NYXpress

Description:

Name:

NYXpress

Screen Name:

Yaz

Years Together:

1

Level Of Commitment:

Committed

Gigs Played:

Over 100

Tend to Practice:

1 time per week

Available to Gig:

2-3 time(s) per week

We are a working 5 unit Party Band. We cover music from the '50s - current. The majority of our performances consist of Weddings, Shows, Corp Events and Private Parties, Clubs, and Benefits. We believe that work should be fun, so if we have fun the audiance will too. Truth be told, we have a ton of fun!!!! For a real party "the crowd must be able to dance to the tune."

CONTACT:
Yaz (732-767-0376)
www.NYXpress.net yaz@nyxpress.net

Influences:

Joplin, Twain, Riehnia, Fergie, Pink, Summers, Rondstadt, Chic, Wilburys, Eagles, Mellencamp, Issak, Springstein, KC, Santana, Ethridge, Doo Wop, Motown and more...

Equipment List:

Bose L1 PA, Marshall Amp, Peavey Amp, Yamaha 5 String Bass, Yamaha Keys, Yamaha 20 ch board, DW & Tama Drums, Fender American Strat, Ovation Double Neck Acoustic, Shure SM58s.

Members Of Band:

Felicia - Lead Vocals
Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY during the 1960’s, Felicia Forte’s love for music was inspired by such great vocal artists as Linda Ronstadt, Dionne Warwick, Diana Ross, Aretha Franklin, Etta James and Brenda Lee. She developed her vocal talents and style through years of participation in choirs , community theatre and uniting with various contemporary bands, where she sang both lead and back-up. Felicia also has years of formal vocal training with both a prominent Russian classical vocal instructor and a Broadway veteran vocal coach. Her fondest memories as a singer has been when she received recognition from respected peers in music and smiles from people just having a good time listening.
Felicia is also an active professional registered nurse and feels blessed having the opportunity to accomplish the two professions she loves most in her lifetime and says she couldn’t be happier.

Mike - Bass (5 String/vocals/ sax)
Mike’s vision of NYXpress took focus in 2008 when he drew on his many years of experience and brought together talented musicians forming this energetic entertainment group. A monumental task facilitated by experience playing with groups like The Duprees, The Platters, and Three Dog Night as well as many local Staten Island, New York, and New Jersey bands. Mike’s main instruments are the bass guitar and alto saxophone. He is a skilled sound engineer and business manager but his heart lies with live performances. A retired NYC Firefighter, Mike’s new goals are to have NYXpress develop into a nation-wide sensation, based on the talented members’ abilities to entertain audiences. Mike is a lifetime musician who has formal music training and has developed his skills over many years of working with talented people. "My motto, Let’s Have Fun”.

Yaz - Guitar (lead/rhythm/ & acoustic/ vocals)
Yaz Samat has been playing guitar since the age of 9. Although he was self taught, it wasn't until he attended high school when his musical ability began to really take shape. He always had a guitar in his hand. Several times a week he and friends would find a place to jam. His influences are Andre Segovia, Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Wes Montgomery, and Paul Simon. In the eighties, you could see his acoustic show on Staten Island in venues such as the 4'Oclock Lounge and the Kings Row. One day, while in a music store a gentleman asked his friend where he could find a guitar player that sings. He pointed to Yaz; hence, he began to play with "Witness" and specialized in their 50's doo wop show. Later he moved on and created his rock band "The Heat." They covered Beatles, Costello, Joe Jackson, and the Police. You would always find The Heat playing at The Rock Palace, The Factory, Speaks, and My Father's Place. After a few years the band members went in different directions. Coincidently, Yaz received a call from an old pal and asked him if he would be interested in reforming Witness. He did and the band was great. Playing tunes from the 50's to The Ramones. On many occasions they would play Manhattan's Corporate events. Always singing, strumming, and having fun. He did a significant amount of playing for Johnny and Joe; thus, he performed to full houses at Continental Arena, Nassau Coliseum, and Westbury. Also, you would always find him jamming back stage with someone (Coasters, Brooklyn Bridge, Stylistics, & the Planotones.) At this time too, there was some hanging out with Ritchie Blackmore and many memorable jams. He decided to take a little time off and seven years later he got the itch to perform again. By accident he ran into Mike Quinn (a bass player that he always enjoyed playing with because his bass is solid like concrete.) They met, jammed and decided to create NY Express. "This is going to be one kick a#% band! Everyone is dedicated and professional. But the real key here is you have to have fun and everything else just falls into place.

Ray - Keyboard, Sax
Ray Fasano, who joins NYExpress on keyboards and alto sax, began his musical career as an award-winning accordionist at age 10. By age 14, Ray was already playing weddings, block parties, and special events on Staten Island and New York City, including a special engagement at Rockefeller Center, performing over the years with such groups as “Sixth Sense”, “Rock-o-Logy”, “Gut Course” and “Midnight Magic”. Along with his instrumental abilities, Ray’s passion for music quickly broadened to musical direction, arranging and conducting, including musical productions of “Pippin”, “Man of La Mancha”, “Godspell”, “Guys and Dolls”, and several versions of “The Nativity”. A practicing attorney in NY and NJ, as well as legislative counsel in the NY State Senate, Ray also has found time to donate his musical talents to several Christian rock music ministries throughout central New Jersey, including “Joyful Praise”, “Praylude” and “Image of Christ”. Whether on keyboards or sax, Ray brings a smooth, soulful playing style to the group, helping to make each cover sound just the way you remember.

Albert - Drums/ vocals
A third generation musician, son of Maestro Umberto Al Cardone, Al Cardone began performing at age 11 with his gather's orchestra, "The Rhythm Rascals", playing weddings, Italian shows, feasts, and marching in parades. In the mid 70's, he played with popular Staten Island show groups, including "New York Exchange", "Broadway Explosion" and "New York featuring Skeets Williams”, whom he performed with off and on for more than 25 years. In the late 80's as a member of "Music Box" orchestras, he toured and performed with such groups as "The Drifters", "The Coasters" and "The Shirrelles" to name a few, for 10 years.

Back on Staten Island in the 90's, you've probably seen him playing with local acts "Fame", "The Brooklyn Keys", "Just Friends", "Silas Knight & The Brooklyn Horns“, “The After Hours Band”, "The Divine Donna M", and currently with “New York Express”.

Audio/Video Downloads

1. Snippet: Runaway.mp3
2. Snippet: Please Don't Stop the Music.mp3
3. Snippet: Game of Love.mp3
4. Snippet: Authority Song.mp3
5. Snippet: Ooh Baby Baby.mp3
6. Snippet: Peaceful Easy Feeling.mp3
7. Snippet: Heatwave.mp3
8. Snippet: I\'m the Only One.mp3