Doreen Gaetano Aiardo

Tony Aiardo Opens Milford Fine Arts Performance Coffeehouse

Tony Aiardo dazzled his audience as a soloist Friday, Sept. 24th, at the Milford Fine Arts Performance Coffeehouse in Milford, Connecticut. A composer, pianist and vocalist, Tony is a veteran performer whether as a soloist, combo or in a nine-piece band in for Foxwood’s Resort, Mohegan Sun or alongside Wynton Marsalis at Yale University.

Tony pulls his experiences from his love of jazz classics, pop and ballads—a mix of genres to create his own style, sometimes sounding like the phrasing of Michael McDonald, sometimes the timbre of James Taylor, sometimes the sensual Barry White, sometimes the richness of Luther Vandross, sometimes the elegance of Lou Rauls and sometimes the improvisations of Ray Charles. But he’s always uniquely Tony.

On Friday, Tony performed a mix of original tunes including “Stay With Me Tonight” and “You Were Only Foolin.’” He instantly connected with the audience both musically and personally. Energy vibrated through the room, feeling like trains going by!

An impromptu surprise, half way through the evening’s performance and introduced from the audience, was long time friend and jazz legend, Maydie Myles. With her roots in gospel, Billboard compared her talent to Aretha Franklin with Quincy Jones. She performed alongside Tony, delivering crowd favorites like “Get There If You Can” by Oleta Adams and Etta’s James’ “At Last.” 

It was a night for all to remember!

Tony Aiardo Performs at the Red Lion on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village

 

Tony Aiardo, my husband, performed at the Red Lion on Bleecker Street in Greenwich Village on March 29. The performance was part of the Ann Ruckert's Songwriters Circle, presented by the Songwriters Guild of America, the Johnny Mercer Fund Songwriter Circle and 13 Stories Records.

The Story of Phi-Fusion

I love to write. During most days, I write music books (i.e. piano methods and holiday books with CD accompaniments) and music arrangements that my piano students request.

Years ago, remembering the fun I had back in my days in a wedding band and hoping to capture that idea of sharing music with friends, I wrote an arrangement for four pianos. Some would call it “the wedding set”— a medley of ethnic line dances (the Hora, tarantelle, Irish jig and the Mexican Hat clapping dance).

I wanted to flip the tables, so to speak. I wanted to take some of the old school pressure off the traditional solo piano recital, and wanted to create an experience where my students could enjoy playing while watching their parents get up to dance and enjoy the labors of their children. It was very positive. Piano recitals were now fun, relaxing and celebrations of the children!

 

I was impressed that a few of my piano students also had the opportunity to study a band instrument in school—some as early as the fourth grade. I wanted to show them off as much as I could, so I added “The Electric Slide” and included clarinet & saxophone with the four pianos. Another positive.

We took our line dances and “played out” at various fairs and malls, including them in every recital. The students were getting positive feedback. They enjoyed music and I was enjoying their progress.  

A few years have passed. As the students grew into junior high and high school, their tastes changed (although we still play our line dances when requested). They enthusiastically starting picking up multiple instruments in addition to their piano study!  We added a few very musical friends to the group, and what you hear today is the sound of “Phi-Fusion,” playing a mix of pop, soul, funk, ballads, holiday and dance music for all ages! 

We now participate annually in the Connecticut Music Festival at Quassy; the International Festival of the Arts at Yale in New Haven, and Macy’s “Shop For A Cause.” We also do local town holiday festivals and a summer concert series and play at area restaurants and mall events. 

 

Last year was our kick-off year, organizing a benefit dance to “Support Music Education in Schools,” which included major professional musicians from the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut areas.  

  

Benefit Dance Guest "Pro Musicians": Harvey Morris, percussion; Dave Anderson, bass; Ken Gioffre, sax; Maydie Myles, vocals; Keith Robinson, guitar; Tony Aiardo, keyboards & vocals 

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Not only was it an effort to raise money for public school band instruments, but importantly, it was an opportunity for these students to perform alongside musicians who bring their music around the world!  It was a learning field trip and a lifetime opportunity! 

 

We are thankful for our audience, and those who sing along, dance along, and feel the music as we do, and we are grateful for all of you in all our surrounding communities who support music for youth!  

Doreen Gaetano Aiardo

Phi-Fusion will be performing:

• Saturday, March 27, at 2:30, at the Case Memorial Library, 176 Tyler City Rd. (and Orange Center Rd.,) Orange, CT 06477, kicking off a spring celebration of their favorite music. 

• Sunday, May 2, 2010 at the Milford, CT Duck Race, a civic downtown event raising over $6000.00 in the past for local charities. 

• Saturday, June 12, 2010, at 4:00 at the Annual Quassy Music Festival, in Middlebury, CT

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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