Dr. Joe and Friends Featuring Elise Cardinale to Perform at Branford Jazz Concert Series

From the City of Branford:

BRANFORD, CT - Perhaps this popular soul singer didn’t quite have Dr. Joe Cardinale in mind when she spoke these words, but the sentiments certainly speak volumes on his illustrious careers. He joins his daughter, Elise Cardinale and fellow musicians and friends, Darren Litzie, Fred Haas, Jeff Fuller and Ben Bilello on stage at the Branford Jazz Series, August 4th, 2016 at 6:30 p.m.

Dr. Joe Cardinale grew up with a love for both medicine and music. He was raised in a medical family. He began playing the guitar around the age of 8 years old but did not enjoy formal training while young. His desire to pursue a career in medicine drove him to give up music in college but was rekindled about 15 years ago when he bought a guitar on a whim. Initially he studied rock with Ricky Jordan and was a founding member of the group Joe’s Garage. He quickly developed a love for jazz and began studying with Tony Lombardozzi. Subsequently he has studied with Gene Bertoncini, Jason Ennis, Fred Haas, and most recently David Newsam among others. He has played with Tuxedo Junction, Donn Trenner, Gene Bertoncini, Vinny Raniolo, Jason Ennis and many others at his weekly gig at Ayuthai Restaurant in Guilford. Dr. Joe & Friends has performed for 5 consecutive years to sold out audiences at the Katharine Hepburn Theater.

Elise Cardinale has always had a love for singing. She performed with Hopkins Concert Choir during her high school years as well as in a capella groups both at the high school level, with Hopkins School’s all female group Triple Trio, and in college, with The Georgetown University Phantoms. Her jazz career began at age 17 when she first performed with Dr. Joe & Friends. Since then she has continued to pursue jazz and has performed with Tuxedo Junction, The Georgetown Jazz Orchestra, and many incredible musicians during her yearly performance with Dr. Joe & Friends at the Katharine Hepburn Theater. When not singing, Elise is in graduate school at Georgetown University where she is studying to obtain her doctorate in Cognitive Neuroscience.

Pianist/composer Darren Litzie holds a Bachelor of Music Degree in Jazz Performance. He has also studied jazz theory, improvisation, and composition. Darren has performed with many prominent artists. Darren is also the touring keyboardist for singer Andrew Strong of the band/1991 film “The Commitments.” Stops on the tours have included the Regatta Bar in Boston, B.B. King’s Blues Club in New York City, and Anthology in San Diego . Darren recently completed a three-year stint as a member of New York’s prestigious BMI Jazz Composers Workshop, where he had several of his works premiered in concert by the BMI Jazz Orchestra.

Fred Haas, saxophone, performed with the likes of Oscar Peterson, Ray Charles, Pat Metheny, Clark Terry, Joe Morello, The Tommy Dorsey Orchestra and many others. Jazz guitarist Pat Metheny calls Fred Haas “a totally world-class saxophone player. Fred teaches saxophone, jazz piano, jazz improvisation, jazz history and music theory at Dartmouth College. He is the founder of Interplay Jazz Workshop. Fred has recorded many CDs and has performed internationally.

Jeff Fuller is a jazz bassist with an impressive list of credentials. He has toured worldwide and recorded with master saxophonist Lou Donaldson and Paquito D’Rivera. Fuller’s swing and big bass sound, combined with his versatility, enabled him to blend with jazz artists from all styled and eras. He has appeared with such diverse artists as Dizzy Gillespie, Mose Allision, Scott Hamilton, “Papa” Jo Jones, Gerry Mulligan and many others. Besides jazz, Fuller has gained wide experience in Latin music, both Afro-Cuban and Brazilian. Jeff has just released his second CD “Shoreline Blues” both of which feature Darren & Ben.

Ben Bilello is one of the most in demand drummers in New England. He attended the Hartt School of Music where he won the Hartt Award of Excellence in Jazz Studies… He has played with many top jazz artists and continues to teach his craft on the college level as well as privately.

Photo courtesy of the City of Branford.