Saxman Ron Aprea & Virtuoso Violinist Matt Aprea Appear on the Next GingerNewYork TV Show, NYC

NEW YORK - Nov. 29, 2014 - PRLog -- 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, among many others.

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 Aprea 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, Ronnie April's Positive Energy Volume 1. Ron had his own TV special on WNYC, and was a featured soloist on Broadway's Song of Singapore.

Having recorded with John Lennon, Ron Aprea is nearly finished with producing a jazz tribute album to honor the music and spirit of John Lennon. This album will include 12 songs, most of which are Lennon or Lennon/McCartney collaborations, with a gem by George Harrison. This long anticipated album is scheduled to be released in early 2015.

Ron's compositions, arrangements, and productions skills can be heard on Angela DeNiro's first CD, Just For the Fun of It, as well as her second release, Angela DeNiro...Swingin' With Legends, featuring Lionel Hampton, Frank Foster, and Lew Tabackin.

In 1998, Ron's production of Angela DeNiro's "Swingin' With Legends" album, featuring Lionel Hampton, Frank Foster, Lew Tabackin,  and Ron's all-star 16 piece big band, received EIGHT GRAMMY nomination entries, three of which were: Producer of the Year, and Best Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying a Vocalist for Angela DeNiro's "Avalon" & "The Song Is You." On that historic album, Angela DeNiro became the first and only singer to record "Midnight Sun" with its composer, Lionel Hampton. http://www.ronaprea.com

In Ron's youth he would often frequent the jazz club Birdland in NYC, and whenever Art Blakey and the Jazz Messengers would play Birdland, Ron would be there in the gallery soaking it all in. Ron, early on, was a big band enthusiast with a passion for the Basie band. But Blakey's Jazz Messengers always had the intensity of a big band and with plenty of blowing space for his all-star lineup. The perfect combination of power and creativity.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m6laPj1sos



On June 5, 2013 Ron released his own album entitled Ron Aprea Sextet-Remembering Blakey, Ron's tribute to Art Blakey and his Jazz Messengers. Ron's front line on this album is Joe Magnarelli-trpt., Jerry Weldon-tenor, and Ron on alto. The rhythm section is Cecilia Coleman-piano, Tim Givens-bass, and Vince Cherico-drums. The album is a mix of originals and standards. Ron has two of his own originals, Sophia (written for his  granddaughter) and For Pete's Sake (written for the late bassist and close friend Pete Chivily.) Although none of the 12 cuts are tunes that Blakey recorded, Ron confesses that in writing for this project Blakey's Jazz Messengers kept popping into his head. Ron wanted a straight ahead, "in your face" Blakey-style burner. And when drummer Vince Cherico came to the session and asked Ron "what type of feel do you want?" Ron said one word... "Blakey!"  Thus the title of the album.

Ron is currently working on an album with vocalist Tony Yezzo. The producer is bassist Al Cardillo, who collaborated with Ron on the writing. Ron also can be heard soloing on both flute and alto. http://www.allaboutjazz.com/php/article.php?id=45679

Matt Aprea: A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Matt Aprea is based in New York City. Matt has performed with various orchestras including the Eastman Philharmonia and the National Repertory Orchestra, where he was awarded a fellowship during the Summer of 2012. He has played under the baton of Peter Oundjian, Andrew Litton, Neil Varon, Douglas Boyd, Giancarlo Guerrero, Carl Topilow, and Paul Haas, and has performed as a soloist and chamber musician in master classes featuring Daniel Phillips, Ani Kavafian, Charles Castleman, Joel Krosnick, Lawrence Dutton, Marilyn Reynolds, and the Ying Quartet. http://www.mattaprea.com

Mr. Aprea has performed at venues including Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Steinway Hall, Cami Hall, and Eastman Theatre. Matt was also a featured soloist at La Cité des Congrès with Angela DeNiro at Les Nuits du Jazz, an international jazz festival in Nantes, France. More recently, he can be heard on the title song of saxophonist Mitch Frohman's new Latin Jazz album, "From Daddy with Love." Matt was also featured on ABC's The Chew, and has recorded for the New York/Sydney-based commercial music production company, Nylon Studios.

Matt's experience also includes performances with Quantum Theatre in Pittsburgh. There, he performed in the Pittsburgh première of Ainadamar, a contemporary opera written by Argentian composer Osvaldo Golijov. Since his return to New York, Matt has been leading an active career as a studio musician, music educator, and freelance violinist. Matt is recently returned from a tour with the Noli Opera Orchestra of New York, culminating in performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Matt contracted, recorded, and is a featured soloist on his father's Ron Aprea's soon-to-be-released album, a jazz tribute to John Lennon.

Matt is also founder of  the New York Virtual Conservatory, which features online music lessons with world-class teachers, and the website is:   http://www.nyvirtualconservatory.com

GingerNewYork found on Manhattan Neighborhood Network (MNN) since launching in November, 2010, has been showcasing the “Kool Kats…Gotham Nights” greats of music and culture of New York and beyond. What defines GingerNewYork is its host Ginger Broderick’s unique insight, connection to and pulse on the music and culture of Gotham making GingerNewYork one of the most sought after programs to appear on.

GingerNewYork can be seen in Manhattan on Time Warner Cable Channel 34, Fios Channel 33, and RCN Channel 82, every Friday afternoon at 2pm EST.  It can also be seen live streaming on the Manhattan Neighborhood Network's website, www.mnn.org, Channel 1.