The Natalie Ward Band

Natalie Ward....Lead Vocals                                                      

Natalie's Bio coming soon......

 

Dale Derusha.....Bass, Guitar, Vocals

Dale has worked with various live and studio productions.

He has performed live in Europe, New England and NY.
Former bassist with jazz band The Council.

He has also performed with Ray Gomez (Guitarist on Stanley Clarks' "School Daze" album), Mark Eagan (Bassist for Pat Methany), Tony Alexander (Drummer for Freddy Hubbard & Chaka Kahn).

 

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

Mr. Newton's Bio coming soon........

 

 

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). 

 

 

Gregory Fiske.....Tenor Sax, Wind Controller

I've been playing the saxophones for about 29 years now and love it more then ever. 
In recent years I've met and played with some amazing musicians such as the great Al Gallodoro, Grammy nominated Keyboardist  Jeremy Wall (Spyro Gyra), award winning vocalist Judy Bady(www.judybady.com), Saxophonist Greg Langdon, and Bassist Richard Mollin.   My jazz quartet, out of Oneonta, NY also opened for Guitarist John Abercrombie.

Living in Plattsbugh, NY has proved to be another great musical experience.