Primary Instrument: Vocal
Monday Off is an exciting addition to the world of vocal jazz. The quartet's members - Amy Cervini, Hilary Gardner, Richard Roland and Raymond Sage - take their combined years of singing experience in both musical theatre and jazz and apply them to exploring the vast and unlimited possibilities of vocal harmony. While inspired by vocal groups of the big-band era and of more recent years, Monday Off adds their own creative touch with rich and inventive vocal arrangements, applying them to a repertoire of standards, pop, jazz, Latin and vocalese tunes.
Originally, the group was conceived as all four members were appearing in the Broadway musical Titanic, and chose the name Monday Off in a nod to the “dark” night of the theatre world. Since then, more recent members with strong jazz backgrounds have infused their sound and feel into the quartet.
Monday Off has become a regular fixture in the New York City club scene (Sweet Rhythm, The Bubble Lounge, Triad, The C-Note) in addition to their performances in larger concert halls across the country including Carnegie Hall with Skitch Henderson and the The New York Pops. The group has also sung on national television, most recently on ABC World News Now, performing songs from their debut CD Christmas Time Is Here which they recorded with Bucky Pizzarelli and released in 2001.
Monday Off recently released their second CD, “Monday Off.” It features Broadway favorites, vocalese with original lyrics and jazz standards. The album features special guests Avishai Cohen on trumpet, Gene Bertoncini on guitar and Anat Cohen on clarinet. This CD is available on CDBaby and will be available on iTunes starting in 2007.
The group's repertoire is made up of standards like Hit That Jive Jack, I've Got The World On A String, Blue and Sentimental, Shoo Fly Pie, Five O'Clock Whistle, vocalese tunes (setting lyrics to recorded, established jazz instrumentals) like April In Paris, Li'l Darlin', Nine-Twenty Special, Cute, Jive at Five, and pop tunes like Fragile, Afternoon Delight, True Colors, Blackbird, and songs from the Broadway stage that are now interpreted by the group and presented through harmony in all styles including jazz, swing, blues, be-bop, samba, etc.
