Acoustic Sauce
Askold Buk Barbone
Street Jazz Trio
The Lauren Lark Quartet
Chris Sooy Swing Band
Acoustic Sauce is a jazz trio
based in South Jersey. From Sinatra to Ellington to Jobim, Acoustic Sauce puts
their own unique style into every popular standard they do. Dave Hartke -
Guitar, Ed Clark - Guitar and Jimi Chiara - Keyboard.
Guitarist and composer/producer Askold Buk has scored numerous episodes of the PBS series Frontline, as well as 20/20 (ABC) and Primetime (ABC). He composed the score to the documentary feature film Obscene, which premiered in the 2007 Toronto Film Festival, as well as the theme music for the annually-televised Telling the Truth: The Best in Broadcast Journalism (PBS). Buk’s debut record received airplay in more than 20 markets, and his songs were featured on The Hills (MTV), P.O.V (PBS) and the nationally-syndicated radio show The Groove Boutique. Buk has also written spots for RIcola and New York 1 and toured North America with Universal recording artist Hayley Westenra.
C
Barbone Street was formed in
1992 and has been performing about 160 times a year ever since. The music is a
mix of Small Band Swing, New Orleans Jazz, American Songbook, and Dixieland and
is for listening and/or dancing.
CLARINET/LEADER - STEVE BARBONE:
56 years playing jazz with legends like Coleman Hawkins, Roy Eldridge, Sidney
Bechet, Walter Bishop Jr., Yank Lawson, Bob Haggart, Gene Schroeder, Roswell
Rudd, Thelonious Monk, et al. Gigged at jazz clubs in New York City,
Philadelphia and Europe including; Nick’s, Condon’s The Savoy, Cinderella Club,
Melody Lounge, CentralPlaza, Stuyvesant Casino, Ortlieb’s Jazz Haus, Le Cave,
Vieux Columbier etc.
GUITAR - SONNY TROY 53 Years
playing jazz. Well known on the Philadelphia Jazz scene, he made his first
record at age 12 with Frankie Avalon who played trumpet at the time. Worked in
Las Vegas with Louis Prima and Sam Butera. Then he toured with Peggy Lee for a
while. Returned to Philadelphia playing on the Mike Douglas TV show for 6 years.
Also played with Harry James and reunited with Peggy Lee on 13 TV Specials
BASS - ACE TESONE 61 years
playing jazz. He played with just about all the jazz legends of the 20th century
including: Lester Young, Ben Webster, Max Roach, Buddy Rich, Kai Winding, J.J.
Johnson, Charlie Ventura, Billie Holiday, Barrett Deems, Mugsy Spanier et al. He
recorded with Mel Torme, Clifford Brown and is on Chubby Checker’s Twist record.
Also toured with Fabian and Liberace among others. Ace is a legend in his own
right.
John Clark leads his own Big
Band, Sextet (and Little Big Band) which has become the areas hottest big band.
In addition to leading his own bands he also works as a sideman with several
other area bands.
Jason Shapiro is a jazz
saxophonist, composer and educator in the Philadelphia area. He improvises and
composes in a style uniquely his own, a style he describes as “melodic but
unpredictable.” With experience playing classical, rock, R&B, musicals, jazz
standards and free jazz, his sound is a culmination of his vast influences and
experiences as a performer. Shapiro currently freelances and leads various
groups in and around Philadelphia: most notably, 53 Stations, a jazz quartet he
co-leads with Wilmington, Del.-based drummer Skip Rohrich. 53 Stations performs
original compositions by Shapiro, Rohrich and bassist Dylan Taylor. Karl Stark
says of their latest release, “The Hilltop Sessions”: “It’s gritty
uncompromising edge goes down easily, and the original tunes look back to glory
days and forward to new vistas.” Shapiro has performed throughout New York, New
Jersey, Delaware and Pennsylvania, at venues such as Chris’ Jazz Cafe, Clifford
Brown Jazz Festival, Olde Kings Jazz Fest, Gojjo, Dover Downs, The Broadway
Theater of Pitman and The Concert Venue at Harrah’s Casino.
E. Shawn
Qaissaunee (kay-saw’-nee) – multi-instrumentalist, music educator and composer
attended Berklee College of Music with a focus on Jazz Composition and Music
education.
Born in Afghanistan and raised in the USA, he has developed
a unique
musical voice.
Always in demand as an engaging and passionate
instrumentalist, Shawn is also a devoted teacher and has dedicated a good deal
of his time to school outreach programs and private instruction.
He has been awarded numerous artist residencies and
performed in the USA and Europe extensively. He has opened for legendary jazz
pianist McCoy Tyner, slide guitar prodigy Derek Trucks and neo-soul singers Joss
Stone and Maysa to name just a few. Shawn’s most recent CD’s “Passing Through”
(2005) and “Afghan Jazz Project” (2007) showcase his compositional and
improvisational skills as well as his musical ties to his Afghan heritage.
When not performing or teaching music, Shawn is busy
composing and recording his original music.
Upright
Bassist Peter McCarthy is a Salem County Native currently residing in Carneys
Point. He has performed at numerous venues from Texas to New York.
Peter studied composition and theory at Glassboro
State College. He has also studied privately with Gregg Powers, Joe Allegro,
Bruce Kaminsky and Fred Weiss. He currently teaches at Mannington Music and
privately at his residence. In addition to the Jason Shapiro Group, Peter also
plays with The Steve Lewis Big Band and local theatre / Jazz ensembles. He will
also be found on Electric Bass
Check their
website at ww
The Lauren Lark Quartet (LLQ)
has been making waves all over the tri-state area. With a new take on the
classic jazz sound, LLQ is bringing back scat! LLQ’s sound is unlike any other,
jazz, classical, R&B brings a cohesive depiction of LLQ.
This group is lead by vocalist
Lauren Lark who has created an ensemble of the best musicians in the
Philadelphia area. Laying down every chord with such sophistication is pianist
Jason Brown, and banging on the drums with a down home dirty blues know-how is
Adam Stranburg. He is an educator and backbone to the beat of the band Mr. Jason
Harris on Bass.
Lauren Lark’s voice has been
used as a featured soloist for the Philly Pops as well as a member of The Voices
of the Pops. Lauren has performed at such festivals as The Cape May Jazz
Festival and Welcome America Parade and The Coltrane Jazz Festival. Lauren
continues to perform with such groups as The Lauren Lark Big Band, Hoppin’ John
Orchestra and The Earl Phillips Big Band.
You can listen to LLQ on WRTI
Temple Radio Station, WURD, web streamed on G Town Radio and on televisions Tim
Qualls Show. Please check out up-coming performances at:
www.myspace.com/laurenlark or e-mail
laurensingssweetly@hotmail.com
Standard Deviation is a unique
Jazz group that has performed throughout the area for several years. The band
(which some may remember years back was originally named Straight, No Chaser)
has performed at the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Zanzibar Blue,
Mainline Jazz Festival, Riverfront Jazz Festival, Warmdaddy’s, Chris’ Jazz Café,
practically every Atlantic City casino, numerous corporate and private events
and has had airplay on many local and international radio stations.
Bill Corvino is a full time
guitarist and music instructor. He is an alumni of the Berklee College of Music,
is an adjunct Professor of Music at Mercer County Community College and also
teaches at the Music Place in Westmont, NJ. He can be heard on CD’s by
performers as diverse as the DTM Project and Paul Evans and has performed
nationally as well as in the United Kingdom with various Jazz, Blues, Rock and
Country bands.
Tim McKinstry is a full time
pianist and music instructor with a thriving teaching business in the
Philadelphia area and years of professional experience performing in various
live situations. He has also written and recorded music for stage productions,
radio and television, including the Discovery Channel.
Mike Whren is an accomplished
professional bassist who has played in Blues , Rock, Funk, Gospel, Reggae, Jazz
and Calypso bands such as LA based guitarist/composer Skip Heller and others too
numerous to mention.
Joe Mekler is a drummer and
teacher living in Burlington City, NJ. He has performed and/or recorded
throughout North America and Europe with GRP recording artists Deborah
Henson-Conant, Chieli Minucci and George Jinda and has appeared with Deborah on
CBS News Nightwatch and the Joan Rivers Show. He is a music teacher in the
Burlington City school system and an Adjunct Professor of Music at Mercer County
Community College and performs throughout the area with several artists.
A wide variety of influences
comes through in their original compositions and interplay that provides an
exciting listening experience.
Check them out on the web at:
www.myspace.com/billycorvino or www.myspace.com/billcorvino
Jazz
drummer Mike Edwards played drums since his late teens. He has traveled with
show bands plays
all styles of music - but his first love is jazz. MEC is a six piece band
that does a combination of styles including bebop, funk jazz, and Chicago blues.
They have been featured at clubs, outdoor concerts,
and colleges.
A fan and student of all styles of music, Mark Forchic, is currently sharing the duties in The Mark Forchic Trio, a jazz trio that likes to do things differently. Even though the band is named after him, it is a band, where the other members, Paul Galdi, and Kris Rudzinski, are instrumental in the shape of the band’s sound and vision. All three members are fans first when it comes to music, which is evident when you look at their repertoire. You see, in their live sets, the music of Miles Davis as well as The Beatles.
Chris Sooy began leading
swing bands in 1978.In 1979 his band was chosen best band in Philadelphia by the
Philadelphia Inquirer and WIOQ Radio. Throughout the 1980's his band performed
in Atlantic City Casino Hotels and night clubs in the tri-state area.
In 1992 Chris had a Dixieland Band at the Showboat Hotel Casino and was
chosen by Philadelphia Magazine "Dixieland Band of the Year”. Chris then
enjoyed an extended run at the Showboat throughout the 1990's. Recording
artist Lew London will be on board with Chris and the band as featured vocalist,
guitarist and violinist. Lew toured
extensively in support of his album "Swingtime in Springtime" in the 1970's and
1980's. He also toured and recorded with David Bromberg and Steve Goodman
and is now a music educator as well as a performer.
The band is rounded out by three well seasoned musicians; Chuck Harms -
percussion, Kevin Rivell - bass and Herb Roselle - trombone and vocals.
The Hot Club of Philadelphia is
a Gypsy Swing group consisting of two acoustic guitars, fiddle and bass, (all
acoustic). The group has performed at venues like World Café Live in
Philadelphia and The Sellersville Theater. Hot Club Philly was the opening act
for John Jorgenson and also was the hosts of the area’s 1st Djangofest.
Hot Club Philly has played at
the Living Room in N.Y., the Baltimore Museum of Art in MD. Also, the National
Constitution Center and regular performances at Striped Bass, Café Habana and
LeCroix also located in Philadelphia.
The group’s main inspiration is
guitarist Django Reinhardt and violinist Stephane Grappelli, and the legendary
“Hot Club of France.”
Their forte is evoking the
atmosphere of a 1940’s Paris Bistro, by playing a mixture of traditional Hot
Club of Paris era songs, like “Minor Swing”, “J’Attendrai,” standards from the
30’s & 40’s like “ I Can’t Give you
Anything but Love,” “Sweet Georgia Brown.” They also play Klezmer pieces like “Bei
Mir Bist Du Shoen,” and Latin pieces, “Theme from Black Orpheus,” along with
their own arrangements of Django’s music, Gypsy Waltzes and Jazz Standards.
The band was founded by
guitarist Barry Warhoftig in 2001. He has studied Django’s music with Gypsy
legend Fapy Lafertin in Holland, and also Stephane Wrembel in NYC.
He also spent time performing and studying music in Cuba and Israel. He
has performed with artist like Melba Moore, and members of the folk group the
Roches, to name a few. He also took part in the award winning Klezmer
documentary film, “To Make a Joyful Noise.”
For the 3rd
Annual Olde Kings Jazz Fest the band will consists of fiddle player and vocalist
Mark Campiglia, bassist Jim Stager,
guitarist Rich Yescalis and Guitarist Tom Mitchell..
Fiddle player and vocalist Mark
Campiglia has performed with groups like “Ronnie James Jez Hot group,” and has
also led his own groups. Mark is originally from South Philly, also home to Jazz
pioneer Joe Venuti, who is one of his main influences.
Bassist Jim Stager graduated
from Temple’s Jazz Performance program. He has performed with artist like Lee
Konitz, Mel Lewis,
Cab Calloway to name a few. He
was also a member of the popular alternative rock band Huffamoose. They
performed on the main stage at Woodstock-94, and also on Late Night with Conan
O’Brien.
Rhythm guitarist Rich Yescalis
has performed with Chicago blues artists ‘Sunnyland’ Slim, Hubert Sumlin, Otis
Rush and has toured Europe with the Jimmie Rodgers Band.
Tom Mitchell www.tommitchell.us
is a hard driving swing/jazz guitar player and singer. His “true to style”
interpretations of this music make him a much sought after performer and
teacher.
From 1993
to 2003, Tom toured with the legendary recording artist Dan Hicks and his Hot
Licks across the United States and around the world. Tom plays guitar on “Beatin’
The Heat,” the acclaimed CD release by Dan Hicks on Surfdog Records. The record
features guest appearances from Bette Midler, Ricki Lee Jones, Tom Waits, Elvis
Costello and Brian Setzer.
Time magazine named it one of the “10 CD’s of the
Year” and Rolling Stone gave it
3 1/2 stars. Tom can also be heard on “Alive and
Lickin,” Dan’s live record made at the Ironhorse in North Hampton, MA in 2001.
Around the Washington, DC
metropolitan area, Tom performs on acoustic and electric guitar with various
combos like, The Blue Rhythm Boys www.yellowcarmusic.com/bluerhythmboys/ (his
acoustic group with Jim Stephanson and Ralph Gordon inspired by the hot guitar
jazz and blues of the 20’s and 30’s), Currently he is also playing
and recording with Ann Savoy and Her Sleepless Knights
www.annsavoy.com/musicsleeplessknights.html from Eunice LA and with Lindy Hop
Heaven, favorites of the East coast dance circuit. He also can be seen with
Double Scotch, his hard swinging quintet with Kevin Wimmer, playing everything
from Nat Cole to Django Reinhardt.
Please contact Barry Warhoftig
at 215-885-7019 for booking info. The group can be augmented with accordion,
clarinet and drums.
www.hotclubphilly.com
Richard C. Robinson, Jr. is an
educator, folklorist and musician. His work is an outgrowth of an African and
Caribbean folk arts movement in Philadelphia that has been in place for just
about 50 years. Richard has been a student of traditional African and Caribbean
folk arts since he was a teenager. In 1989 he began to study the physically
challenging West African stilt masquerade dance called “Chakaba” from master
masquerade folklorist Author “Kofi” Driscoll. Not only did Mr. Driscoll’s
teachings include dance, but also included hands-on playing of traditional hand
and stick percussion from all over Africa and the Diaspora. In addition to his
apprenticeship with Mr. Driscoll, Richard has honed his craft through more than
two decades of active support and membership with Ibeji Performing Arts Company
(Philadelphia, PA), Jassu Ballet (Philadelphia, PA), Spirit of Sankofa
(Philadelphia, PA) and African Heritage (Washington, D.C.). He also obtained
experience studying under master African and Caribbean percussionists and
dancers Renaldo Gonzales, Robert “Baba” Crowder, Abdoulaye Sylla, Yamoussa
Camara, Mbemba Bangoura, Greg “Peachy” Jarman, Greg “Hodari” Banks and Melvin
Deal. Each of these components in Richard’s studies has contributed to his
ability to continue mastering and performing traditional African and Caribbean
folk arts.
Richard works extensively
with children throughout the tri-state area in schools and community
organizations, where he passes on the traditional values of African and
Caribbean Creole culture. He has collaborated with the Philly Pops Arts in
Education Outreach Program, Perkins Center for the Arts, Strings for Schools and
The Philadelphia Free Library. In these programs he presents workshops,
performances and classes that emphasize the ideals, which are still relevant in
today’s world, taught through musicianship in traditional African societies.
Through participation, the students learn to value the attributes necessary to
be a musician and performing artist: commitment, discipline, respect, leadership
and teamwork. Richard also teaches the students how to understand the importance
of collaboration and the interdependence of community support that are inherent
in African and Caribbean cultures.
Bios updated October 17, 2009