
Jerry Vivino's Hudson Valley All-Stars
Ft. Jerry Vivino (sax/vocals), Mike Jackson (guitar), Mike Merritt (bass), Rave Tesar (keys), James Wormworth (drums)
This show will feature a mix of jazz, blues, soul, and jump blues favorites! Guitarist Mike Jackson, a legend in jazz, has played with Marvin Gaye, Jimmy McGriff, and Solomon Burke. Bassist Mike Merritt and drummer James Wormworth are known for Late Night with Conan O’Brien and performances with Johnny Johnson, Levon Helm, and Keely Smith. Saxophonist, flutist, and vocalist Jerry Vivino spent over 25 years as Late Night’s house band saxophonist, performing with Bruce Springsteen, Stanley Clarke, Phoebe Snow, Darlene Love, and Frankie Valli. He is also the middle brother of guitarist Jimmy Vivino and, of course, everybody’s favorite uncle—Uncle Floyd.
Saxophonist, vocalist Jerry Vivino will be returning to The Falcon with legendary guitarist Mike Jackson, pianist Rave Tesar and Conan O'Brien band mates Mike Merritt, bass and James Wormorth, drums.
Jerry Vivino:
Jerry Vivino was the son of Emily and Jerry Vivino Sr., on January 8, 1954 in Paterson, New Jersey. The Vivino family was a constant source of music and art throughout Jerry’s childhood, and into his teens. Jerry was influenced by his parents and was exposed to Miles Davis, Louis Armstrong, Charlie Parker, Dinah Washington, Frank Sinatra, and Ella Fitzgerald. Floyd Vivino, his older brother, loved Louie Prima as well as great swing and jump music from the 30’s to the 40’s and 50’s. Jerry discovered that he liked listening to many types of music. He even enjoyed symphonic music. His favorite composers were Debussy, Stravinsky and Leonard Bernstein. He tried to learn guitar at the tender age 7 but failed. (That would have been reserved for another family member). His third grade teacher gave him a recorder for soprano at the age of nine. Within two or three weeks, he was proficient with the instrument. His parents noticed his progress and Jerry began clarinet lessons at the age of 10. He was able to quickly learn classical clarinet and studied with Ray Gerrard and Frank Vivino (his father’s cousin). When Jerry was 14 years old, he purchased his favorite Jethro Tull album, “This Was” and still has it today. Al Kooper’s original Blood Sweat and Tears was also a favorite of his, and their first album, “Child Is Father To The Man”, was his favourite. Jerry actually wore all three of Chicago’s original albums. Elton John and James Taylor were his favorites back then, as well as Sly and Family Stone. Jerry loved R a lot.
Mike Merritt:
Mike Merritt’s career as a bassist includes 25 years playing in the house band on all of Conan O’ Brien’s TV talk shows, starting in New York with “ Late Night” then moving to Los Angeles for “The Tonight Show” and TBS’s “Conan”. This gave Mike opportunities to perform with many guest artists over the years, including Cheryl Crow, Bonnie Raitt, The Staple Singers, B.B. King, Slash, Tony Bennett, Steve Miller, Isaac Hayes, Chet Atkins, Pete Townshend, Robert Palmer, Bruce Springsteen and scores of others. Mike still performs on occasional live concert versions of Conan’s wildly popular podcast, “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend”.
Blue Lou Marini:
Often referred to as an “unsung jazz hero,” platinum recording artist, Lou Marini, Jr. is the seasoned soul and adept multi-instrumentalist, arranger, composer, educator, and producer credited with inspiring the origins of a fan-following cult across multiple genres of music.
Making a name for himself as a sideman in various high profile groups, any top New York jazz musician will tell you he’s “one of the absolute best jazz musicians.” The New York based Marini is famed for his chameleon-like adaptability to imagine and perform inventive ideas in jazz, rock, blues and classical music. Describing Lou’s performances, the New York Times said, “(he’s) the focal point of the group…(who) gives the band most of its colors and shadings, and provides it with a strongly melodic lead voice.”
James Wormworth:
James Wormworth is an American drummer and percussionist. He is the son of the jazz drummer Jimmy Wormworth and the brother of bass guitarist Tracy Wormworth.
Wormworth was a member of Jimmy Vivino and the Basic Cable Band on the TBS late night comedy program Conan. Wormworth often appeared as house drummer during the band's run as The Max Weinberg 7 on Late Night with Conan O'Brien.[1] Wormworth joined the band as a full-time member when O'Brien became the host of The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien.
Rave Tesar:
Growing up in a musical household, Rave began playing piano at an early age, and developed an affinity for all styles of music. He began his career working on the Jazz scene in and around New York with numerous groups and leaders. His reputation soon led to national and international tours as a side man with singer Frankie Randal, rock and roll hall-of-famers "The Shirells" and the minimalist pop group "Tirez Tirez", led by Mikel Rouse. Rave is, perhaps, best know for his long-standing collaboration with singer Annie Haslam and her progressive rock band "Renaissance". Serving as a co-writer and producer, Rave worked on several of Haslam's solo projects as well as the 2001 Renaissance "live" from Japan CD, "The Land of the Rising Sun", and the most recent Renaissance studio album, "Grandine il Vento", on which he also served as primary producer.