Step into the heart of jazz at The Last Whisky Bar, where the spirit of live music thrives every Saturday afternoon. Nestled in the picturesque town of Warwick, NY, The Last Whisky Bar offers an intimate and cozy setting, perfect for enjoying the rich, vibrant sounds of jazz. This summer, we're thrilled to present a series of performances featuring some of the most talented jazz musicians in the area. From classic jazz standards to innovative new compositions, each performance promises to be a unique and unforgettable experience. Join us from 2-4 PM and let the smooth melodies and intricate rhythms transport you to a world of musical bliss.
Dates and Performances:
July 27th: Chris Persad Trio
August 3rd: Art Lillard Trio
August 10th: Rick Savage Quartet
August 17th: Jeff Ciampa Trio
August 24th: Pete McDonald Trio
August 31st: Frank Petrocelli Village Jazz Quartet
July 27th - Chris Persad Trio
Chris Persad: Trumpet
Tim Regusis: Keyboards
Bill Moring: Bass
Throughout his career, Jazz Trumpeter Chris Persad has been performing as a leader and sideman and has been involved in numerous musical activities. He has been a freelance trumpet player in the New York area since 1996.
While attending the Eastman School of Music, Persad studied both classical and jazz music. After graduating from Eastman, he went on a world tour as a featured trumpet soloist with the Glenn Miller Orchestra, which included tours of Canada, Iceland, Brazil, and Japan. After moving to New York, Persad performed in various jingles and shows. He has performed in the big bands of Lionel Hampton, Toshiko Akiyoshi, Cab Calloway, Count Basie, and Phil Woods.
Chris has performed in the CODA, Montreal, and Syracuse jazz festivals, and is currently leading and writing for his own jazz sextet that performs annually at the Hudson Valley Jazz Festival.
As an educator, Persad has taught Trumpet and Jazz Studies at Western Washington University, as well as in the public schools of New York. He has also served as a clinician and guest conductor in the summer music camps of the Eastman School of Music, Hartwick College, and Ithaca College.
August 3rd - Art Lillard Trio
Art Lillard: Drums & Bandleader
Tim Regusis: Keyboards
Clayton Thompson: Bass
Jazz composer, arranger, bandleader, and drummer Art Lillard hails from Miami, where he began studying music and played with the great jazz master Ira Sullivan. Art holds a bachelor’s degree in jazz composition and arranging from Berklee College of Music and has also studied composition with Wally Cirillo, Maria Schneider, Kenny Werner, Karl Berger, Jim McNeely, and Mike Holober.
Art’s bands have been playing in the New York area for many years. His nine-horn Heavenly Big Band has two recordings on the Summit Records label, “Reasons to be Thankful” and “Certain Relationships.” His trio/quartet, the On Time Band, also has a recording on Summit, called “It’s Time.” His Blue Heaven Swing Sextet appeared nationally and internationally on the CBS television soap opera, "Guiding Light," and released the recordings “Eternal Swing” and “Deep Art” on the Soul Kid Jazz label in 2021 and 2022, respectively.
August 10th - Rick Savage Quartet
Rick Savage: Flugelhorn/Trumpet
Earl Sauls: Bass
Educated at world-renowned music school Indiana University, composer, producer, engineer, and videographer Rick Savage has lived and worked in and around New York City and been a part of the recording industry for the past 35 years. He continues to be in demand as a performing and recording trumpet player, making guest solo appearances on the CD projects of many NY area artists.
Savage has played with an impressive list too many to name here, but a small sampling includes: Tania Maria, Gerry Mulligan, The Temptations, The O’Jays, Blood Sweat & Tears, Mel Lewis, Mel Torme, The Jackson Five, Henry Mancini, and Burt Bacharach.
August 17th - Jeff Ciampa Trio
Jeff Ciampa: Guitar
Chris Pasin: Trumpet
Clayton Thompson: Bass
Contemporary jazz guitarist Jeff Ciampa has toured and recorded with artists like Harry Belafonte, Dave Matthews, Ornette Coleman, Jon Lucien, Al MacDowell, Pete Levin, Tony Levin, Lenny White, Bill Evans, and Mark Egan. Jeff studied at Berklee and later with jazz guru Charlie Banacos and guitarist Billy Bauer. He recorded two critically acclaimed albums on the Wavetone record label and performed at many major jazz festivals. An accomplished writer, he has collaborated on musical scores and continues to produce new music. Guitar Magazine praises his professional performance style, and the Times Herald-Record calls him "another jazz gem in the Hudson Valley."
Chris Pasin toured with Buddy Rich's band in the early 80s, playing with legends like Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, and Ella Fitzgerald. After moving to New York City, he spent the next decade performing jazz with groups including the Toshiko Akiyoshi/Lew Tabackin Big Band and Jack McDuff. He has recorded with Gunther Schuller, George Russell, and Toshiko Akiyoshi. Recently, he has been active with Peter Apfelbaum and Karl Berger’s Creative Music Studio and recording frequently with his horn section, the North Country Horns. Pasin has four solo albums and has appeared on recordings by John Esposito, Baird Hersey, and Tony Levin.
Bassist Clayton Thompson was born in Independence, Iowa, and raised in Warwick, New York. He currently resides in Sussex, New Jersey, and performs jazz professionally in New York City and the tri-state area.
Clayton holds a bachelor's degree in jazz performance from SUNY Purchase College and is pursuing a master's in music education at William Paterson University.
He has studied with renowned bassists Todd Coolman, Marcus McLaurine, Steve LaSpina, Doug Weiss, and Larry Grenadier. As a student, he has performed with jazz masters like Bill Charlap, Gary Smulyan, and Joe Lovano.
August 24th - Pete McDonald Trio
(Info To Come)
August 31st - Frank Petrocelli Village Jazz Quartet
Frank Petrocelli: Saxophones
David Crone: Piano
Lew Scott: Bass
Art Lillard: Drums
The Village Jazz Quartet began as the duo of Frank Petrocelli on saxophones and David Crone on piano. Shortly after, a bass was added and the Village Jazz Trio was formed. Over the past few years, with the addition of a drummer, the group has performed in its current state: a jazz quartet.
The VJQ has performed extensively in the Hudson Valley. They have been a regular attraction at various restaurants and eateries, as well as performing at corporate functions, weddings, and celebratory events. The VJQ has also been a featured performer at the Warwick Valley Jazz Festival and the Hudson Valley Jazz Festival.
Frank Petrocelli has degrees in music education and a Master’s in Saxophone Performance and Jazz Studies from Western Michigan University, where he studied with Trent Kynaston. He currently performs professionally in a wide range of genres. He has been a soloist and performer with the Kalamazoo, West Shore, and Newburgh Symphony Orchestras. He has performed with The Jimmy Dorsey, Tommy Dorsey, and Playland Big Bands. He currently freelances in the metro New York area and has performed in such famous venues as Carnegie Hall, Birdland, the Metropolitan Room, Feinstein’s 54 Below, and the Friar’s Club.
Frank is a music educator at Monroe-Woodbury High School in Orange County, NY, where he teaches instrumental music and leads an award-winning high school jazz ensemble. Frank has performed and collaborated with many leading jazz artists and educators, including Mike Holober, Todd Williams, Ron Blake, Todd Cooman, Joe Alessi, Tony Kadleck, Justin DiCiocio, Walter Booker, Marcus Belgrave, Adam Nussbaum, and Gary Smulyan.
Dr. David Crone is a Music Department faculty member with the Monroe-Woodbury High School located in Central Valley, New York. Dr. Crone is also the Director of Jubilate, a premier youth choir in the Hudson Valley. He has held principal posts as Director of Artistic Education and Assistant Conductor of the Boys Choir of Harlem in New York City, and Music Director and Principal Conductor of the Pro Arte Chorale in New Jersey. Dr. Crone has prepared choruses for performances with the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, the Westfield Symphony Orchestra, and also the New York Wind Symphony. Recent performances include Carmina Burana at Carnegie Hall, Rutter's Mass of the Children at Avery Fisher Hall, and the North American premiere of Johan de Meij's Symphony No. 4.
Lew Scott, bassist, has been performing in the New York area and throughout the country for many years. He has performed with many notable musicians, including Clark Terry, Conti Condoli, Frank Rosolino, Joe Lavano, Herb Ellis, George Coleman, Dave Liebman, Jack Sheldon, Peggy Stern, and John Abercrombie, as well as many others. He has toured with vocalists Melba Morre, Lainie Kazan, Nnena Frelon, and Michael Amante. Lew has worked with Anita O’Day, Mark Murphy, and many other singers, including Robert Goulet, Vic Damone, Sergio Franchi, Jerry Vale, Al Martino, Eddie Fisher, Florence Henderson, Julie Budd, and Lucie Arnaz. He has also performed with many groups, including the Four Aces and the Fifth Dimension. In the past, Lew was a competition cyclist, but now, he rides his bicycle around the county for enjoyment.
Drummer, composer, arranger, and band leader Art Lillard hails from Miami, where he began studying music and played with the great jazz master Ira Sullivan. He holds a bachelor’s degree in composition and arranging from Berklee College of Music in Boston. He has studied composition with Wally Cirillo, Maria Schneider, Kenny Werner, Karl Berger, Jim McNeely, and Mike Holober.
Art has three recordings on Summit Records: “Reasons to Be Thankful” and “Certain Relationships,” both featuring his nine-horn Heavenly Big Band, and “It’s Time,” featuring his trio/quartet, the On Time Band. Art's six-piece swing band, Blue Heaven, appeared on two episodes of CBS Television's "Guiding Light" series in 1998. Blue Heaven has two recent releases on the Soul Kid Jazz label, “Eternal Swing” and “Deep Art.”
Join us at The Last Whisky Bar for an exceptional lineup of jazz performances every Saturday afternoon from 2-4 PM. Enjoy the soothing sounds and intricate rhythms brought to life by these talented musicians in an intimate setting.
Visit our website at www.lastwhiskybar.com for more information.
