The Natalie Ward Band

Natalie Ward....Lead Vocals                                                      

Natalie's Bio should be coming soon, it's only been 3 years ;-)......but she has been quoted as saying: "I saw my name in the paper and decided to show up to see what it was about." 

 

 

Bernie has been playing bass and singing throughout northern New York from the Capital District to the Canadian border for … well, let’s just say that since “classic” rock is a recognized genre, then he qualifies as a “classic” musician.  He recently joined The Natalie Ward Band and also stays active with a number of other musical projects.   Bernie still loves playing and performing, and assumes he’ll continue playing bass until he forgets what it is.

 

 

 

Ron Riddle.....Lead Guitar, Bass, Vocals

Ron Riddle has enjoyed playing music in the North Country for 20 plus years.  Acoustic, Electric and sometimes Bass guitar have all been very rewarding.  Playing electric guitar in The Natalie Ward Band has been an opportunity to really stretch out. Whether it’s slow blues, Rock or some choppy rhythms to compliment the horns and Natalie’s vocals, you will always see a smile on Ron’s face when he finds the groove and is lifted by the music.

Check out Ron's website www.ronriddlelive.com, for other performances!

 

Bob Newton.....Drums

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Bob started playing drums at 12, and has been addicted to wood shedding ever since. He was in his first rock trio in 7^{th grade, and supported himself in college by playing the cover tunes of the day, namely 60s rock and blues. Over the years he’s performed with numerous bands and many musicians in the upstate New York and New England areas. Major influences include Gene Krupa, Jim Gordon, Steve Gadd, and everyone’s favorite, Levon Helm. "Keep on rockin’, Bobby…"}

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Rick Davies...Trombone

Since moving to New York City in the late 1970s, Rick Davies has worked in a myriad of musical contexts.  However, he has primarily focused his creative efforts in the areas of salsa, Latin jazz, and Afro-Caribbean music.

On the salsa, Afro-Caribbean, and Latin jazz scenes, he has performed with many artists and groups (Tito Puente, Johnny Colon, Charlie Palmieri, Marc Anthony, Skah Shah, Ti Manno, Tabou Combo, Arrow, Rey Reyes, Johnny Ray, Manny Oquendo’s Libre, etc.) and recorded on over one hundred albums.  For over a decade, he was the musical director of Wayne Gorbea’s Salsa Picante, performing and composing or arranging works for the group’s popular recordings including Cogele el Gusto, Saboreando, and the band’s most recent release Fiesta en el Bronx.  A long association with Jackie Byard and his Apollo Stompers is one highlight of Davies’ mainstream jazz credits.  He is featured on Byard’s Phantasies II recording.

  He remains very active as a performer.  Recent credits include recording with the rock group Blondie as well as with Michael Jackson and Wyclef Jean.  Davies also did live appearances in late 1999 with Wyclef for President and Mrs. Clinton and at the Giants stadium Netaid concert.  He also filmed a VH1 Storytellers episode with Wyclef and the Refugee All-Stars.  Davies has traveled extensively with the Big Apple Circus, and appears regularly with Salsa Picante in New York City and around the world.  He is currently promoting his group Jazzismo and creating new compositions for this first class Latin jazz ensemble. 

As a scholar, Davies has written several monographs, chapters, and articles primarily about Afro-Cuban music and salsa.  His book, Trompeta: Chappottín, Chocolate, and Afro-Cuban Trumpet Style, was released in May 2003 by Scarecrow Press.  He contributed a chapter on Alfredo “Chocolate” Armenteros to Music From Cuba (Praeger Press, 2001).  Other articles he has written include “Sexteto Habanero, Félix Chappottín, and Early Afro-Cuban Trumpet Playing”, “The Conjunto Trumpet Style: Chappottín, Florecita, and Chocolate”, and “Americanizing The Eurocentric Music Curriculum”.

Davies received a Ph.D. from New York University in 1999 (his dissertation was on Cuban brass performance).  He is currently an Associate Professor of Music at Plattsburgh State University of New York (SUNY).