TOM ZICARELLI – PIANO

The successful musical relationship between Melissa Kassel and Tom Zicarelli goes back to the 1980s.  Zicarelli is an artistic composer who over many years has crafted a prodigious volume of melodies. Together, with Melissa Kassel’s lyrics, the duo has produced an extensive repertoire of original material. Tom’s always creative and compelling piano work provides solid grounding that buoys the rest of the band, but his solos are full of lightning bolts and staccato lines that constructively surprise and shake up listeners and subsequent soloists as well.

PHIL GRENADIER – TRUMPET

By the time Phil Grenadier was 16, he was working regularly as a sideman, performing alongside such legends as Ella Fitzgerald, Mel Torme, George Shearing, Tony Bennett, Carlos Santana, James Brown, Sammy Davis Jr., Dionne Warwick, and Steve Smith’s Vital Information. 

He was just 17 when he was voted Best Jazz Soloist by both Down Beat magazine and the California Music Educators Association. Since then Phil has played on more than 50 albums while working with various artists, including Kenny Barron, Larry Goldings, Kevin Hays, Marc Copland, Bill Carrothers, Chris Potter, Anthony Braxton, George Garzone, Mick Goodrick, Brad Shepik, Billy Kilson, John Hollenbeck, Gerald Cleaver, Bob Moses, Drew Gress, Ira Coleman, Bob Nieske, Harvey Wainapel, John Scofield, and brother Larry Grenadier. He continues to imbue his own work with the knowledge, experience, and inspiration gained through his myriad creative associations.

“I have been playing with Melissa for 30 years now—I always treasure our adventures in creating fresh, passionate, music together”

GARY FIELDMAN – DRUMS

Gary Fieldman is a percussionist, composer, and music educator. His investigations of the jazz master’s and the music of the European classical tradition have been mainstays in his approach to music, which attempts to define commonality in seemingly diverse arenas. And yet, Gary’s exemplary musicianship and sensitivity exhibited across wide-ranging musical styles is astounding. He plays regularly with both the Springfield, MA Symphony and Portland, ME, Symphony; he has played and recorded with many of the best jazz musicians in Boston (including Armenian jazz ensemble Musaner).  Fieldman can be found on labels including Biba, Sachimay, Innova, in addition to his own recordings. Gary has also taught at the New England Conservatory of Music.

“The music has a groove. I don’t mean just rhythmically. There’s a creative flow where ideas are passed around and development happens. Melissa is a strong leader, but she is there with the music, not out in front. That’s another reason I always look forward to playing in this ensemble.”

BRUCE GERTZ – BASS

Named “Outstanding Bassist” by the Boston Music Awards, Bruce Gertz is renowned for his superb mastery of the upright bass.

Gertz has performed and recorded with such artists as Gary Burton, Jerry Bergonzi, John Abercrombie, Joey Calderazzo, Kenny Werner, Mick Goodrick, Kurt Rosenwinkel, Billy Hart, Bill Frisell, Bob Berg, George Cables, Gil Evans, Tom Harrell, Jon Hendricks, Diane Schuur, Dave Brubeck, George Garzone, Mike Stern, Larry Coryell, Joe Lovano, Cab Calloway, Maynard Ferguson, Count Basie and many others. His extraordinary contribution to music education has earned him multiple recognition awards from The International Association of Jazz Educators and the Jazz Education Network. He has been serving as a Professor of Bass at Berklee College of Music since 1976.

“Playing music with Melissa is like a joy of singing experience. She and Tom have written some great songs that are perfect vehicles for all of us to express ourselves. That provides a spiritual experience we all crave.”