Rock-N-Soul Revue

The Jersey Shore Rock-N-Soul Revue is an ongoing project of the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ to pay tribute to the great artists of the rock and roll era and the body of work they produced. Founded by Music Director Bob Bandiera and Numa Saisselin, CEO of the Count Basie Theatre, the band is an all-star ensemble of the Jersey Shore’s finest musicians. Each concert pays tribute to the body of work created by a single artist, or a genre created by a group of artists. The Jersey Shore Rock-N-Soul Revue is not a “costume show” in which hit singles are recreated note for note by look-alikes and sound-alikes, but rather a concert presentation by an exceptional group of musicians in which the material at hand is performed, arranged, rearranged and interpreted.

The Jersey Shore Rock-N-Soul Revue debuted in February 2005 with “A Tribute to Roy Orbison,” and since then have created shows including “A Tribute to Simon and Garfunkel and the Everly Brothers” (August 2005), “The Wall of Sound: A Tribute to the Music of Phil Spector” (November 2006), “The British Invasion” (February 2007), “The Motown Sound” (May 2007), “Layla and Other Assorted Eric Clapton Songs” (August 2007), “California Dreaming” (November 2008) and “Bands of Brothers” (February 2009).

The Rock-N-Soul Revue’s performances have been hailed by the Newark Star Ledger (“The versatile band proved adept at slow-building melodrama but also showed it could pull off lean-and-mean rockabilly”), The Two River Times (“This was a most memorable night of music provided by the quintessential Jersey Shore band. As a music fan you couldn’t ask for anything more”), Chorus and Verse (“The event felt…like an invitation to a high-school party with all the popular kids hosted by the coolest cat in town”), the Asbury Park Press (“It was a performance that sparked yet another round of claps, hoots and hollers from the audience…The band’s social interaction with each other and with its audience was hard to ignore”), and Upstage Magazine (“The group is as tight musically as any band out there, and the four-part harmonies from the extremely talented vocalists lend the group a very unique sound”).

The Music Director of the Rock-N-Soul Revue is singer, songwriter and guitar player Bob Bandiera, who has been called, “The Jersey Shore’s best kept secret in rock and roll,” by Chorus and Verse. Before starting his own band, he played with the Shore bands Holme, and then Cats on a Smooth Surface, who played a legendary series of Sunday night shows at the Stone Pony in the summer of 1982, joined on stage on more than a dozen occasions late at night by Bruce Springsteen. Since 1986 he has been a member of Southside Johnny and the Asbury Jukes. He joined Jon Bon Jovi for the tour supporting his 1997 solo project, Destination Anywhere, appeared on the benefit recording A Very Special Christmas Vol. 4 in 1999, and served as Musical Director for A Very Special Christmas Vol. 5 in 2000. He has Music Directed events at The White House, and most recently joined the full Bon Jovi band for their wildly successful Have A Nice Day and Lost Highway tours. He has also played with Cyndi Lauper, Stevie Wonder, B.B. King, Eric Clapton and Keith Richards. Bob has also been the Music Director for The Hope Concerts at the Count Basie Theatre, which have raised over $1 million for local charities. His three solo releases are Bandiera, Dog Loves You, and Is My Father There? Bob’s web site is www.bobbandiera.com.

 

ABOUT THE MUSICIANS

From the early 1900’s, when William “Count” Basie and Sonny Greer (drummer for the Duke Ellington Orchestra for more than 40 years) were among the first Jersey Shore musicians to gain national prominence; through the 1970’s when Bruce Springsteen, Southside Johnny, Steve Van Zandt and others gained national recognition; and on into the 1980’s when Bon Jovi gained nationwide attention; the Jersey Shore has been home to a rich community of musicians and performers. The musicians of the Jersey Shore Rock-N-Soul Revue are among the very best singers, musicians and performers working today.

The band lineup varies from show to show according to the material, and the singers and musicians who have played past shows include: Ray Andersen (vocals, guitar, percussion), Joe Bellia (drums, percussion), John Berry (trumpet), Lisa Bouchelle (vocals), Everett Bradley (percussion, vocals), Bob Burger (guitar, vocals), Jim Celestino (guitar, vocals), Ricky Collins (vocals), Doug DeHays (saxophone), Josh Dion (drums), Jerry Gaskill (drums), Layonne Holmes (vocals), Kevin Kavanaugh (keyboards, vocals), Tommy LaBella (saxophone), Jose Loo (vocals), Lisa Lowell (vocals), Bobby Lynch (keyboards), Graham Maby (bass), Mike Mahoney (drums), Mike Mancini (piano), Ed Manion (baritone sax), Hugh McDonald (bass), Maureen McCrink (vocals), Tommy Meares (trombone), Billy Morris (guitar), Neal Pawley (bass, trombone), Ken “Mr. Popeye” Pentifallo (percussion), Steve “Muddy Shews” Schewchuk (bass), Mick Seeley (keyboards, vocals), Joey Stann (sax), Lance Stark (drums) and Tony Tino (bass).

“(Music Director) Bobby Bandiera has spent years plying his craft in venues along the Jersey Shore, but his Friday night concert at the Count Basie Theatre most surely was his finest hour.”

--Asbury Park Press

 "Audience members responded with a standing ovation. The versatile band proved adept at slow-building melodrama but also showed it could pull off lean-and-mean rockabilly. All the musicians are competent in their lead vocal slots, and the show became magical when Bandiera was singing. When it comes to evoking Orbison's spirit, you really have to hear Bandiera to believe him." 

--Newark Star Ledger

"This was a most memorable night of music provided by the quintessential Jersey Shore band. As a music fan you couldn’t ask for anything more. The Jersey Shore Rock-N-Soul Revue gave the sold out crowd their all! This was a tremendous night of music that won’t soon be forgotten!" 

--The Two River Times

"The show proved to be a fitting tribute to the songwriter that had inspired so many musicians, not only those on the stage Friday night, but all over the world." 

--Upstage Magazine

"The event felt…like an invitation to a high-school party with all the popular kids hosted by the coolest cat in town." 

--Chorus & Verse

ALL PHOTOS ON THIS PAGE, JOHN CAVANAUGH © 2009