The Underground Jazz Army

In a world where popular music is considered to be performers that are either famous for their looks, actions, perverse statements, or declarations of how much "bling," they have, THE UNDERGROUND JAZZ ARMY is one of many ensembles that dedicate themselves to learning and earning the respects of their predecessors to continue a tradition of creativity and art that is bigger than anyone can fathom.

Each individual musican in the UJA brings their unique experience from their personal musical journey to create a concert of colors, grooves, and good times. Starting their music with no more than a few melodic phrases, the UJA creates on-the-spot story-like compositions involving blazing solos, classical melodic interludes, and hard hittin' head nodding grooves.

BILLY CARRION JR - ELECTRIC BASS
As a saxophone sideman with such musicians as Eddie Palmieri, Papo Vazquez, Tom Vella And The Wayside, and many others, Billy Carrion Jr takes his experience and leads the UJA playing electric bass with his coharts. Billy enjoys the position of being a part of the well-oiled rhythm section as the Yang to his ususal saxophone antics, being his Yin. As Billy Jr continues to study the music of the great electric bassists such as Jaco Pastorius, Paul Jackson, Flea, etc, he brings a unique energy and wit to the ensemble that is custom to any ensemble he performs with.

MIKE MULLAN - ALTO SAXOPHONE/EFFECTS, COMPOSER
Coming off of a three year train ride as the Ringling Brothers Circus alto saxophonist, Mike Mullan brings his personal touch with his melodic themes and incredible solos. Being influenced by such people as Eric Dolphy, Ornette Coleman, Kenny Garrett, John Coltrane, and Jan Garbarek, to name a few of hundreds, Michael's distinct tone has been called everything from, "brand-new," to, "holy shit that's damn good." His amazing choices of harmoonic structures and be-bop influenced solos is enlightened by electric effects pedals that take the acoustic heart felt horn to new levels of comprehension.

EVAN MEGARO - KKEYBOARD, COMPOSER
Evan Megaro's personal keyboard style comes from his love of brazilian, classical, west coast jazz music, and early 90's pop divas such as Mariah Carey. Evan is the type of musician that will always leave you with your jaw dropped by well-timed simplicity that fills the ensemble with wonderful colors and creates the pallete of chordal crayons in which the UJA feeds off of.

JON DiFIOIRE - DRUMS/PERCUSSION
Jon is the young and strong backbone of the groove. at a young age of 21, Jon plays with the experience of a warrior that has survived many wars. His personal touch and poly-rhythmic mentality becomes hard hittin hip-hop/funk, drum and bass, and latin grooves that keep the heads boping....

BEN GUADALUPE- CONGAS/PERCUSSION
Not much is known about this medeval times trumpet player except for the fact that he is probably one of the best percussionists any style could ask for, not because if his technical ability, but for his way of being soulful and colorful with every chime, slap, shake and woodblock. Ben has played in many ensembles with Billy Jr, but this one seems to be the band that takes the cake with Ben...