The Essence Band Bios |
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JILL - (vocals) The gritty, pretty, super soulful rock singer from New York brings a biting edge to music that makes people sit up, take notice and leave with a smile on their face. Jill performed as back up and opening work for illustrious artists ranging from Kelly Clarkson to Dee Snider to 98 Degrees to Enya, and on major television shows like “The Late Show with David Letterman,” where she performed with the band Third Eye Blind. Before appearing on CBS’s “Rockstar Supernova,” Jill was also the female lead singer for the West Coast touring company of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Now married to Carmine (see below) they just welcomed their new son into the world (he should be in the orchestra soon...) |
| EDDIE - (vocals) Not only is Eddie Jill’s brother, but also a very eclectic songwriter and drummer. Eddie wows crowds with his amazing vocal range and ability emulating artists from Michael Buble to Steve Perry and has appeared in numerous national commercials and has recorded with producer Paul Umbach for Jive Records. When Eddie is not available, such big star singers such as Michael Lynche (finalist on American Idol) have been known to step in to cover. |
| CARMINE - (keyboards) Carmine is the keyboardist for Movin' Out, Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp's Tony Award winning Broadway show. Carmine has also performed or recorded with Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Ritchie Blackmore's "Blackmore's Night", Carly Simon, Joe Lynn Turner, Nine Days, O'2L, Greg Raposo, Sasha Lazard, and JIVE Jones. Carmine is a graduate of the Manhattan School of Music. Now married to Jill, they enjoy playing, touring, and recording together. They also recently welcomed their newborn son into their world. |
| DENNIS - (guitar / vocals) Dennis is the lead guitarist/vocalist for the Tony Award winning Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp musical Movin’ Out. Dennis was also the Musical Director for the London production as well and was the leader of his own professional band for 15 years. When Dennis is not available, such super-giants such as George (Trans SiberianOrchestra and Led Zeplin International Tour and Enrique Iglesias) or PJ are available to step in and cover. There are videos of both on our utube account. |
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MIKE - (drums) Mike is the drummer/conductor for the Tony Award winning Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp’s musical Movin’ Out. Mike has also played with acts like Ritchie Blackmore’s “Blackmore’s Night”, Zebra, Summer of ’69, and various community theater, local clubs and weddings in the New York area and performed several drum clinics throughout the country. |
| JOHN - (saxophone) John has toured and recorded with some of the biggest names in the music business like Tower of Power, Billy Joel, Hall and Oates, Celine Dion, Mariah Carey, and Michael Bolton. Broadway shows include Grease and Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp’s Tony Award winning Movin’ Out. When John is not available, Chris (Moving out - Billy Joel, and in numerous Broadway productions) can step in. |
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RAUL - (trumpet) Raul has performed/recorded with Jennifer Lopez,Tom Jones, Tito Puente, Marc Anthony, Celine Dion, Lincoln Center Jazz Orchestra, John Secada, Santana and Celia Cruz just to name a few. Raul has two Grammy’s to his credit and is the trumpet player for the Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp’s national Broadway tour Movin’ Out. |
| MARK - (trombone) Mark has toured nationally with Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp’s Tony Award winning Broadway show Movin’ Out, and Swing. Mark has performed with artists Doc Severinsen, Ernie Watts, Frank Foster, Gloria Gaynor, Motion Puppets, Happy Apple and Jason Lindner. |
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GREG - (bass) Greg is the bassist/vocalist for the Tony Award winning Billy Joel and Twyla Tharp musical Movin’ Out. Greg has also been the bassist, and backing vocals for such artists as Alice Cooper, Ritchie Blackmore's Rainbow, Ted Nugent, Blue Oyster Cult, Dokken, Vinnie Moore, Joe Lynn Turner, Tommy James & the Shondells, Van Helsing's Curse, O2'L and Wendy O. Williams. |
This is one great wedding orchestra, made up of some of the hottest musicians in the circuit. Our quality standards are what keep us on top of the other New York City wedding bands. Music is our job, and we aim to please! We know you have a choice when it comes to booking the entertainment for your next Long Island or Manhattan wedding or event, that's why we offer you a choice when it comes to setting up your music for the night. Would you like a ten piece orchestra playing classical music for your ceremony or reception? Maybe followed by a disco dance party til dawn? A small jazz group playing for your cocktail hour? We can handle it, and we've been experts at providing top quality music and entertainment in the Long Island, New York region for years. For your next NY party, discover The Essence Wedding and Events Band!
The ESSENCE Wedding Band has performed together for years and is the premiere wedding orchestra on Long Island, LI, New York City, New York State, New Jersey, NJ, Connecticut Ct, Pennsylvania PA and more. We are, as you can see by our bios and credentials, the top preferred band at many establishments and we have performed successfully for hundreds of parties along the Eastern Seaboard.
We welcome you to our biographies page and hope you see what you like herein. The Essence Wedding and Events Band is a local bands with members who honed their skills in or around New York, New York. All the musicians that play with this band have been hand selected from musicians in the Long Island, New York areas. This caliber of orchestra demands the best in quality. The musicians that make up this very experienced and professional wedding and events orchestra have been playing in the entertainment industry for years. Notice that we all have tv credentials, Broadway credentials, and all of us have performed alongside the biggest name talent and music super stars in the world. We are happy to share our wealth of musical talent with you and assure you that you will never experience a local party, or cover dance band, or wedding band that can come close to either our credentials, our talent, our proximity to big stars and our history of being live on national tv, radio and in huge concert stadiums all over the country and for some of us, all over the world.
The biographies of each and every musician in The ESSENCE Band are top notch musical bios and the musicians in the ESSENCE Band, each and every one of them is the best that you can get, the cream of the crop, and the top top talent available anywhere. This band has a passion for the music that you want to hear at your holiday party or other NYC event, and music helps to make any party great.
We look forward to doing a great job for you at your New York wedding or special corporate event or birthday party and thank you for stopping by!
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THANKS and see you soon at your NYC area party or NY wedding! We look forward to taking the roof off your Long Island or NY event!
