Ashley 1st.com

Meet The Band

DOMINIC FALLACARO- KEYS

Born in raised in the Albany, New York area, Dominic now plays and studies in New York City. He is in his fourth year at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music, and has studied privately with Mike LeDonne, Aaron Parks, Joel Frahm, Aaron Goldberg, Stefon Harris, and Fred Hersch. Dominic has performed at a variety of venues in New York City, including the Iridium, Sweet Rhythm, Garage, Niagara, Mannahatta, Mo Pitkins, Perch Cafe, Alger House, the Bitter End, Caffe Vivaldi and many others.

Growing up in Upstate New York, Dominic also was featured prominently in the Albany jazz scene. He headlined numerous times at the Van Dyck, playing shows to sold-out audiences. He also performed at Justin's, the Larkin, WAMC studios, Caffe Lena, and One Caroline Street. Recently, Dominic has had a few notable musical performances. In April, he and fellow classmates performed original compositions on WBGO live radio broadcast. In may, he had the opportunity to play at the Albany Tulip festival, with the great vocalist Kevin Mahogany. www.dominicfallacaro.com

SERGIO ORTEGA- GUITAR

My name is Sergio Ortega and I am a session musician based in the NYC area. I graduated from Berklee College of Music in December 2003. I have since been doing session work for various groups and artists in NYC. I also front my own band called Saint of the Day. I play both electric and acoustic guitars as well as bass guitar. I play many genres of music.

Some Past and Present Projects: Nevereven, Kenny Grohowski/Hybrid, Nevaris, Joyspeed, Cathie Russo, Nick Howard, Saint of the Day Some Various Recordings: Nevaris, Cathie Russo, Imany, Nevereven, Ivette Dumeng, Nick Howard,& Saint of the Day.
www.myspace.com/saintoftheday

GARY PICKARD- BASS/ MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Gary Pickard was born in Mastic Beach, Long Island in 1981. He's been playing music since he first picked up a saxophone at the age of 8. Since then, Gary has become proficient in playing all saxophones, clarinets, flutes, guitars, basses and drums. He is also a singer, songwriter, composer, arranger, teacher and producer. Gary moved from Long Island to New York City in 1999 and earned his BA in Jazz and Contemporary Music Performance from The New School Jazz Program. While there, Gary studied with teachers including Billy Drewes, Gerard D'Angelo, Reggie Workman, Bobby Sanabria, Billy Harper and Rory Stuart to name a few. Gary has also studied with Sonny Dallas, Lee Konitz, Ranny Reeve and Mark Gatz.

Professionally, Gary has played with many different groups playing various musical styles including The Lonnie Plaxico Group, The Junior Mance Quartet, Jay Vilnai's Vampire Suit, The Kitsune Ensemble, Black Cat Bone, The Sly Geralds Band, Ashley 1st, Carlton J. Smith, The Straightjackets, Lauren O., Pamela Betti, Creations featuring Kim Sozzi and MK Groove Orchestra. He also leads his own rock band, nevereven, and jazz organ trio, The Groove.
www.myspace.com/garypickard

MICHAEL SEROPYAN- SAXOPHONE, FLUTE

Ukraine born saxophonist, Michael Seropyan graduated Performing Arts High School in New York and then later received his BFA in Performance from The New School. He has studied with musicians like Lew Tabackin, Chris Potter, Eric Alexander, Gary Dial and numerous others. Throughout his high school and college years Michael received numerous awards, some of which include the Clifford Brown/Stan Getz Fellowships Award, Outstanding Soloist Award at the Essentially Ellington High School Competition, Texaco Jazz Competition Award, to name a few.

Michael has performed at a variety venues in New York City, including Birdland, Village Vanguard, Blue Note, B. B. Kings, Rainbow Room, as well as worldwide venues, including Half Note in Athens, Greece, Shinjuku Loft and Shibuya On Air East in Tokyo, Japan. Some of the bands Michael has worked with include Tohiko Akiyoshi Jazz Orchestra, Standpipe Siamese, Yoke, Yalloppin' Hounds and many others, playing music of different genres. Currently, Michael makes a living in NYC as a full time musician.
www.myspace.com/saxmancito

BENJAMIN WOODBURY- DRUMS

I play drums.

www.myspace.com/benwoodburydrums

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5 Things You Didn't Know About The Band:

5. What age did you start?

Sergio:Found out I wanted to play guitar at 13 when I was watching Arnold Schwarzenegger's "Commando." It's movies like that that will make a person wanna learn an instrument.
Dominic: Started playing the piano in kindergarten.
Mike: Started music at 7, sax at 11.
Gary: I started crystal meth at the age of 8, but it only lead to more serious drugs.
Ben: Started drums 3rd grade. My parents decided replacing my favorite toys with drum sticks was the easiest way to help me fit in. Like every kid wasn't fascinated with ribbon writers and feathered wands for cats...Don't even pretend.

4. If you couldn't be a muscian, what would you be?

Sergio: Watching "Junior" starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito.
Dominic: Very sad.
Mike: Dunno...
Gary: I wouldn't.
Ben: Professional Red Sox Fan...that got paid to go to the games+drink. And bike (within 100miles) to the next game. Start a book club.

3. Heman or Skeletor? Shira or Gem?

Sergio: Skeletor. Jem.
Dominic: He-Man!
Mike: Have no idea about.
Gary: Skeletor. Gem.
Ben: Heman. Both.

2. Best place to eat in the city?

Sergio: Planet Hollywood (which was once owned by Arnold)
Dominic: Dinosaur Bar-b-que in Harlem. Make a reservation the day before, though, or you'll never get in.
Mike: The pizzeria around the corner (from Ultra Sound Studios: on 30th+8th).
Gary: My couch.
Ben: Spring Natural- kidding. Don't write that.

1. Give us your own question/answer here:

Sergio: Did you know that Arnold's first movie was called "Hercules in New York?" Did you know he was credited under the name "Arnold Strong?"
Dominic: I'm bored on the internet right now, what should I do?
Perhaps check out www.myspace.com/dominicfallacaro or www.dominicfallacaro.com!
Ben: Am I really as awesome as everybody says? No, i'm awesomer. Mark that 8. Gary: Why is Gary the most awesome member of the band? i don't know why either...
Mike: Is Gary the most awesome member of the band? Hmmmm....

The Band's Top 14 Pick-Up Lines

(selected from "worlds 50 greatest pickup lines" card deck)

14) Can I buy you a drink, or do you just want the money?
13) [As he/she walks past say] So, where are we going?
12) [Grab his/her arse and say] Excuse me, is this seat taken?
11) I'm not trying anything, I always put my hands here...
10) I've had quite a bit to drink and you're beginning to look pretty good!
9) Hi, the voices in my head told me to come talk to you
8) You look just like my mother.
7)You smell. Want to take a shower?
6) [At the office copy machine] Reproducing eh? Can I help?
5) Inheriting 80 million bucks doesn't mean much when you have a weak heart
4) I may not be the best looking guy here, but I'm the only one talking to you...
3) Do you know what winks and makes love like a panther? (then wink)
2) Can I please be your slave tonight?
1) Come on, you'll do...

"What's the best part about recording a brand new album?"

-What's the best part about recording?

Dominic: Getting to make a Leslie cabinet scream for dear life.

Ben: Slamming takes that you know will be immortalized, preserved, and experienced by fans and critics alike. this is me, this is what i do, give a listen.

Gary: Fighting to the death for my beliefs.

-Who's turned down the lowest in your headphones mix?

Dominic: The ghost of sessions past.

Ben: I generally turn down most of the high end stuff in order to really get into what is going into the foundation. for example, i'll balance the guitars and keys in the mid range, let the horns and vocals float over that, and then crank the bass and rhythm guitar/keys tracks.

Gary: I just shut everyone off and I played the songs from memory. I hope everything matches up.

-What's your take on the eerie twin qualities developing between Gary + Chris (our engineer)?

Dominic: I'm sure there's a milk carton somewhere with a "Separated at Birth" announcement.

Gary: The United States Government's Department of Clone Research has prohibited me from answering any questions on this topic.

-Most frivolous use of a background track you can think of... that would really take this album to the next level : (i.e, the Dubway Studios gong, Dom's Wandy Newman impression?)

Dominic: Those other 30 something takes of the piano solo...

Ben: Since i am being blessed with another day in the studio, the gong is a non issue, it will be there. i think a micheal mcdonald, family guy, or office reference would accurately represent the relationship btw the musicians involved in this group.

Gary: I got a fever...and the only cure is more theremin.