Biography
The Jack Volpe Project features accomplished and audience-delighting artists. Together they create unique stage magic with a well-loved repertoire of jazz standards. Traditional interpretations, Latin rhythms, sultry ballads, reimagined classics, original lyrics, up-tempo toe-tappers: a potent and eclectic blend that WILL enchant. JVP features accomplished classical instrumentalists as well and provides incredible flexibility for your special events...instrumental jazz, standards with vocals, classical and assorted popular songs.
JVP musicians have performed at a diverse range of occasions and venues. During the past two years alone: Upstairs on the Square, Peabody Essex Museum, Prudential Center, Hampshire House, Ryles Jazz Cafe, Longwood Place, Middle East Restaurant, Suffolk Law School, Hawthorne Hotel, Les Zygomates, and so many more...
The Jack Volpe Project is available in many configurations....solo, duo, trio, quartet, quintet...in any combination.
Instrumentation
Jack Volpe (singer) has recorded and performed with Brian Fitzpatrick as a piano/vocal duo (www.fitzpatrickandvolpe.com) and studied under Pamela Murray at Harvard. Jack is a long-time veteran of jazz groups, musical theatre, choruses, choirs and dinner theater. His evocative baritone ranges from poignant to ebullient. Equally comfortable with ballads or scatting, he delights audiences with his exceptional warmth, genuineness, and impeccable phrasing. He brings the Great American Songbook to life with remarkable spirit and improvisational magic while always communicating his deep respect for the traditions and great vocal artists of the jazz standards genre especially Mel Torme, Ella Fitzgerald and Tony Bennett.
Stephanie Stone's (sax, flute, clarinet) musical studies began at a young age originally as a classical flutist and evolved into jazz along with the addition of the four saxes (alto, tenor, soprano, baritone) as well as the clarinet. She has formally studied music at the Berklee College of Music, Longy School of Music, and University of Miami from which she received her bachelor's degree in Music Therapy. She has studied and played professionally for the last 20 years in a variety of music groups ranging from classical, Big Band, jazz, R&B, and rock. Her performances have included: recording at WGBH, live radio broadcasts, local jazz venues such as Ryles, The Willow, the Regattabar, and all major function rooms in New England including the Fleet Center. www.srisaxoptions.com
Brian Fitzpatrick (piano) is Associate Professor of Music at Endicott College and has received the Bayles Award, acceptance to the Atlantic Center for the Arts, and served as guest composer at the Williams College New Music Festival. Fitzpatrick has been awarded the Siena Music Scholarship on two separate occasions in performance and composition. Additionally, he has written music for film, collaborated with dance and theatre troupes and visual artists. He has written for combos and large ensembles in the classical and jazz genres and has made arrangements, notably for saxophone quartet, Thelonius Monk’s, Ask Me Now. Brian Fitzpatrick also performs solo and leads a piano trio. www.fitzpatrickjazz.com
Andrea Hissong (bass) is a versatile player with wide-ranging interests. She plays locally with several ensembles. Recently she played bass for Menopause the Musical at the Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine (the longest running show in the history of the playhouse). She has enjoyed a rich musical education through private studies in classical voice, classical and jazz guitar and electric and acoustic bass, with teachers from the Los Angeles Master Chorale, the University of California, Northridge, and Berklee College of Music, respectively. She has performed professionally as a singer, guitarist and bassist. She particularly enjoys the jazz idiom and sees the conversation that takes place through improvisation as one of the highest expressions of community. Audio samples can be found on both Joe and Brian's websites.
Joe Randazzo (drums; inspired by three jazz greats: Elvin Jones, Art Blakey and Ben Riley) has studied jazz drumming with Fred Buda and Alan Dawson. He completed the University of Lowell's music program in 1978 and attended Berklee College of Music for the 2003 World Percussion Festival. Recently, Joe studied with Guillermo Nojechowicz (El Eco), noted drummer and composer, exploring the beautiful and complex rhythms of Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay. He is a member of the Paul Saunders Trio, the UpFront Jazz Trio, SwingBrazil and performs regularly in the Boston area with his own group, The Randazzo Jazz Quartet.
www.berkleemusic.com/promo/promokit-display?promokit_item_id=572216
Yas Ishibashi (piano, vocal) grew up in Tokyo, Japan, beginning her musical training at age 7. After receiving her Bachelor’s of Music Degree from Kunitachi Music College, she moved to the United States and enrolled in the Berklee College of Music where she immersed herself in the style, history, and performance of Jazz. Through the study of Gershwin, Porter, Kern, Berlin and many other composers, Yas discovered her true musical passion-playing and singing American Standards. Yas has performed regularly at Boston’s finest nightclubs, restaurant and hotel lounges both as a part of her trio and as a solo pianist and vocalist. Her CD entitled “Being Love” was featured on WGBH and introduced by Ron Della Chiesa. She derives a great deal of her musical inspiration from her active teaching at Longy School of Music, Powers Music School and the Cambridge Montessori School.
Discography