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Page 4 ... Biographical Highlights |
Angela DeNiro, a native New Yorker, earned her degree in Music, and is a composer and arranger, as well as vocalist. In addition to Angela's jazz singing and scatting abilities, she has also done extensive studio work, with various jingles to her credit. She is currently performing in New York jazz clubs with both the Ron Aprea Big Band and her quintet. The quintet features Angela scatting along with the alto saxophone, performing the music of jazz greats Charlie Parker, Thelonius Monk, and Duke Ellington, as well as such classic composers as Irving Berlin, Sammy Cahn, Tad Dameron, and Michel LeGrand. Ms. DeNiro was the featured opening act at the Seaford Jazz Festival, performing with jazz great Bobby Forrester, and was featured with the Dennis Wilson "All-Star Big Band", whose roster included Jerome Richardson, Benny Powell, Ray Mosca, Earl May, Jimmy Owens, and Spanky Davis. She has performed at the Rainbow Room, and many major New York hotels, and was frequently found rattling the walls at Long Island's favorite jazz club, Sonny's Place. Her CD, Just For the Fun Of It with the Ron Aprea Orchestra, demonstrates that Angela is a singer who is ready to be recognized. Ms. DeNiro has just completed her second CD, Angela DeNiro...Swingin' With Legends. In addition to the star-studded Ron Aprea Big Band, this new recording also features legendary jazz greats Lionel Hampton, Frank Foster, and Lew Tabakin. Angela performed with Ron Aprea at the Five Towns College Jazz Concert, opposite Arvell Shaw and His Louis Armstrong Legacy Band for the past two years. This year trumpeter Joe Magnarelli joined the Ron Aprea quartet at this performance. Ms. DeNiro was featured as a GTE Giants of Jazz at the 1998 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival in Moscow, Idaho, where she sang both with the Kenny Barron Trio, and with Lionel Hampton and his Big Band, to exuberant audiences that exceeded ten thousand. Ms. DeNiro joined jazz greats such as Freddie Cole Ethel Ennis, Diana Krall, Abbey Lincoln, and Ernestine Anderson, in helping to musically celebrate Lionel Hampton's 90th birthday. Angela had a very busy '98 summer schedule, which culminated with a concert at Planting Fields Arboretum in Locust Valley, New York. Angela was again featured with Lionel Hampton's Big Band, where her performance was greeted with a standing ovation from thousands of exuberant fans.
Her newest release, Swingin' With Legends, has been entered for 1998 GRAMMY nominations in the following categories: Album of the Year, Best New Artist, Best Jazz Vocal Performance, & Best Female Pop Vocal Performance (for Midnight Sun & A Ballad For Matthew.) More recently, Angela performed in concert at the Lane Theatre, and was also featured on a new CD release, Nonchalant with jazz flutist Jan Leder.
Angela and her husband, Ron Aprea, co-hosted a weekly jazz radio show on WSHR, 91.9 FM, New York for two years. Their show, Rush-Hour Rendezvous, featured the music of jazz greats old and new, as well as interesting conversation and interviews with legendary jazz artists.
In January 2001, Angela performed on" BET-TV". This nationally televised program, "Jazz Discovery" featured vocal and instrumental jazz artists in competition. The panel of three judges included jazz legend Chick Corea...Angela won first prize.
In June 2001, Angela did a cameo performance on jazz vocalist Mark Murphy's latest CD. The album will be released in September 2001 on the High Note Label.
Ms. DeNiro is currently writing and rehearsing for her new CD. Highlights of the album will be Angela's lyrics on Ron Aprea and Kenny Dorham compostions. on Rpon A. on rphyrphy io"Jazz Discovery"
Ron Aprea, composer, arranger, producer, saxophonist, clarinetist, and flutist, has performed with Woody Herman, Les Elgart, Tito Puente, Frank Foster, Buddy Morrow, Billy May, Charlie Persip, Nat Adderley, Lionel Hampton, and Louis Armstrong. While with Hamp's band, some of the highlights were a Ramsey Lewis television special, and a recorded concert at the Smithsonian Institute, where Ron's solos were taped and put into their Archives. Ron was the featured soloist and arranger for performances with Nat Adderley at the world-famous Apollo Theatre, and he also performed at the Paramount Theatre with King Curtis' Big Band. Ron has played shows for literally hundreds of stars, including Clint Holmes, Rita Moreno, Robert Merrill, Chita Rivera, Rich Little, and Billy Eckstine. In 1974, Ron recorded with John Lennon and Elton John on the album entitled Walls and Bridges. The all-star horn section included Howard Johnson, Frank Vicari, and Steve Madeo. Ron was a featured soloist on the jazz-gospel album Free to Be Free. He also wrote, arranged, and produced his own album, Positive Energy. Ron had his own TV special on WNYC, and was a featured soloist on Broadway's Song of Singapore. Ron's compositions, arrangements, and productions skills can be heard on Angela DeNiro's CD, Just For the Fun Of It, as well as her new release, Angela DeNiro...Swingin' With Legends, featuring Lionel Hampton, Frank Foster, and Lew Tabackin. Ron and Angela brought the house down at the Five Towns College Jazz Concert in 1988 and 1999. Ron was featured with the Kenny Barron Trio at the 1998 Lionel Hampton Jazz Festival,and was part of the All-Star cast, which included Frank Foster, Frank Wess, Bill Watrous, Jon Faddis, Al Grey,Ray Brown, Marion McPartland, Abbey Lincoln, and Diana Krall. In addition to a full performance schedule, Ron spends much time composing and arranging, both for an instrumental big band album, and for vocalist Angela DeNiro's Legends Two.
During the summer of '98, Ron performed extensively with both his Big Band and Quintet, and received a standing ovation from thousands at the Planting Fields Arboretum in New York, where he and Angela DeNiro again appeared as guest artists in concert with Lionel Hampton's Big Band. Ron's solos, and his impeccable "note-matching" with Angela at finger-breaking tempos during the scatting segments, wowed their audience!
Ron has three 1998 GRAMMY nomination entries: Producer of the Year,(Swingin' With Legends), and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist for Angela DeNiro's Avalon & The Song Is You. Ron completed an arranging assignment for vocalist Alex Donner, featuring nine of Ron's arrangements. Alex released the first of a 2-CD set in the spring of 2001. Ron co-hosted a weekly jazz radio show on WSHR, 91.9 FM, New York, with his wife, vocalist Angela DeNiro. Their show, Rush-Hour Rendezvous ran successfully for two years, and featured great jazz and musical conversation.
In January 2001, Ron's band, with Angela DeNiro, was featured on "BET-TV". The national program, called "Jazz Discovery", showcased jazz artists in competition, and was judged by a panel of three, which included jazz legend Chick Corea. Angela, with Ron's band, won.
In June of 2001, Ron and Angela DeNiro had a cameo appearance on legendary jazz vocalist Mark Murphy's new CD, to be released in September of 2001 on the High Note Label.
In August 2001, Ron performed in an All-Star band for a Charlie Parker Birthday tribute in Harlem, New York. The band featured four alto saxophonists. Playing alongside Ron were Jimmy Zaff, Gerald Hayes, and James Spaulding.
The rhythm section featured Danny Mixon on piano, Bob Cunningham on bass, and Andre Strobaer on drums. Needless to say , Ron and friends created total pandemonium!
Ron is currently arranging for Angela DeNiro's third CD. One of Ron's compositions is dedicated to Phil Woods, who has been a major souce of inspiration to Ron since the mid 60's. Ron's tribute to Phil, which will be performed by Ms. DeNiro, exudes the warmth and love Ron has for the legendary alto saxophonist. Ron and Angela hope to complete the new CD by December 2001.
To contact Ron Aprea & Angela DeNiro for performances, seminars, or to be included on our mailing list:
