Al Acosta (reeds) is a veteran player who over the past 50 plus years has performed with the bands of Tito Puente Sr. and Jr., Tito Rodriguez Jr., Machito, Xavier Cugat, Lynn Oliver, The George Gee Make Believe Orchestra, Jackie Byard’s Apollo Stompers, The Harlem Renaissance Jazz Orchestra, Frank Foster’s New School Big Band, Shahib Shihab and many others. Al has also recorded with David Byrne (of The Talking Heads), The Abe Silverman Orchestra, Steve Poochie, “Candido” Camero and taught music in the NYC Board of Education system for over 30 years.
Walter Barrett (trombone) is a very busy musician and has played with a great number of symphony and pops orchestras. A small sampling of the names he has shared the stage with would be Robert Goulet, Frankie Valli, Julius LaRosa, and Enzo Stuarti, and has been heard on jingles for Sports Illustrated and US News & World Report.
Steve Bleifuss (trombone) has an amazing array of credentials. He has shared the stage with such "ghost" bands as Glenn Miller (led by Larry O’ Brien), Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey (led by Buddy Morrow), Cab Calloway, Tex Beneke, Bob Crosby, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Aretha Franklin, Michael Bolton, Manhattan Transfer, the Trans-Siberian Orchestra and many others. He has performed on the Today Show, MTV and Good Morning America.
Marty Bound (Trumpet, Flugelhorn) is a veteran of the recording studios both in New York and Chicago. Currently, in addition to being a teacher, Marty is performing as a 1st call utility sub on Broadway, playing with his own trio in New York City’s competitive jazz scene, and freelancing. He has appeared regularly with the Duke Ellington Orchestra, Charlie Persip, Joe Williams, Roberta Flack, and many other internationally known jazz artists. Marty has also filled the jazz chair on the Dick Meldonian Orchestra, and the Somers Dream Orchestra, as well as a host of other local favorites.
Joe Corsello (drums) is one of the top drummers in the country. Joe is a native of Stamford, Ct and has performed, recorded and/or toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra under the direction of Buddy DeFranco, as the house drummer for Michael’s Pub in NYC, Red Norvo, Joe Venuti, Dave McKenna, Hank Jones, Zoot Sims, Marian McPartland and Sonny Rollins. He was 1/3rd of the jazz/rock band, New York Mary, and with this group recorded for Arista Records and toured with the B52′s, Patti Smith, Stevie Wonder and Tony Williams Lifetime band.
Daniel Criado (drums) a graduate of Puchase College, Dan has traveled the world playing in festivals with a variety of bands. Here in the states he has performed at Birdland, Mezzrows and Smalls just to name a few.
David DeJesus (reeds) has many credits to his resume including the Village Vanguard Jazz Orchestra, the Mingus Big Band, the Dizzy Gillespie Alumni All-Stars, Jimmy Heath’s Big Band Ruben Blades, Tito Rodriguez Jr., Arturo O’Farrill Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra, Bobby Sanabria Big Band, and Ron Carter’s Great Big Band.
Ray Fitzgerald (trombone)
Paul Francis (drums) is a Grammy Award-winning drummer and educator. He is featured on the Lady Gaga and Tony Bennett album and subsequent PBS special Cheek to Cheek and toured extensively with the duo to support that recording. He continues to perform with Lady Gaga on a regular basis. Paul has also recorded and/or performed with Stevie Wonder, Jose Feliciano, Jon Faddis, David Hazeltine, Jim Belushi, Molly Ringwald, The Rockettes, Ralph Lalama, Rich Little, The Jimmy Dorsey Orchestra and The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra conducted by Buddy Morrow. He has appeared on shows on HBO, ABC, and MTV and is on the soundtrack for the movie Friends with Kids. Paul endorses Yamaha drums, Sabian cymbals, Remo drumheads and Vic Firth drumsticks.
Charlie Freeman (piano) is an all-round great performer in all genres. He has gigged with Carmen Leggio, Hal McKusick and a mainstay of the Bearcats Jazz Band.
Don Harris (trumpet) a powerhouse trumpeter, Don has toured with Tower of Power, The Allman Brothers, James Taylor, Stevie Wonder, and Grammy nominations for his work with Spyro Gyra and Bernie Williams.
Kathleen Hart (vocals)
Steve Kessler (trombone, piano) is a multi-talented musician who also adds arranging to his credits. Steve has shared the stage with Tony Bennett, Chaka Khan, The Temptations, The Four Tops, Mel Torme, Connie Francis, Vic Damone, Bob Crosby, Lou Rawls, The Tommy and Jimmy Dorsey Orchestras, The Sammy Kaye Orchestra, Sammy Davis, Jr. and many more. In addition Steve is also the Organist at St. Joachim & St. John’s Church, Beacon, NY.
Howard Levy (trombone) has performed with Perry Como, Donna Summers, Tony Bennett, Larry Elgart, Loren Scheonberg, The American Jazz Orchestra at Cooper Union, the Larry Elgart Orchestra, the Stan Rubin Orchestra and the Smithsonian Masterworks Orchestra among others. He has toured with Broadway shows including Makin’ Whoopie and Chicago. He is co-leader of the group Slide Attack and have recently released a brand new CD, “Road Trip”.
Ron LoPinto (trumpet) has performed with such outstanding bandleaders as Louis Prima, Charlie Barnet, Bob Thoesen, Milt Gerver’s Playland Park Orchestra and currently in South Florida with The Paul Cohen Big Band, Avery Lane Orchestra, The Fusion Band, The Music Masters, The Sid Parker Orchestra and The Bob Roberts Orchestra. Ron also performs and is President of The Bronxville Pops Concert Band as well as various concert Bands throughout Westchester.
Jerry Lucadamo (trumpet) works as a freelance trumpet player in the tri-state area. He graduated from the Mannes College of Music before joining the national road tour and the Broadway production of “Hello Dolly!” with Pearl Bailey and Billy Daniels. He has also performed with the Paris Opera at the Metropolitan Opera House, studio work at NBC television, the Monday Night Brass Quintet and local concert bands, orchestras and churches throughout Westchester. For the past 26 years Jerry has been the band director of the Pocantico Hills School, in Sleepy Hollow, NY and also teaches trumpet privately.
Sal Mazzola (drums)
Johnny Morris (piano) was a member of many top small groups including those led by Buddy Rich (recording on the Argo and Verve labels), Roy Eldridge (as part of the Jimmy Ryan’s All Stars), Ruby Braff, Scott Hamilton and as a featured performer at the Hotel Carlyle in the Rainbow Room and the Oak & Edwardian Rooms at the Plaza. He also wrote and arranged for Steinway’s Most Popular Piano Solo Series.
Joe Natale (reeds) has played with Ralph Lalama, Doug Munro, Jon Faddis, Todd Coolman, Andy LaVerne, John Abercrombie and many more.
Richie Noorigian (drums) is not only a great drummer who has played with a number of great R&B bands (The Outpatients, The Slippery Chickens, Rat Pack Swing) but he has been a long time supporter and volunteer of the Louis Armstrong House Museum and the 24 hour jazz radio station WBGO. Along with Wenzel, he helped produce the Louis Armstrong Complete Columbia and RCA Victor Studio Recordings for Mosaic.
Frank Petrocelli (reeds) has been with the ghost bands of both the Jimmy and Tommy Dorsey orchestras, the Newburgh Symphony and has performed at Carnegie Hall and at Birdland. Frank is also a teacher and taken part in many festivals around the NY area.
Mike Ponella (trumpet) has been active with some of the world’s top bands and entertainers: Toshiko Akiyoshi big band, Freddie Hubbard, Doc Serverinsen, Rosemary Clooney, Tony Bennett, Nelson Riddle, Gerry Mulligan, The Temptations, Four Tops, Gil Evans, Anthony Braxton, Skitch Henderson, Dizzy Gillespie, Glen Campbell, Gladys Knight, Chaka Khan, Josh Groban, Burt Bacharach, Dionne Warwick, Dave Brubeck, Chick Corea, Milt Jackson and even George Burns and Don Rickles.
Ross Schneider (reeds) is a fine soloist and has been with a number of great bands.
Ed Seldin (trumpet) a graduate of Julliard, Ed has been a part of Broadway pit orchestras, a NYC school teacher for many years and performed with the Lehman College Jazz Ensemble.
Chris Stelluti (reeds)
Joe Stelluti (reeds) has been a much in demand saxophonist in the New York area and has played with Victor Rendon’s Bronx Connection Big Band, Vinnie Riccitelli, Joe Corsello, Linc Milliman, Harry James and Les Elgart.
Lou Stelluti (bass) a solid player for many years Lou’s credits include playing alongside legends Lennie Tristano, Warne Marsh, Sal Mosca and Carmen Leggio.
T.J. Tomlin (drums) has his own Dixieland band and big band and has played with the great Bobby Hackett, Les Brown and Al Hirt. He is the son of entertainer Pinky Tomlin.
Colin Walters (reeds) is a native of Stamford, Connecticut and holds degrees in Jazz Performance and Music Education from the University of Connecticut and is a graduate of the Julliard School. He is an active clinician and performer throughout the state and country, advocating music and its importance within the schools. Involved in various musical groups and musical styles, he is a founding member of the Funky Dawgz Brass Band, a New Orleans Inspired Second Line Brass Band.
Cate Wenzel (vocal) is the lovely daughter of Scott and has guest starred with the band.
Scott Wenzel (leader, reeds, vocal) has been associated with Mosaic Records since 1987 as a re-issue producer of classic jazz recordings. He has been nominated for three Grammy Awards in the Best Historical Issue category, as well as other nominations and awards from the Jazz Journalist Association and Down Beat magazine. He has also produced CDs and supplied 78s for Sony Legacy (Columbia), Blue Note and Capitol. He was one of the consultants on the PBS documentary Ken Burns Jazz and has written liner notes for various jazz CDs. Wenzel also plays in the Arcadia Jazz Trio.
In Memoriam:
John Amoroso (trumpet) was 20 when he joined the Tommy Dorsey band in 1949 and was there when Jimmy Dorsey joined brother Tommy until 1954. During that time John was also the band’s featured male vocalist and can be heard on many of TD’s RCA Victor and Decca recordings, as well as numerous radio and TV broadcasts. Johnny also saw action with the bands of Harry James, Ralph Flanagan, Lee Castle, Les Brown, Sammy Kaye and Vincent Lopez.
Nino Palotti (reeds) was in the Tony Pastor Orchestra from 1946 to 1949. He is on a number of Pastor’s Columbia recordings during this period as well as in the Forrest Tucker movie “Two Blondes And a Redhead”. Nino left Pastor to join Jimmy Dorsey in 1949 staying with JD until the band broke up in 1952. Nino also played with the Henry Jerome and Johnny Long bands before being a Port Chester High School music instructor.
Paul Pugliese (leader) took over las leader when the SWBB was still the Reddy Valentino Orchestra. Paul had played trumpet with the Ralph Flanagan band, the Jimmy Dorsey band and was a teacher for many years at The Music Center in Larchmont along with his wife and vocalist Patty.
Frank Casale (founder, leader) A resident of Harrison, NY and one time operator of restuarants in Westchester, Casale formed The Reddy Valentino Orchestra, a 16 piece band that began in the mid 1980s. His idol as a young boy was silent film actor Rudolph Valentino and because of Frank’s red hair he was soon nicknamed Reddy Valentino. When ill health forced Casale to retire from leading the band, trumpeter Paul Pugliese took over the band. The band’s credentials include playing at Glen Island Casino, Westchester Country Club, Windows On The World and countless other concerts, weddings and dances.
Wyn Walshe
Milt Kabak 969-2107 245 Hayward St, Yonkers, NY 10704
Eddie Bert 203-790-6699 16 Dogwood Dr., Danbury, Ct. 06811-4531
Paul Mina (trombone) 1925-2020
Aaron Sachs 718-884-4386 (H) 347-495-1069 (C)
Pat Iorillo
Steve Cristos
John Philpott (Gerver) 718-548-6822 (h); 917-292-4408 (c) fillur@aol.com
Retired from band:
Eddie Basha
Tony Sabia
Robert Zambernardi
