Come join in the celebration as three Rhode Island musicians celebrate their 75th birthdays! Joe Parillo, Steve DeConti and Paul Mason, born in a span of a couple of weeks, all grew up in R.I. to become musicians. Joe became a pianist, Steve plays guitar, and Paul is a drummer. Lending a hand at this event will be BRT founding member Bob Drouin, RIMHOF inductee Marty Ballou, Bruce Abbott, Ron Fournier, Bruce Foulke, Ron Sanfilippo, Joe Potenza and more!
Joe founded the Joe Parillo Ensemble, has recorded several successful projects, and joined the faculty at URI where he became chairman of the department. He’s a Steinway Artist, and a Rhode Island Music Hall of Fame inductee. He has performed in Brazil, Italy, Germany, South Wales, Taiwan and New Zealand. Joe toured with the Glenn Miller Orchestra and performed with vibraphonist Jay Hoggard and as featured artist for the Steinway Artists Celebration performing at Boston Symphony Hall in honor of the 150th Anniversary of Steinway and Sons.
Steve, a graduate of Berklee College of music, studied with John Damian, improvisation guru Charlie Banacos, and composer/arranger Michael Gibbs. He has played in concerts, recordings, radio and television appearances with renowned jazz trombonist George Masso, Paul Nagel, (Bozz Scaggs and Bobby McFerrin pianist), Dan Moretti, Greg Abate, Dave Zinno, Mike Metheny, Mike Renzi, Marty Ballou, Marty Richards, Cab Calloway, Jack Jones, Vanessa Williams, Eddie Fischer, the Temptations, and Jay Leno. He was the founder and principal writer for the trio “SD3” with Paul Mason and Joe Potenza and the quartet “Sons of Bark” a popular jazz quartet in the mid 1990’s featuring drummer Bart Lingley, bassist Joe Potenza, and vibraphonist Jim Seabra. Recordings include “Gigantic Art Sale” with Sons of Bark, and “Surfjazz” featuring RI Music Hall of Famers, Marty Ballou and Marty Richards. He has also been an educator for many years and headed the jazz program at The Wheeler School and CCRI.
Paul was a student of the great teacher Alan Dawson, who recommended him for a job at Brown University when they created a jazz department under the direction of Matt McGarrell. He continues in the position some 40 years later, teaching jazz on the drum set and coaching ensembles. He was a member of the Joe Parillo Ensemble off and on for many years, recording two CDs with that group, and played with Steve in SD3 in the 80s. He played R&B and other roots music with the Chili Brothers, recording and performing with Rick Danko, bassist for legendary group “The Band” releasing the album “Empty Bottles” which featured Rick as well as Buddy Cage, pedal steel player for The New Riders of The Purple Sage, and R.I. blues legend Paul Geremia. He was VP at R.I.-based record label, North Star Music and produced and performed on a dozen projects for the label. He’s been the house drummer at The Dunes Club in Narraganset for the past 20 seasons with Debby Sullivan and Tom Charlap, and plays in a guitar trio, The Conversation, with Mitch Seidman and Jerry Wilfong. Together the group has been recording a series for GCTV, also called “The Conversation” for nearly three years featuring the trio with a series of notable guest artists.
