jerry Lalancette (bass/pedals). HOLDING PATTERN's debut album is still considered by many to be a symphonic prog classic.

Due to record company pressures to turn HOLDING PATTERN into a more commercially sellable product, Tony was prompted by many to release a solo album to return to a more guitaristic and progressive style. Spada's first solo effort "Balance Of Power" was released by California label Art Sublime in 1993 and put Tony in touch with a more guitar oriented fanbase. The music on "Balance Of Power" was a diversified mix of prog rock's best qualities from symphonic, celtic and classical, to
blistering fusion metal. The remainder of the 90's found Spada performing concerts with his new solo band along with KANSAS, Steve MORSE, Steve HOWE and Rick WAKEMAN, to name a few as well as headlining his own shows.

"The Human Element" released on Surveillance Records in 2005 is Tony's second album and features a new streamlined lineup of Tony Spada (guitars), Rob Gottfried (drums) and Tony Castellano (bass/keyboards). This album is highly recommended for fans of high tech guitar featured in every prog style imagineable, from prog fusion metal to intricately textured ensemble pieces as well as acoustic solos.

TONY SPADA Videos (YouTube and more)


Showing only random 3 | Search and add more videos to TONY SPADA

Buy TONY SPADA Music


TONY SPADA discography


Ordered by release date | Showing ratings (top albums) | Help Progarchives.com to complete the discography and add albums

TONY SPADA top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.96 | 5 ratings
Balance Of Power
1993
3.95 | 9 ratings
The Human Element
2004

TONY SPADA Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

TONY SPADA Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

TONY SPADA Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

TONY SPADA Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

TONY SPADA Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Balance Of Power by SPADA, TONY album cover Studio Album, 1993
3.96 | 5 ratings

BUY
Balance Of Power
Tony Spada Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by b_olariu
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Tony Spada is one of the most acomplished and gifted guitarists in last 30 years, both as member in Holding Patter and as soloist, but with all that talent he remains very unknown to larger public. His first solo album Balance of power from 1993 is a real jewel in prog music. I have the CD issued by Art Sublime for about ayear now in LP-size Jacket, a real great package and a real fantastic music aswell. Haveing among other his mate from Holding Patter- Tony Castellano as bassist and keybordist, this first solo album can be considered a winner in every way. Symphonic prog with great arrangements where the guitar of Tony shines on every piece, the keybords , even the vocal track are brilliant. very much in Hackett style as musical aproach, warm elegant with plenty of excellent moments. The inspiration is present on evy piece, specialy those who I like most the longest track the The Final Act, title track Touch Sensitive. So, a very solid first reord by Tony Spada, progressive rock with quite complex arrangements yet warm and elegant most of the time make me give without hesitation 4 stars. Another thing that must be mentioned is the cover art, realy great as LP-size Jacket is a real pleasure to watch this and complex for sure painting made by the one who is responsable with Iconoclasta albums and Praxis from Mexico. Not very long ago Tony has been inducted to the "Progressive Rock Hall of Fame" a deistinction that he desearve all the way. recommended album for all prog listners and worth to be discovered by many as possible.
 The Human Element by SPADA, TONY album cover Studio Album, 2004
3.95 | 9 ratings

BUY
The Human Element
Tony Spada Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by b_olariu
Prog Reviewer

4 stars Second studio album was issued after 12 years after previous release. Named The Human element released in 2005 ia anothe rexample of serious work in progressive rock music. Helped again by Tony Castellano responsable for bass and keybords and Tony with guitar of course , this album is little more towards jazz fusion/rock and less synphonic like first one. Again no weak moments here, great interplay between guitarand keybords. Pieces are now less lenghy and more direct where the guitar realy took of to another dimension, musicaly speaking like on Jack The Hat or Trcick shows, the rest are also great and well performed. Fans of guitar prog orientaed album must take a listen because worth every second. While I prefer first album who was for me little better and more intristing then this one, The human element keeps the flag high in instrumental albums history. Again few reviews and few ratings, realy shame because both albums with a plus on first are real treasures. 3.5 rounded to 4 this time.
 The Human Element by SPADA, TONY album cover Studio Album, 2004
3.95 | 9 ratings

BUY
The Human Element
Tony Spada Jazz Rock/Fusion

Review by Ovidiu

4 stars Albums like THE HUMAN ELEMENT are more and more rare!WHY/Because it's so difficult-in my humble opinion-to compose almost 45 minutes of music at such hig level of inspiration and to offer to the amateurs of the genre a compact album with no weak pointsThat's what TONY SPADA did with THE HUMAN ELEMENT!It's jazz rock,it's fusion,it's progressive and it's symphonic in the same time too!!!What else can we ask for? Brilliant,crystal clear production for an album made by a real pro which deliver here his huge talent on an album that plenty worth to be in the collection of any instrumental jazz rock music fan!ROB GOTTFRIED and TONY CASTELLANO are giving a strong hand to TONY to push the boundaries of an instrumental album close to perfection!Of course,we cannot avoid the comparation with Steve Morse,which is still a major influence for Mr Spada,but our hero has his own personality and compositional there is nothing more to say!Difficult to put in evidence one or two particular songs,let's say that the hightlights of the album are INTRUDERS and MILE HIGH,but the other are stellar too!Pure musical wizzardry! Check the new HOLDING PATTERN 2007 cd -BREAKING THE SILENCE and you'll discover Tony Spada at a new atomic componistic level !A revelation! 4,5 STARS for a masterful album!
Thanks to surveillance for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

Copyright Prog Archives, All rights reserved. | Legal Notice | Privacy Policy | Advertise | RSS + syndications

Other sites in the MAC network: JazzMusicArchives.com — jazz music reviews and archives | MetalMusicArchives.com — metal music reviews and archives

Donate monthly and keep PA fast-loading and ad-free forever.