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ebazel
Nov 124 min read

Life & Work with Ed Bazel





From The Nashville Voyager


Today we’d like to introduce you to Ed Bazel


Hi Ed, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?I have a business degree and a computer programming degree. My journey started fresh out of college when I told my parents I would play the piano for a living. After they stopped choking me in horror, I told them it was because they forced me to take piano lessons as a child for 11 years. Although I hated the lessons and practice, it was the best gift my parents ever gave me.


I went on to have an amazing career in the music industry. I was a pianist for many years at exotic locations like The Beverly Hills Country Club and the Ritz Carlton Laguna Niguel. I was named “Best Pianist In Downtown LA” by a Los Angeles newspaper.


From there, I became a producer of corporate events for Fortune 500 companies and have worked with an extensive list of concert artists, comedians, and speakers in over 25 countries. I was named “The Marco Polo of Modern Music” by the Los Angeles Times for groundbreaking work in China. I am the CEO for The Bazel Group, Inc.- providing celebrity concerts, comedians and speakers for corporate events. I have booked shows from The Great Wall of China to the US Ambassador to the Vatican in Rome. www.thebazelgroup.com


I am also an active officer in music-related organizations, including IEBA (International Entertainment Buyers Association) Former President, Life Time Member, Corporate Talent Buyer Of The Year Finalist; NATD (Nashville Association of Talent Directors) Former President & Life Time Member, Board Member, Talent Director and Outstanding Member Of The Year; named in Music Row Magazine “In Charge” yearly editions, and have held membership with ACM, CMA, IAFE, IASB and The Recording Academy. Despite all the pictures I sent my mom with me and the artists (Bad Company, Foreigner, Jay Leno, Huey Lewis & The News etc.), my mother wanted me to get “a real job.”


Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?Having a career in the music business has many ups and downs. It is not for the faint of heart. We are not drawn to a music career for the hopes of a huge financial gain. At least I have not met many people with that goal. It is a drop to your knees and thank the heavens above passion for music that has brought me, and others, to this career. It has its ups and downs; both amazing and terrifying. But in the end, it has been amazing, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world.


www.thebazelgroup.com – Concerts, Comedians & Speakers for corporate events eventswww.theriverofcalm.com – Music To Soothe Your Soul

www.edbazel.com – Award Winning Pianist


As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?I am an endurance athlete; this mindset carries over to the business world: commitment and tenacity. I have completed five marathons (Los Angeles, New York Chicago, Phoenix, Honolulu, organized and rode “The City of Hope Transcontinental Ride for Hope” – a 3,000-mile transcontinental bicycle ride to benefit the City of Hope and participated in two Tour de France vacations cycling up the Pyrenees and Alps to Paris. I also have hiked Mt. Kilimanjaro. I have achieved my success by consistently showing up day after day. Nobody is coming to my rescue; if it is meant to be, it’s up to me.


Since COVID shut down my career in the concert business, I returned to the piano and am amazed by the results of this move. I have recorded five albums, the last two recorded at Abbey Road Studios in London. Specifically, Studio 2, where The Beatles recorded all their hits. That was a profound experience. The response to these albums has been amazing. They have either won or been nominated for over twenty awards in the new age and instrumentalist categories. I have three more albums in the works.


Even though my concert and piano careers are highly exciting and satisfying, something means more to me. I started a radio station called The River Of Calm www.theriverofcalm.com to play calming music to a stressed-out world. It started with one other artist and me and ten songs on an online radio station. We had two listeners, me and my dog. Fast forward to today; we now have listeners in 160 countries. There are over 285 independent artists whose beautiful music calms others. The exciting part is that we have partnered with the Sundance Film Festival-winning documentary “Alive Inside” to use their proprietary headphones, filled with the music from The River of Calm, and we donate them to chemotherapy centers for patients going through a very rough and surreal time. Our headphones filled with calming music are the best use of our gifts as musicians to help others in dire need.


Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?Although I am a calm person, I am a risk-taker. You must take risks to own your own businesses and believe in yourself. My parents constantly told me to get a “real job.” However, I took the risk to follow my heart into the music business. I trusted my instincts that this was the right thing to do. I am amazed by the results.


And as far as recording solo piano records, this is a major risk to lay your heart out for the world to hear. There is no running or hiding. It is just you, the instrument, and up to 13 microphones recording your every move. If you think about it, there’s no hiding with minimalistic piano albums; you’re baring your soul and technical skill.

In the studio, I had to get past the layers of self-doubt, thinking about whether my music was “good enough.” I took a deep breath and let out the music inside me. That was a considerable risk. I am stunned by the results. Never have I seen so many people respond to beautiful solo piano in my life.


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