Gracenotes Ent / Long Island Sound Big Band

We can accommodate musical performances ranging from 1 to 20 musicians. Representing the highest caliber of musical talent, we offer professionally trained musicians that can accommodate to most styles of todays popular music such as; Jazz, Big Band, Swing, Pop, Funk, Latin Jazz, House, Fusion Jazz, R&B, Smooth Jazz, Soul, Top 40's, etc. Examples of commonly used groups; Solo, (Jazz) Duo, (Jazz) Trio, (Jazz) Quartet, (Jazz) Quintet, Jazz/Swing Big Band (18-20 musicians). We look forward to hearing from you.

Band co-leader
Andrew Grossbard (Sax)
Native New Yorker, saxophonist Andrew Grossbard has established himself as one of the most in demand players in the New York
Metropolitan area. Over the years, Andrew has had the opportunity to perform and record with some great musicians including Carl Fischer, Glenn Drewes, Charles Blenzig, Robert Lepley, George Bouchard, and many others. Andrew also performed and toured with The World
Famous Glenn Miller Orchestra. He studied with greats such as Eric Alexander, Steve Wilson, Jon Gordon, Dave Pietro, and Ralph
Lalama. On the scene, Andrew has performed at many clubs, festivals, weddings and other events. In addition, he worked as a musician for Princess Cruises.
As a student, Andrew had the honor of participating in several outstanding music programs and schools around the country. Before and during high school, Andrew participated in The Friends of the Arts Jazz Program at the Planting Fields Arboretum on Long Island. Andrew was a member of the Nas- sau All County Jazz Band for five years and the New York All State Jazz Band for one year. In addition, he participated in the Nassau Suffolk Jazz program for three years. Andrew is also a member of the contemporary jazz band Water Colors. Andrew is an endorsing artist of JL Woodwinds.

Band co-leader
Al Cardillo (Bass)
With the emergence of Wynton Marsalis as the unofficial spokesman for jazz — has inspired
a new generation of musicians to emerge from the Music Schools, Universities and Conservatories around the country and the world. This new generation is the result of a newly developed hybrid musician who has variety of musical influences, genres, and backgrounds. Al Cardillo is a product of this new trend of contemporary musicians whose roots are embedded in the R&B, jazz and classical traditions.
Born in Rome, Italy to an Italian mother and a father with US citizen- ship, Al spent the first six years of his life in Rome before his father relo- cated the family to the United States. At the age of 11 he started guitar lessons and soon switched to bass guitar. As a High School student, Al found opportunities to play in “working bands”. After graduating High School, Al toured with show bands all across the United States. As a result, he was awarded a Professional Music Scholarship at the well- known Berklee College of Music. At this time, Al made the switch to the upright bass. He studied classical bass with Bill Curtis and jazz bass with Whit Browne. Among his most valued experiences was studying Big Band arranging with the eminent bebop professor, Herb Pomeroy. Al lived in Boston and worked with many local bands and also worked with international musicians attending Berklee. He wrote and arranged the music to Stagedoor Cabaret for Riverside Theater Works in Hyde Park, Mass. He also played, contracted, and conducted the orchestra
in this production. After graduating Berklee, Al relocated to New York. He continued his education by attending Herbert H. Lehman College
in the Bronx where he earned his Master’s in Music Education. He also continued private studies on the string bass with Orin O’Brien, a former member of the NY Philharmonic, and George Andre, former principal bass of the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. He has shared the stage with some of the most renowned and revered musicians in the world. Besides performing locally in the NYC area, he has performed at the Umbria International Jazz Festival in Italy, performed at the concert hall “The Gewandhaus” in Leipzig, with acclaimed clarinetist and Schin- dler's List soloist Giora Fiedman. He was Musical Director at Paparazzi Restaurant in Westbury Long Island for 5 years where he managed a successful jazz series called Al Cardillo & Friends. Many well-known musicians sat-in with Al on various nights. The series was one of the most successful jazz series ever produced on Long Island. He, along with pianist Robert Lepley and drummer Frank Bellucci, established Monday Night Jazz at the Fox Hollow in Woodbury, LI that lasted 71/2 years. All the local and NYC jazz publications recognize Al Cardillo as one of the top jazz musician/contractors and presenters of jazz on Long Island. The contribution of Al Cardillo & Friends to the Long Island jazz community has been recognized by the National Music Awards for Best Local Jazz.