THE BAND
The Ed Palermo Big Band
Ed Palermo
(arranger, alto saxophone)
SAXOPHONES
Cliff Lyons
(alto saxophone,
flute, clarinet)
Ben Kono
(flute, clarinet,
tenor saxophone)
Bill Straub
(flute, tenor saxophone)
Barbara Cifelli
(piccolo, flute, baritone saxophone, clarinet)
Phil Chester
(piccolo, flute, soprano & alto saxophones)
TRUMPETS
Ronnie Buttacavoli
Augie Haas
TROMBONES
Charlie Gordon
Mike Boschen
Matt Ingman
RHYTHM SECTION
Bob Quaranta
(piano)
Ted Kooshian
(harpsichord, organ,
synthesizer)
Bruce McDaniel
(vocals & guitar)
Paul Adamy
(bass)
Ray Marchica
(drums)
Katie Jacoby
(violin)

Ed Palermo is not a “business as usual” musician. After all, when most people think of “big bands” they think of Duke and Dorsey. But go to see Ed Palermo’s Big Band and you might hear Zappa, Hendrix, the blues of Paul Butterfield & Mike Bloomfield or one of Ed’s own compositions, loaded with lush turns and unexpected twists.
Gil Evans wonderfully articulated Palermo’s unusual approach to traditional instrumentation:
“I first heard Ed Palermo’s music in a small club in the SoHo section of Manhattan. He was using the instrumentation of a traditional big band yet his arrangements and songs were anything but that. When I thought the music was going a certain direction, it would suddenly turn a corner. Ed has the ability to keep that important balance between cohesiveness and unpredictability. Ed Palermo’s music is alive and represents now.”
Ed’s interpretation of the music of iconoclastic composer Frank Zappa has brought him wide recognition. His first CD of this material, “the ed palermo big band plays the music of frank zappa”, garnered rave reviews. Downbeat magazine gave the CD a 4-star review. Palermo’s second CD of Zappa material, entitled “Take Your Clothes Off When You Dance”, has been received with equal enthusiasm from publications all over the world, including another rave from Downbeat.
Ed recently brought his band to the National Public radio (NPR) studios in Washington, DC to record a segment that aired on NPR’s Weekend Edition show. The show featured performances mixed with interviews. (This show can be heard here)
Before forming his own band, Ed toured and recorded with many different artists including Aretha Franklin, Tito Puente, Eddie Palmieri, Celia Cruz, Lena Horne, Tony Bennett, Mel Torme, Lou Rawls, Melba Moore, Debbie Gibson, The Spinners and countless others. He has written and arranged for the Tonight Show, Maurice Hines and Eddy Fischer. He also arranged the music for a recent James Brown concert at the Hollywood Bowl.
Special guests with the band include:
Napoleon Murphy Brock
Mike Keneally
Robben Ford
Ray White
Ike Willis
Wycliffe Gordon
Candy Zappa
Jimmy Vivino
Rob Paparozzi
Dave Samuels
John Sebastian
Felix Cabrera
Mats & Morgan
Denny Walley
Gary Lucas
Elliott Randall
Howard Levy
Deb Lyons
Catherine Russell
Russ Bonagura
Tom Bowes
George Naha
Carl Restivo
John Tabacco
Kasim Sultan
Lloyd Price
Will Lee
and
Todd Rundgren