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Al Ferrante

Al Ferrante, is known as "Father Al", Leader of Father Al and The Jazz Congregation, a South West Florida Jazz Quartet.

At age 10 Father Al Studied Drums and Percussion at the Gene Krupa, Cozy Cole Drum School, Manhattan, New York. His instructors were Cozy Cole and Billy Higgins. At age 12, He attended the University of Rhode Island Summer Music Camp studying, Theory, Composition, Ear Training, Jazz Theory, Jazz Band, and Concert Orchestra.

The New York Years: At age 17, American Federation of Musicians, Local 802, New York City Caberet License. Performed with, backed up, or opened for such notables as Jay and the Americans, Little Eva, the Shirelles, the Ronettes, Dion and the Belmonts, and was the house drummer for the Alan Freed Rock and Roll Shows at the Brooklyn Paramount and Albemarle Theatres. Played with NYC jazz groups in the Village Vanguard, Village Gate, Metropole Cafe and other jazz venues in NYC. The Hollywood Years: 1978, ADR, Foley, and Re-Recording Mixer for Motion Pictures and Television, Board of Directors of The Cinema Audio Society (CAS), 7 Honorable Emmys and 2 Golden Reel Awards for Sound Recording. Retired 2001. Recorded live background vocals for the Black Gold Awards, as well as working with such notables as Tom Scott, Lou Rawls, Randy Travis, Della Reese and the Monkeys.

Currently, in 2016, The Jazz Congregation is receiving accolades for it's recently released CD, "Here's To Life", featuring vocalist Cheryl Morrell. Jazz favorites, Latin, and versions of popular songs with Jazz arrangements. The uniqueness of the studio CD is that it was recorded in "One Take", with just some fine tuning.

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Ft. Myers Magazine, March-April 2016

"Father Al and The Jazz Congregation has been a favorite of Southwest Florida’s jazz fans since 2009, playing clubs from Cape Coral and Sanibel to Fort Myers and Naples. His fans throughout the area, as well as jazz lovers everywhere, can now enjoy Father Al’s music whenever they wish thanks to the release of his first album, Here’s to Life, featuring vocalist Cheryl Morrell. The album showcases Morrell’s delightful singing, no more so on the opening track, the standards ‘Love Being Here With You’ and ‘The Nearness of You’ or on Bob Dylan’s ‘Make You Feel My Love.’ With a collection of songs ranging from Bonnie Raitt’s ‘Love Me Like a Man’ and the Etta James classic ‘At Last’ to a soft bossa nova and a sweet samba, the CD is sure to be a gift for their fans in Southwest Florida as well as a wonderful introduction to jazz lovers everywhere.

Music

Recordings: As Leader | As Sideperson

Here's to Life

Father Al Records
2016

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I Love Being Here With You

From: Here's to Life
By Al Ferrante

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