Nick Zala (born 21 January 1959), is an English pedal steel and guitar player from Barnet, Hertfordshire, England.
Born Nicholas Michael Anthony Zala, he was exposed to music from a very young age.[citation needed] His grandparents were both skilled pianists – one a sight reader, and the other a jazz musician who played entirely by ear. He took up the cello at the age of seven but gave it up only two years later in favour of the more portable guitar. By the age of 15, he had received jazz guitar tuition from Ike Isaacs and some useful advice in a one-to-one with Joe Pass.[citation needed]
Career
After 30 years as a professional guitar-player and teacher, Zala took up the pedal steel guitar. His first band, The Loose Salute, contacted him eight weeks after he had bought his pedal steel. A positive review of his first gig with The Loose Salute appeared in The Guardian, boosting his career. Between 2003 and 2007, he recorded on eleven albums, toured in Europe and the United States, appeared on television and radio, and made it into the top ten of the UK Albums Chart, with pop band McFly's platinum-selling album Motion in the Ocean.
Numerous albums have subsequently followed, both in the retail and production music areas, and likewise many sessions, both on guitar, pedal steel and other instruments, including banjo, mandolin, ukulele and harmonica.
His latest title Jazz Guitar described by him as "a homage to Ike (Isaacs), and Joe (Pass), and a fresh look at the genre".
In 2012, Zala played guitar and pedal steel in "Acetones" with Alan Darby (guitar), Jim Watson (keyboards), and Jonathan Noyce (bass).
Zala has been working with composer Chris Bangs on the feature film, Highly Functional set for U.S. release in September 2016 (pedal steel, guitar, mandolin).
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