Richie Vitale Quintet

Born in Rochester, New York, on September 23 (also John Coltrane's birthday), Richard Vitale played with Miles Davis' drummer, Philly Joe Jones, at the early age of sixteen. After locating to New York City, Richard has performed with such luminaries as Barry Harris, Sal Nistico, James Taylor, Tony Bennett, Sting, Joe Williams, Johnny Mathis and Joe Morello (long-time drummer with the Dave Brubeck Quartet). His experience with big bands has been no less impressive, performing as jazz soloist with none other than Ol' Blue Eyes himself, Frank Sinatra, and in the jazz chairs of the Buddy Rich Big Band, the Count Basie Orchestra, the Duke Ellington Orchestra, as well as the Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Big Band -- now the Vanguard Jazz Orchestra. Richie has also taught Jazz Ensemble at LIU in Brooklyn and Master Classes at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester. Currently Richie is leading an eleven-piece salsa band titled Orquesta Universal, featuring twice Grammy nominated, Cuban born singer, David Oquendo. New York Salsa is in its 3rd release and is available on iTunes at his weblinks below. He has led his quintet on tours of Japan, Korea, and Italy, recently performed in Beirut, Lebanon, plays San Francisco and LA and frequently appears in clubs throughout the New York Metropolitan area. Richie's first recording as a leader on the TCB label entitled Dreamsville, featuring alto master Gary Bartz, was released to critical acclaim, it's Jazz Journal reviewer hailing it as "a veritable treat from start to finish." His second CD for TCB records, was recorded Live at Smalls in the heart of New York City. Jazz writer Peter Collins remarks, "The whole performance can be called spirited -- a word that would be apt as well to describe Richard Vitale, his remarkable musical talents, and this splendid disk." The release of Richie's third CD can be heard on TCB Records. Pete Malenverni says, of Richie's new release Shake It!, "Throughout, one hears that this is a band used to playing together, a group of eminently skilled musicians, each with his own singular abilities to be sure, yet committed to the common goal of swinging together -- and swing they do." weblinks: www.richievitale.com www.youtube.com/user/richievitale Since moving to New York in 2001, Frank Basile has been fortunate to establish himself as one of today's most in-demand baritone saxophonists. Dubbed a "prized sideman" by The New Yorker, Basile has been called upon to perform with, record with, and tour the world with many of jazz's finest musicians and ensembles. Among this distinguished list are The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, The Dizzy Gillespie All-Star Big Band, The Jimmy Heath Big Band, The Bob Mintzer Big Band, The Jon Faddis Jazz Orchestra, The Joe Lovano Nonet, The Dave Holland Big Band, Dennis Mackrel's Manhattan Symphony Jazz Orchestra, The Christian McBride Big Band, The Count Basie Orchestra, Michael Bublé, Pablo Mayor’s Folklore Urbano, The Richie Vitale Quintet, The Fabien Mary Quintet, and The Osian Roberts-Steve Fishwick Sextet. Born in Illinois in 1978 and raised in Nebraska, Frank Basile began his musical studies in grade school. After four years on clarinet and alto saxophone, he made a permanent switch to the baritone saxophone. Once in high school, Basile’s interest in jazz began to grow and, with the help and encouragement of his parents, he sought out further instruction on the ins and outs of this great music. Basile was soon playing in numerous big bands and combos throughout the Omaha area. Basile enrolled at the University of North Texas to continue his musical studies. While at UNT, Basile played in the world-renowned One O’clock Lab Band for six consecutive semesters. After graduating with honors and a bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies from UNT, Basile moved to New York in the summer of 2001 as a selected member of the first Jazz Studies program at the Juilliard School. As an educator, Basile has maintained a private studio for the past decade and has served as an adjunct faculty member at The New School. He has also been called upon to teach lessons or masterclasses at such institutions as New York University, the Eastman School of Music, Temple University, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, SUNY Purchase, the University of Nebraska, and the New York Youth Symphony Jazz Orchestra. In addition to his activities as a sideman and educator, Basile also takes an active role as leader of his own quartet, quintet and sextet. To date, Basile has released three recordings as a leader, and his band has headlined at many of New York's major jazz clubs. A native of Pittsburgh, PA, Steve Ash received his formal musical training at Indiana University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in Jazz Piano.He has been performing in the New York City area as well as internationally for over 30 years. Some steady engagements have included the Rainbow Room, Windows on the World, and Smoke Jazz and Supper Club.Steve has appeared with many jazz recording artists, including Frank Wess, Jon Hendricks, Jimmy Cobb, Louis Hayes, Eddie Harris, Warren Vache, Harry Allen, Chris Connor, Annie Ross, Mel Lewis, Vernell Fournier and Doc Cheatham. Steve was honored to be selected by The Kennedy Center and The U.S. State Department to tour West Africa and France as part of The Jazz Ambassadors in 2004. His touring experience also includes performing at The Bern Jazz Festival with Warren Vache’s All Stars in 2001, and The Caesarea Jazz Festival in Israel with The Harry Allen Quartet in 2006, The New Mexico Jazz Festival with Jon Hendricks in 2012.His recordings include The Steve Ash Trio, "Once I Loved", The Steve Ash Trio, “Everything I Love,” Warren Vache’s “ Swingtime,” the Metropolitan Bopera-House, “Still Comin’ On Up,” Barbara Lea with The Loren Schoenberg Big Band, “Black Butterfly,” and the Neal Miner Sextet, “The Evening Sound”, Fabien Mary, “Conception”.Steve’s piano can be heard in the movie “Evening” (2007), accompanying Claire Danes on “Time After Time” as well as on the movie’s soundtrack recording, playing a solo version of “Pretend”.weblinks: [email protected] Bassist Paul Gill is veteran of the New York jazz scene and is recognized for his buoyant, swinging bass lines and virtuosic arco solos. When Gill arrived in New York in the mid 1990's he was described by Jazz Times magazine as "surely one of the brightest of the up-and-coming bassists”. He has appeared as a sideman on over 60 recordings. Born in Baltimore, MD, Paul had established himself as a local mainstay in the Balto-DC area from 1984-1994 by both working with fellow hometown musician Gary Bartz, and backing artists that came to town such as Benny Golson, Rosemary Clooney, Stanley Turrentine, and Sonny Fortune. Immediately upon moving to New York, Gill began working with legendary vocalist Jon Hendricks. In 1999 he left Hendricks to embark on a year long world tour with singer Diana Krall. Following Diana Krall in 2001 he joined the Toshiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra. The second half of the 2000’s found Paul touring with either vocalist Elvis Costello or guitarist Pat Martino. Gill has worked in every major jazz club in New York City and has performed or recorded with artists such as Hank Jones, Joe Henderson, Wynton Marsalis, Lou Donaldson, Bill Charlap, Jimmy Cobb, Al Foster, The Vanguard Orchestra, George Coleman, Eric Alexander, Lew Tabackin, Jim Snidero, Steve Wilson, Eddie Henderson, Kurt Elling, Kenny Rankin, and John Pizzarelli. He is currently spending his time working in a trio setting with pianist Toshiko Akiyoshi as well as touring with vocalist Hilary Kole. Weblinks: [email protected] Originally from Greece, Gary Kerkezou has become one of the most in-demand young drummers in New York. Performing nightly at world-class jazz clubs like the Blue Note, Birdland, Dizzy’s Club, Cafe Bohemia, the Django, Smalls, Bar Bayeux, Mezzrow, Cellar Dog, Minton’s Playhouse and Ornithology, she quickly built a reputation for herself as an extraordinary musician. She has collaborated with stellar names in the jazz world (Christian McBride, Regina Carter, Michael Dease, Bill Pierce, Javon Jackson, Eric Alexander, Geoff Keezer, Troy Roberts, Pasquale Grasso, Cyrus Chestnut, Lage Lund, Grant Stewart, David Wong, Jeb Patton, Adam Birnbaum, Yasushi Nakamura, and others) and has recorded multiple albums as a sideman. In addition to a busy performing schedule, she is a committed and passionate educator, serving as an instructor at Jazz House Kids—one of the most respected and successful jazz education programs in the country according to JazzTimes—and performing with two of Jazz at Lincoln Center’s educational initiatives, WeBop and Jazz for Young People. She has also led masterclasses at some of the nation’s top jazz programs, including the NYC All-City Jazz Band, the Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, and KC Area Youth Jazz, as well as at multiple public schools across the city. Most recently, she was named a 2024–2025 Mentor Fellow at the Stanford Jazz Workshop, where she mentors young musicians and collaborates with faculty and visiting artists. Moving to USA 9 years ago to study, she got her undergraduate degree from Berklee College of Music where she was accepted with multiple scholarships and afterwards enrolled in Manhattan School of Music with an almost full ride to get her Masters in Music degree. Raised in a family of professional musicians, she also has a Diploma on classical violin from her home country and has been performing as a violinist since she was a child, with orchestras, smaller ensembles and as a session musician, and artists like Lalah Hathaway, Jacob Collier, Vince Mendoza, Christopher Brubeck, AJR, Ivy Queen, Yandel, and Patrick Doyle.