Born: June 1 Primary Instrument: Band/ensemble/orchestra
This live recording was made at Kaleidoscope Sound on June 28 & 29, 2011. I started writing the music in 2003 when I was asked to put together an 18 piece band for a steady weekend gig at a New Jersey supper club. The idea was to create instrumental music that was challenging to play but that would also be accessible to a wide audience. As I listen to the tracks I realize this is really a “nightclub band”--a big band performing at a steady gig and (dare I say it?) “entertaining” listeners, some of whom might not ordinarily be exposed to this kind of music. Although the steady gig ended in June of 2006 the band continues to perform at local jazz venues and private parties and I’ve continued to add to the book which has over 130 charts. The musicians are among the best in the NY Metropolitan Area and have played with many well known ensembles and artists, including Buddy Rich, Tito Puente, Machito, Horace Silver, The Duke Ellington Orchestra, Daniel Poncé, Cissy and Whitney Houston, Woody Herman, Lionel Hampton, TheVanguard Orchestra, Frank Sinatra, and many others. When I booked 2 nights for the recording I never thought we would actually come out with 18 finished tracks but the level of musicianship and the years we spent playing several nights a week made it possible. BTW the tracks are in the exact order that we recorded them--Willy Dalton
Primary Instrument:
Band/ensemble/orchestra
Location:
Paterson, NJ
Willing to teach:
Advanced students only.
