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Bruce Glasberg – Leader, Trombone
Bruce was born in Bronxville, New
York and grew up on Long Island. He began playing trombone in 4th
grade, and hasn't stopped. Bruce moved to L.A. for nine years,
then fled to Sarasota, FL. Over the years he has performed with
Big Night Out, Strangeways, and Amandla Tunesmith (Florida), Undercover
Funk and Romero Brothers (New York), Midnight Swingers, Flat Top
Tom and the Jumpcats, and the Sonny Boyer Quartet (Los Angeles).
Bruce's most memorable gigs include Corcoran State Prison in California
(home to Charlie Manson and Sir Han Sir Han) national tours with
Strangeways, Nudestock at the Riverboat Nudist Camp, and Tropical
Heatwave in Ybor City, FL. The wildest gig for Bruce was in south
central L.A. while leading a jazz quintet. Eleven LAPD officers
ran into the bar with their guns drawn. The cops barged in and
searched under the tables and kicked bathroom doors open as Bruce
kept the band playing flawlessly never missing a single note. They
found their suspect hiding under a van in the back parking lot.
The officers were seen leaving the bar bopping their heads and
snapping their fingers to the beat.
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Frank Alvarez – Vocals, Guitar, Bass and Percussion
Frank
Alvarez – Vocals, Guitar, Bass and Percussion
Frank was born in Havana, Cuba and immigrated to the U.S. in
the mid 60's. He got interested in music when his older sister
brought home a record called 'Rubber Soul' by the Beatles. Since
then his fascination with music has never ceased. He abandoned
the drums after the landlord threatened to evict them from their
apartment and picked up the bass guitar, whose volume could be
controlled. He grew up in New Jersey across from Manhattan and
was exposed to many cultures and many forms of music, hence his
ability to go from one genre to the next. He formed his first
band in high school and after a few transformations and lot's
of practice found themselves playing at local parties, sweet
sixteens and weddings. Frank was singing along to his bass playing
and eventually joined another playing the club circuit. After
many years, many bands, many trials, reality hits you and you
find yourself wanting to settle down and start a family. He moved
to Florida in 2001 to escape the fast, stressful city life and
to concentrate on raising his family. His passion and joy for
music has never diminished and he's always kept playing in one
form or another. In 2013 Frank brought his musical experience
and knowledge to Big Night Out.
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Keith Green – Trumpet & Vocals
Born in Asheboro, N.C. Keith
started playing trombone in 6th grade, two years later was first
in the state. In the 11th grade he switched to trumpet. After High
School Keith spent next 4 years at Berklee College of Music in
Boston, Mass. After College he traveled around the US with various
jazz bands for 4 years until Ringling Bros. Barnum & Bailey
Circus hired him as Conductor/Trumpeter/Arranger. He planned to
stay one year for the money. After 28 years and three ex-wives
he had toured the country and much of the world. For the last three
years he has lived in Venice, FL. Staying busy writing music, sailing
and playing in five different bands in the area. Keith is planning
to move to the Dominican Republic to explore and sail the Caribbean.
When asked what his craziest event was he responded, marrying his
third ex-wife (never again). Keith can get quite animated and goofy
on stage and can play trumpet like no one else. He likes ostriches
and they like him. |
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Luis
Alberto Rodriguez – Drums and Percussion
Born in Cuba, he began
playing percussion at 10 years old – timbales, drums, bongos. When
asked about who were his biggest influences, he didn’t have one
particular musical inspiration…he said he was born with a love of
music and always loved to play. His first gig in Cuba was at 19 years
old, when he played with big bands in night clubs. At 23 he moved
to Miami where he played with several Latin bands, including recording
with Chekoere. He moved to Sarasota where he plays with local Latin
flavored dance bands including Latin Fusion and Big Night Out. |
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Braulio
Gonzalez - Percussion
Born in the Bronx, NY, he
moved to Cuba as a child. He began playing Cuatro at age eight. At
nine years old he performed at large concerts in Bayamo, Cuba. At
age 18 he started playing percussion and moved to New York City where
he performed with Salsa bands, including performances at the Inter-
American University. He moved to Sarasota in 2000 where he performs
regularly with church bands, and plays with the local Latin flavored
dance bands Latin Fusion and Big Night Out. |
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Tony
Sheppard – Guitar
Tony is a Florida native, born in Sarasota. He started playing
guitar when he was 12 years old and was inspired by the Beatles,
Doors, Cream and other 60's bands. Besides Big Night Out, Tony
is the guitarist with Strangeways, a Florida based ska band that
has toured nationally and is coming out with their 3rd CD. When
asked, "what was your funniest musical experience" Tony
recalled a gig with Strangeways on Treasure Island in St. Petersburg,
FL. During the 1st set his van caught on fire. Tony dashed out
in-between sets as smoke was billowing out of the front window.
The Fire Dept. put the fire out and told him not to drive the van
back home. Tony drove the burned out van back to Sarasota, without
a front seat. He currently teaches guitar to 70 students around
Sarasota, the only requirement is each student must carry a portable
fire extinguisher at all times, in case Tony combusts. |
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Paul
Cartwright – Drums
Paul is Big Night Out's drummer extordinare. He is from England
where he played drums around England in various night club and
show bands. In Sarasota, he has performed with several bands including
small jazz groups, big bands, and is currently performing with
Big Night Out and Vine Street Rumba Band. He can be very witty,
especially his trombone jokes, which the trombone player does not
appreciate. |
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Max
Kelly – Percussion
Growing up just outside Chicago, Max's home was constantly filled
with the sounds of Dixieland jazz from the radio, and live bluegrass
music from the frequent jam sessions led by his brother, a banjo
player. Max's love for music was cemented when he was 8 and his
mom took him to see a performance of the Preservation Hall Jazz
Band. Max's father, an artist and commercial photographer, further
nurtured his musical interest by giving him LPs of african drumming
and asking him to listen to the complexity of the polyrhythms.
With exposure to Chicago's diverse music scene, Max soon became
interested in afro-cuban and brazilian music and got his first
pair of congas when he was 14. At 15 he tasted of the thrill of
performing when he accompanied his buddies' high school rock band
on renditions of The Rolling Stones' Symapathy For The Devil and
Santana's Black Magic Woman. A few years later, Max went to Madrid
to work and study and was exposed to the Cante Jondo style of flamenco
music and Palmas (rhythmic hand clapping). While living in Maine
in the late 90s, Max would escape the long winters by living and
working in Vieques, Puerto Rico, where he got to witness the depth
and cultural importance of Afro-Cuban music. This spring he visited
Havana, Cuba, the crown jewel of the afro-caribbean music scene.
Although Big Night Out tends to occupy his evenings, Max usually
mananages to crawl out of bed each morning to perform his duties
as a freelance graphic designer and
photographer. He also enjoys woodworking and fabricates
cajon drums.
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Joni Adno – Lead Vocal and Keyboard
Music has always been a huge part
of Joni’s life. Her dad was a drummer and a tenor singer. She began
her singing career at age 5 on her front steps singing for whoever
walked by and pretending she was singing with Ricky Nelson. She
has studied piano from the age of 6 and has her degree in Music
Education from the University of North Florida. Joni has been performing
around SW Florida performing Flamenco with Isabel DuBrocq’s Rumba
Flamenca and Bossalero. Joni also sings and plays piano with Big
Night Out. |
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