Meet the Stonebridge Jammers The Stonebridge Jammers started out as an informal group in 2009. Steve Birnbaum played in a garage band and invited some members from that group to join the jam. This continued for a few years and some residents joined in the jam sessions. Around 2013 John Smalley joined us on drums and the group was transformed. John gave us the name Jammers and was the pulse of the group until his untimely passing in 2016. John RIP, and thank you for our name and your contribution. Come join us for some fun and rock and blues musical memories, always on the last Wednesday of the month, at 7:30 pm in the Clubhouse Ballroom. Bring your friends, BYOB, snacks and have a fun night. 1. Name: Steve Birnbaum 2. Instrument: Guitar 3. Years Playing: 54 4. Education: I.B.E.W Local 3 Electrical Training School 5. Music: Self-taught, played in pick up bands, garage bands, founder of the Stonebridge Jam Sessions and Stonebridge Jammers Brooklyn, NY Member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians, Society of American Magicians. 1. Name: Alan Parness 2. Instrument: Keyboard (previously accordion) 3. Years Playing: 62 4. Education: B.A. Brooklyn College CUNY; J.D. Boston University School of Law 5. Music: Performed professionally as band leader/sideman/soloist part-time from about 1960-1970 as accordionist; played numerous venues in Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Manhattan and Boston for bar mitzvahs, weddings, engagement and various other types of parties; member of Musicians Union Local 802 in NY for several years. Brooklyn, NY (also lived in Boston, MA and Valley Stream, NY; currently legal resident of Boynton Beach, FL)
1. Name: Bill Parness 2. Instrument: Guitar/bass guitar/upright bass 3. Years Playing: 4. Education: BA-Journalism, NYU 5. Music: Played as part-time professional in 4- to -6-piece bands in New York area from 1967 to 1975, including two summers in show bands at Catskills hotels. Nonprofessionally, played in high school orchestra, as well as in big-bands (jazz) in junior high school, high school and college. Brooklyn, NY 1. Name: Charles Lew 2. Instrument: Guitar 3. Years Playing: 4. Education: B.B.A. C.C.N.Y. 5. Music: Played a long time ago with friends and formed a group, and started up again at Stonebridge Jam Sessions. Brooklyn 1. Name: Ellen DeSantis 2. Years Playing: Started Age 10 3. Instrument: Vocals, Guitar, Keyboard, Accordion, Drums and Kazoo (lol). 4. Education: College of Staten Island and AIB (American Institute of Banking) 5. Music: Wedding band for eight years. With friend in an all women band for fun! Brooklyn, NY till 2005. Moved to and currently living in Freehold NJ. Written approximately fifteen songs, enjoy making recordings and vocal harmonizing.
1. Name: Herb Nalitt 2. Instrument: Drums 3. Years playing. 60 4. Music Education: school, private, online, other. BS Marketing Penn State 5. Music: school bands, private groups, professional or not. High school orchestra, band and big band. Played along Jersey shore clubs late 60 s Places like Tony Mart s in Summer s Point, The Oasis and the Emerald Room in Wildwood. Also, played a few local (Philadelphia) recording sessions Philadelphia, PA. 1. Name: Art Herman 2. Instrument: Guitar 3. Years Playing: 2 4. Music Education: Some adult education classes and about five million on-line lessons. 5. Music: I am the new kid on the block. What am I doing here??!! I never studied an instrument as a kid. I have very little knowledge of music theory (though I am actually learning now). I cannot read music. I'm tone deaf and can only tune a guitar with the help of my magical electronic tuner. I cannot sing at all. (In fact...i am forbidden by court order from entering karaoke bars in 43 states plus Guam, Puerto Rico and Minsk). I am a lefty playing a righthanded instrument. Soooooo...Why exactly am I here??!! I am having fun. Yes! And learning stuff from some very talented Stonebridge musicians and belonging to the Stonebridge Jammers has now given me direction and purpose in life: When I grow up... I wanna be a rock star. Bronx/Yonkers/Manhattan 1. Name: Michael Zandman 2. Instrument: Vocals 3. Years Playing: 4. Education: NYS of Printing / SUNY Farmingdale NY / Navigation School U.S. Navy 5. Music: Brooklyn District Chorus / Local Band Brooklyn NY 1968-70, Singing various Doo Wop Groups and Clubs, Various Performing Local Drama Clubs Personal - Married 5 Children / 5 Grandchildren,
Forty Years in Direct Marketing-Printing (Retired), U.S. Navy Reserves 1971-77 1. Name: Catherine Cavallo 2. Instrument: Vocals 3. Years Playing: 15 4. Education: Attended Kingsborough Community College, in Brooklyn New York. Received my Degree in Therapeutic Recreation. I was licensed by the state of New York Health Department as Director of Recreation and Volunteer Services in a health-related facility. 5. Music: I'm a member of the Stonebridge Jammers and enjoy being part of a group of talented musicians and singers. Started singing 15 years ago with a parent association chorus. Currently a member of the Cascades Chorus, in Florida. A member of a Karaoke club which travel to different venues and participate in Karaoke. I also volunteer singing in nursing homes, challenged children events and singing the national anthem at local Florida university's sports events. 1. Name: Bob Gordon 2. Instrument: Tenor Banjo, Mandolin, ukulele 3. Years Playing: 64 Years - Started playing in grade school (Drums and Trombone) 1953. 4. Education: Hofstra University, Long Island NY 5. Music: Private lessons in school through high school. Playing experience was limited to school, and folk singing on the beach. At some point, when I started college, and lost my beach bum lifestyle, music took a back seat. I only really got started in retirement, and am really getting a kick out of our group. Long Beach, NY 1. Name: Donna Mitko 2. Instruments played: guitar 3. Years playing: 45 years? off and on...mostly off 4. Education: University of Virginia 5. Experience: School bands, Private groups pretty boring bio
1. Name: Jeff Sturman 2. Instrument: Bass Guitar 3. Years Playing: 15 4. Education: 5. Music: Studied classical violin for 12 years. Started playing Bass at age 15 and played 15-years until age 30 when I put it down and picked it back up 40 years later (September 2016) when we moved in to Stonebridge and I joined the Jammers. Played professionally in the NYC "club scene" and traveled the East Coast with a rock band for 6-years in the 60s. Did some studio work and recording during that time as well. Played in Jimmy Clanton's (Just a Dream... Go Jimmy Go) back-up band for 3-years in the 70s. 1. Name: Ron Alvarado 2. Instruments played: Conga and Percussion 3. Years playing: 40 4. Education: 5. Experience: Played with numerous bands in the Bronx, Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island and New Jersey. Everything from Latin bands, to Latin Jazz to Rock, Soul and Funk. Then for over 5 years played with various bands in Minnesota. It included everything from a ten piece Rock and Soul band to a number of Trios. Musical influences range from Latin music, to standard classics, Jazz, Rock, Soul, Funk and even some Country. Some of the artists include but are not limited to Tito Puente, Eddie Palmeri, Cuban artists, Doobie Brothers, Chicago, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Ella Fitzgerald, Santana, John Coltrane, Count Basie, Dave Brubeck, Cal Tjader, Motown artists, Patsy Cline and Willie Nelson to name a few.
1. Name: Bob Stevens 2. Instruments played: Drums, Pot s & Pans (LOL), 3. Years playing: 50+ 4. Education: 5. Experience: Being an overweight talented drummer, when I wasn t being put to use as the anchor for the maypole, I played the drums for the school plays. My formal music schooling consisted of my being placed in a room alone, for one hour, and then paying my music teacher for the selfservice lesson Realizing it was my obligation to do so, I mastered the beat to Wipeout. Playing Wipeout three hours daily, made me extremely popular with my neighbors. Eventually started playing everywhere: sweet sixteen; community centers; college fraternities; clubs, Cafe Wha and Town Hall. Money was not important. Playing was fun, as long as the dreaded words were not uttered; do you know how to play Midnight Hour?" I am very grateful to be in the Jammers. The dedication of every member is exhilarating. Thank you all. 1. Name: John Dixon 2. Instrument: Keyboard 3. Years Playing: 50+ 4. Education: Music studies at Rutgers University 5. Music: Band Leader, Musician, Composer, Arranger, Recording Artist - 1970 to 1985, 1619 Bad Ass Band http://tinyurl.com/ybjyjazh, 6-piece music combo with Musician/Singers. Toured nationally in concert halls, music festivals, universities, and hotels. Elizabeth, NJ
1. Name: Larry Weissblum 2. Instruments Played: Sax, Clarinet and Flute 3. Education: Manhattan School of Music: Degree in concert clarinet and a Masters in Music Education 4. Professional profile: was a member of musicians Union local 802 for many years 5. Playing professionally from the age of 15. Played in the show bands in several hotels in the Catskills while going to school, studio work in NYC, toured with the 1st Army showcase dance and concert band. Retired from playing professionally in 1982 to pursue a career in finance 6. Present day: play in several groups including the Rutgers Alumni Wind Ensemble, Central Jersey Wind Ensemble, and several Jazz groups and now happy to be part of the Stonebridge Jammers 7. Born in Brooklyn NY 1. Steve Riback 2. Tenor sax/soprano sax 3. Years playing: 55 years professionally 4. Education: Master s in Education with a Professional Certificate in Educational Supervision and Administration 5. Music Background: Played in the L.I.U. jazz band and concert band; worked for wedding bands in N.Y.; played the Catskill Mountain hotels; currently play in a jazz quartet and 17 piece swing band Born and raised in the Bronx, N.Y Lived in Rockland County N.Y. before retiring to Monroe Twp. I currently am a member of the Monroe Twp Board of Education