06.09.2021 Virtual Talent Showcase - Artist Profiles

GREG ABATE QUARTET

Greg Abate jazz saxophonist, flutist, composer continues as an International Jazz/Recording Artist with 225 days a year touring the globe.

In the mid 70’s after finishing a four year program at Berklee College Of Music, Greg played lead alto for the Ray Charles Orchestra for 2 years. In 1978 Greg formed his group Channel One which was a favorite in the New England area and from there had the opportunity to play tenor sax with the revived Artie Shaw Orchestra under leadership of Dick Johnson from 1986 to ’87.

Greg recorded his first CD Live At Birdland NYC in 1991 on the Candid Jazz Label with the trio of James Williams, Rufus Reid and Kenny Washington. To this date Greg has recorded over 17 other recordings as leader.

Greg’s recent release Gratitude, with the Tim Ray Trio has received glowing reviews and a lot of international airplay. The project includes eleven original featuring Greg with members of the Tim Ray Trio - Tim Ray (piano), John Lockwood (bass), and Mark Walker (drums). Greg is currently a Whaling City Sound recording artist. His newest album, Magic Dance is planned for release April 2021.

Greg is also an adjunct professor of Jazz Studies at Rhode Island College and is also a very active jazz clinician with co. sponsorship from the Conn-Selmer Instrument Co., conducting workshops and master classes through the U.S and abroad. Greg was inducted into the RI Music Hall of Fame in 2016. For more information visit:

The Greg Abate Quartet will be performing live at The Packing House on October 9, 2021 Greg will be joined by Matt deChamplain on piano, Lou Bocciarelli on bass, and Ben Bilello on drums. Tickets available at: http://thepackinghouse.us/upcoming/2021-10-09-greg-abate-quartet

JOE BLEICHER

From New York, Joe Bleicher came to Connecticut via California and Massachusetts. He now lives in West Hartford. Joe is a former host of Folk ‘on Fridays at Cheney Hall and The Living Space of West Hartford.

“Bluebyrd”

Bluebyrd is a husband and wife team, Steve and Bette Haskell, who perform on acoustic guitars and sing vocal harmonies. Often they are joined by musical friends and guests. For this Virtual Talent Showcase, they have in fact expanded to include Kevin Gallagher, PJ Alderette, and a mystery guest.

Stephen grew up in Avon, CT but moved to San Francisco in 1971. He played electric in bars and clubs in the Bay area for 35 years. Returning to CT in 2005 he and Bette met at an art gallery open mic where they both performed individually and admired each other’s styles.

Bette is a lifetime Connecticut resident. She taught herself to play guitar as a teenager in order to have accompaniment for her singing. Later in life as a therapeutic recreation specialist she enjoyed sharing songs to brighten people’s days. Open mics opened a door to meet other musicians, some with whom she joined in duets and bands. She enjoys exploring a variety of musical genres. When she and Stephen met, Bluebyrd was formed! Together as Bluebyrd we enjoy playing a variety of songs from the 1960’s and 70’s, including classic rock, folk, pop, jazz and country.

Kevin has worked as a backup musician to various Folk, Rock and Bluegrass Bands in the CT and NJ area for many years. I’m currently working with Nina Romanenko, Cece Borjeson, Ruth George and the Portables. Instruments: Guitar, Mandolin, Dobro

PJ is a Psychologist who was gifted a drum because her musician friends all believe anyone can learn an instrument. Recently, she acquired a native drum which lead to the composition of “Peace”. Instruments: Djembe, Bodhran and Native Drum

ByA

ByA is the drumrollicking duet of Bob Bloom & Arnaldo Rivera. Bob plays his percussion “Spice Rack”. Arnaldo plays congas. ByA launches legendary and contemporary songs with some of the world’s most catchy melodies and English, Spanish, and Yoruba lyrics. Their high-octane music inspires movement and dance.

For nearly two decades, Bob served as a Faculty Assistant to Dr. Babatunde Olatunji for his “Language Of The Drums” courses at The Omega Institute. In Olatunji’s renowned African music and dance company, “Drums of Passion”, he performed as a drummer and singer in concerts at venues including Lincoln Center, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Washington Monument, and Jorgenson Center for the Performing Arts. Bob is certified as a “Master Teaching Artist" by the Connecticut Office of the Arts. From 2007 to 2010, he was the chair of the Interactive Drumming Committee of the Percussive Arts Society, the largest percussion organization in the world.

Arnaldo, a native of Puerto Rico, was a high school music teacher and owner of a music store in the island’s town, “Utuado". For twenty-three years, he taught special education in Hartford, CT elementary and middle schools: Kinsella, Betances, Milner, and Mary Hooker. A multi-instrumentalist, he’s the pianist, lead vocalist, conductor, and music arranger of the 12-member, Latin jazz band “Bentetu”.

TOM CARAHER

Tom Caraher is a CT musician with a lifelong journey of performance music across many genres. With roots in liturgical music including choir and organ, songs of peace and social injustice were influential on Tom's early songwriting. As an Irishman, Tom understood the value of musical storytelling.

A native of Chicago, Tom studied music & music theory, while performing in rock bands during the 1970s but knew that a career in business would provide more stability than a starving artist. However, the formal music training gave Tom a great appreciation and love for Classical Music. Today, Tom is a percussionist with the West Hartford Symphony.

During the pandemic, Tom has written and produced several virtual pieces with fellow musicians from the orchestra and local troubadours.

KEVIN GALLAGHER & PJ ALDERETTE

Kevin Gallagher

Instruments: Guitar, Mandolin, Dobro

Dr. PJ Alderette

Instruments: Djembe, Bodhran and Native Drum

PJ is a Psychologist who was gifted a drum because her musician friends all believe anyone can learn an instrument. Recently, she acquired a native drum which lead to the composition of “Peace”.

TERRI LACHANCE

I am Terri Lachance. Teacher by day and singer songwriter and performer all other times. I have been writing songs since Middle School. They are all about relationships, my own philosophy of life or how we can change the world. I am interested in Social Justice and making change through music. My music can be found on Spotify under the Terri and Rob Duo as well as on YouTube under the duo and myself solo. I have a Facebook page for the Terri and Rob Duo that lists my gigs that are with people or solo under that page as well.

NINA ROMANENKO

Nina Romanenko is a Singer, Songwriter and Guitarist who loves working with and performing for people of all ages. She’s a former Therapeutic Recreation Director with training in Music as Therapy, who enjoys engaging her audiences with songs that are fun, as well as those of meaning, history and social conscious.

Since the Pandemic, Nina has been providing Virtual Therapeutic Music Programs at Healthcare facilities - and has also been working in collaboration virtually - with her friends, Kevin Gallagher, Tom Caraher and others - to produce music videos - most of which are of original songs with important social messages. See more at: www.Ninasings.com.

Nina's video submission for June is of a song called "Anytime" - a romantic blues/jazz piece - written by her friend, Brian MacDonald.

Hope you enjoy! Happy last days of Spring!!"
Nina

NICOLE ZURAITIS

Grammy® nominated Nicole Zuraitis is a New York-based vocalist, pianist, and songwriter who took home the Gold Medal and Ben Tucker Jazz Award in the 2021 American Traditions Competition. The musical chameleon brings her signature warmth and outstanding vocals to various genres and styles, as demonstrated on her newest multi-hyphenate album, All Wandering Hearts (DotTime Records). As a bandleader, a recording artist, and the premiere vocalist of the world-famous Birdland Big Band and Dan Pugach Nonet, Nicole has established herself as a staple on the New York City jazz scene and has made a significant mark on the global modern jazz landscape.

In 2019, Nicole's career blossomed when she and her husband, renowned drummer and bandleader Dan Pugach, were dually nominated for a Grammy® for their arrangement of Dolly Parton's "Jolene." Nicole graces the stages at both the iconic Birdland Jazz Club and Greenwich Village's 55 Bar monthly. Before Covid, she toured extensively nationally and internationally. She was named in the top 40 under 40 for 2020 in Connecticut Magazine, and her weekly live stream during the Covid 19 crisis "Virtual Piano Lounge" was featured in Forbes in October 2020.

Nicole's critically acclaimed 2018 release, Hive Mind (Dot Time Records), earned the title of 'Best Jazz Album' in the 2018 International Music and Entertainment Awards. She was a finalist in the International Sarah Vaughan Vocal Competition and her original composition "The Coffee Song" won the New York City Coffee Music Project Songwriting Competition. Zuraitis has assembled an all-star female ensemble to record her project Generations of Her - Women Songwriters and Lyricists of the Last 100 Years while working diligently on her sixth album as a leader.

Nicole has collaborated with such luminaries as Cyrille Aimee, Thana Alexa, Dave Stryker, Livingston Taylor, Tom Chapin, Omar Hakim, Melanie Safka, Helen Sung, and Bernard Purdie. She is a proud educator and teaches jazz and songwriting worldwide, with highlights including Berklee College of Music, NYU, SAM in India, The Australian Embassy, and the Lithuanian Consulate. Nicole is currently pursuing her Masters of Business Administration from LSUS and loves to rescue and rehabilitate pit bulls with her husband, Dan. For more information, visit www.nicolezmusic.com.

EC-CHAP presents “An Evening with Nicole Zuraitis” A Holiday Theme Performance at The packing House December 18, 2021. Tickets available at: http://thepackinghouse.us/upcoming/2021/12/18-ec-chap-jazz-series-nicole-zuraitis