Los Angeles-based pianist Lao Tizer bridges musical worlds the way his name links cultures.

"We try to bring to every performance youth, energy and diversity," says Tizer. "One of my biggest goals is to win over new young audiences." An audience, Tizer says, that has little opportunity to be exposed to contemporary jazz through radio.

Named for the Chinese Taoist philosopher Lao-tzu by his "hippy parents" of Russian ethnicity, Tizer and his namesake band work hard touring across the United States and Canada to introduce his brand of contemporary jazz to new audiences. The band has played several jazz festivals but also actively seeks out engagements in "cold beds" of contemporary jazz, for example, Mississippi, and with performers of decidedly different musical genres, for example, Jethro Tull or K.C. and the Sunshine Band.

The Lao Tizer Band continues its trek from 7 to 9:30 p.m. tomorrow at the Robertshaw Amphitheatre in Greensburg's St. Clair Park. The free concert is the band's first appearance in the Pittsburgh area.

Tizer says he never refers to himself as a prodigy, but others have. He self-produced his first solo piano CD, "As the Eagle Soars," at age 14 from his home in Boulder, Colo. Within the next three years, two more self-produced CDs followed, "Arabian Dusk" and "Praeludium."

In 1997, at age 18, Tizer moved to Los Angeles, where his first studio-produced CD, "Golden Soul" was released in 2001.

Since his start as a "street musician" in Boulder and Denver -- not an easy gig for a pianist -- Tizer's playing and composing skills have developed from the pure classical interpretations of a youth to a smooth mix of classical technique, world rhythms and contemporary jazz styling with a popular appeal. In addition, members of the five-piece Lao Tizer Band bring their individual strengths and influences to the music.

Guitarist Jeff Kollman's progressive hard-rock experience revs up the music. Versatile musician Christopher Maloney adds bass with modern rock, R&B and jazz beats. Sax player and percussionist Steve Nieves spices the mix with his soul, R&B, jazz, pop and Latin influences. (Due to previous commitments, Nieves has been replaced for this summer tour with sax and flute player Andy Suzuki.) All this is held rhythmically by Allentown native Andy Megna's drums.

Tizer's music has grabbed the attention of fans and fellow musicians and composers. Chieli Minucci, of the contemporary jazz band Special EFX, for one, mentored the young musician.

Now 26, Tizer is set to release a long-awaited follow-up CD in January. The as yet untitled recording will be released on Tizer's own new independent label, Yse (pronounced EYES), the musician's middle name.

"The name? It's made up. It was my dad's concept," Tizer explains. Some of the new material will be performed at the Greensburg show.

For Tizer, the endless touring is also a mixed bag. While he feels blessed to be able to play his music, win new fans and increase record sales, it leaves him little time for composing and practicing.

"I just bought my first grand piano, a Yamaha, and I've only been able to play it for two hours," Tizer says.

And while Tizer loves the Yamaha Keyboard 90 he tours with, he rhapsodizes: "The acoustic piano is definitely where it's at. The pure, warm, rich sound is the basis for all music arranging."

It's the sound he first fell in love with at the age of 5 and the sound his musical creativity is first expressed through.