Rhythm Section: Frankly Speaking, One by One, and First Portrait feature a group comprised of some of New York's finest musicians. The players and singers have diverse backgrounds, and encompass a wide range of musical styles. The excellent jazz based rhythm section that accompanied Robert on his first three releases also backed him on Holidays. The entire rhythm section made important contributions with respect to the initial arrangements during the recording of the basic tracks for each CD. In addition to Robert himself on piano, the rest of the group's nucleus includes Bob DeVos on guitar, Jeff Lopez on acoustic (and sometimes electric) bass, and Ray Bruce handling the drum and percussion chores. Bob DeVos is one of the busiest players on the New York music scene. Known as a tasteful and sensitive accompanist and soloist, he is equally at home with jazz, r&b, and contemporary music styles. Bob has played and recorded with many headline jazz and r&b names including "Groove" Holmes, Sonny Stitt, The Jimmy McGriff-Hank Crawford Quartet, Teo Macero, David "Fathead" Newman, Charles Earland, and Stanley Turrentine, among many others. He recently completed his second solo recording. His first solo CD, Breaking The Ice, is on Savant Records. Jeff Lopez is the bassist with the renowned Jazz Ambassadors, the U. S. Army's premier touring jazz orchestra. Internationally acclaimed, they perform traditional and contemporary jazz around the world, and have been the proving ground for many of the jazz world's superstars. Jeff has played with Toots Thielmans, Kenny Drew Jr., Craig Handy, and Junior Mance, among others. He has recorded with the Jazz Ambassadors on several albums, and has recently released his first solo recording, The Sun and the Rain featuring his original compositions and highlighting his creative, highly rhythmic and melodic bass playing in a small group setting. Ray Bruce is a first class, extremely versatile timekeeper and percussionist with considerable performance experience in and around the Boston and New York metropolitan areas. His musical relationship with Robert dates back further than any of the other musicians on either CD project, and this contributes to a musical "symbiosis" that he shares with Robert. In addition, Ray functioned as a virtual co-producer with Robert, contributing significantly with his ideas, feedback and tireless effort during the course of both projects.		Other accompanists and soloists for Holidays, Frankly Speaking, One by One and First Portrait: Erik Lawrence also performed on each Mosci recording. He played bari, tenor and alto saxes on the CD's, but he's also fluent on soprano sax and flute. He's a versatile player with great musical creativity, sensitivity and humor. He's performed extensively in New York, and has toured in Europe and the Caribbean. He's also Professor of Saxophone and Jazz Ensemble at Montclair State University. Erik has performed and/or recorded with a virtual who's who of jazz and rock artists. Some of the notable names he's worked with: Chico Hamilton, Buddy Miles, The Band, Bob Dylan, The Spin Doctors, Jackie and Roy, Sonny Sharrock, and John Cale. Mike Morreale plays great trumpet and flugelhorn solos on the first two Mosci recordings. He's been a fixture on the NY music scene, where he leads the Staten Island Chamber Music Players Jazz Quartet, and directs the jazz ensemble at the College of Staten Island. He accompanied pop star Joe Jackson on two world tours, and is featured on Jackson's albums and on the soundtrack of the Jackson orchestration for the movie "Queens Logic". Mike also has a solo album to his credit, Toubah. Matt Haviland plays masterful trombone solos and obligatos on One by One. His jazz trombone style was described as "controlled passion" in Jazz Times magazine. He has appeared throughout Europe, Japan, the Caribbean, and the US, including New York's top jazz clubs, as lead trombonist and soloist with the Illinois Jacquet Big Band, Bobby Watson's Tailor Made Big Band, the Mingus Big Band, Blood Sweat & Tears, and Charli Persip & Superband. He's also played and/or recorded with Jackie & Roy, Lionel Hampton and Toshiko Akiyoshi. Lori Velez, who sings background (and some lead: "I Say A Little Prayer") on One by One, is a wonderful vocalist with vast experience in a singing career which began in New York in the 1980's. She has recorded as background singer with Dionne Warwick, Roberta Flack, Nagee, Kirk Whelum, and Alex Bugnon, among others. She's also sung on the movie soundtracks of My Best Friend's Wedding, Do The Right Thing, and School Days, and worked with Paul Simon in the production of the Broadway musical The Capeman. Jerry Vivino is the talented sax and flutist who can be seen and heard each night as a member of the Max Weinberg Orchestra on the Conan O'Brien show, broadcast on NBC. He played tenor sax on First Portrait's "Just One Of Those Things", and joyous calypso flute on "Monkey". Jerry has several CD's out on the DMP label with his group "The Vivino Brothers". Sylvester "Sly" Scott, who plays enthusiastic tenor sax on several cuts on First Portrait, is a busy freelance musician who is often out touring around Europe and the states. He is based in Staten Island, where he has worked on several musical projects, including leading his own group. Julie Newdow is the background vocalist with the pure, silky voice heard on First Portrait. She's a freelance vocalist on the New York music scene, doing voice overs and recording session work. Julie was an MTV basement tapes finalist, and has recorded dance music for Emergency Records. She also has recorded several commercial jingles, all of this when she's not at home taking care of her two kids. Zographia Contact Us