Doreen Gaetano Aiardo

Maydie Myles Takes Manhattan!

Last week, I wrote how Maydie Myles sold out the Curtain Call for two nights in Stamford, CT. Well, last night, she sang in Manhattan at the P&G Bar with a band formed by old Blues Brothers comrade, Jonny Rosch. Once again, Maydie brought done the house.  

Rosch said Maydie is “one of the finest singers I have EVER heard,” which is a pretty fine endorsement. The band backing Maydie was also first rate. Adam Rogers was on guitar, Neil Jason on bass, Dan Cipriano on sax, Tony Aiardo on piano and the great Anton Fig from the David Letterman Show was on drums.  

The irony is that before last night most of these musicians had never played together. Anytime a group of top professional musicians can gather to “communicate” through their music, it’s a thrill for everyone involved—whether player or member of the audience. At the P&G, it was just that!

 

 Maydie Myles sings with Tony Aiardo at the P&G Bar. Photos by Frank Beacham

Maydie Myles Wins Over Sold Out Audiences at the Curtain Call in Stamford, CT

 

I had the recent thrill of listening to my favorite jazz/R&B vocalist—the award winning Maydie Myles at The Curtain Call in Stamford, CT. Maydie performed there for two nights to sold out, standing ovation audiences.

Maydie always captivates her audience, giving an emotional and passionate performance. When she belts out a song, she pulls the soul up from the ground. It vibrates throughout her body. She also has a warm, humorous interaction with the audience that always wins her the crowd.

Her band is Rob Aries on keyboards, Tom Devino on drums, Kris Jensen on saxophone, Henry Lugo on bass and Andy Abel on guitar. All are top shelf musicians, who clearly showed their musical proficiency while thoroughly enjoying themselves throughout the evening’s performance.

Maydie grew up in Norfolk, Virginia, the daughter of a Pentecostal minister, singing gospel at eleven years of age in the church her father pastured. As a young teen, she took the stage name “Debbie Taylor,” singing in nightclubs around the area. (The name change was to protect her family from her “secular” music.) Soon she sparked the attention of talent scouts and agents, including Decca Records, GWP/Grapevine Records, and Clive Davis for Arista Records. 

Maydie has worked with Quincy Jones, the Blues Brothers Band, Cornelius Bumpus, Jessie “Wild Bill” Austin, Jimmy McGriff, Jimmy Vivino, Mark Naftalin, and The Holmes Brothers. She has played major jazz festivals throughout the country and worked with New York’s largest jingle houses. 

Maydie Myles currently performs in the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut areas. It is an event to hear her live. She has a new CD in the works. For more info on Maydie, contact daiardo@optonline.net.

Phi-Fusion Showcases Best of Young Musicians

 

Phi-Fusion, under my direction, is a group of extraordinary junior and high school students who play a multitude of instruments. They are a “showcase” band, with most playing piano as their first instrument, while branching out to keyboards, clarinets, saxophones, trombones, trumpets, guitars, bass, and percussion. I write and arrange all the music to adapt to each student’s playing ability.

The band has given us a safe, fun learning experience with an opportunity to play in an ensemble, which can develop and sharpen the musical ear. Phi-Fusion has also given us a chance to perform in different kinds of venues and environments (inside/outside, formal and informal)—with all the acoustical elements to address—all within a comfortable atmosphere of new friends. 

The band plays arrangements of World Music—specifically Polish, Jewish, Italian, Spanish, Irish, Caribbean, African-funk and American line dances—as well as disco, rock, party horn songs and holiday classics.

 

Left to Right: Jeffrey, Jenny, Robby, Christina, Gabrielle, Julie, Michael & Freeman

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In Phi-Fusion, now in its third year, members have experienced musical growth and a development of positive self esteem. This fine band is definitely a sum of its parts. The group rehearses weekly, and enjoys playing for a multitude of venues.  

Our next performance is on Saturday, Oct. 17, 4:00 in Macy's men's department at the Westfield/Milford Post Shopping Center. The performance is for "Shop For A Cause," a one-day nationwide shopping event.

Participating organizations sell $5 shopping passes to the event. Your organization keeps the proceeds from every shopping pass you sell. By purchasing a shopping pass, customers can support their favorite cause, while enjoying a day full of extraordinary discounts and events throughout the store. 

Our members are:

Jeffrey on keyboard and saxophone

Christina on keyboard

Julie on keyboard and clarinet

Robby on keyboard, percussion, guitar & trombone

Michael on keyboard, saxophone and guitar

Gabrielle on keyboard

Jenny on keyboard and trombone

Freeman on percussion and saxophone

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