Member Since: 02/01/2007
Band Members: Steve Kaplan - Acoustic, Electric & Classical Guitar
... and sometimes Paul Caluori - Violin & Viola
... occasionally Vida Allworthy - Vocals
Steve Kaplan's Occasional Quartet
Features:
Steve Kaplan - Guitar - Guitarist with the duo Kaplan Caluori, the Big Apple Pops Orchestra, and Terry A and the Big Band sound, as well as a solo performer.
Paul Caluori - Violin - the other 1/2 of Kaplan Caluori. Paul as performed at a variety of New Jersey locations, including the Zimmerli Art Museum, Metuchen Artworks, the Metuchen Inn and with Big Apple pops. He has also played in a variety of orchestral and chamber ensembles in his native Berkshires, in western Massachusetts.
Bob Funesti - Bass - Bob works extensively as a freelance musician, and has appeared with Lenny Argese, Bob DeVos, and Roni Ben-Hur. Bob performs with many different musical groups around the New York Metropolitan area, and can be heard in NYC Metropolitan area venues such as Trumpets, Shanghai Jazz, the Watchung Arts Center, and Birdland. Bob also plays regularly with big bands such as the Midnight Sun Orchestra, the Jazz Lobsters, Silver Starlight Orchestra, and the Terry Allworthy Big Band.
Art Lillard - Drums - Art is the leader of several working bands in the the New York Metro Area including, The On-Time Quartet, Art Lillard's Heavenly Big Band, Blue Heaven, The Art Lillard Trio, and The Ninth Street Stompers
Influences: When I was about 5 years old my first guitar teacher was a guy named Frank Aiello. This man sold insurance by day, but played big band and swing music at night. From him I learned the basics of music theory and technique. I studied with Frank Aiello for about 6 years. I was always fascinated with his big old Gibson L-5 guitar, but I never thought I would play jazz.
After years of playing rock and getting more and more annoyed by having to rely on other musicians to play gigs I decided to start studying jazz, so that I could do solo gigs. In 1990 I started studying jazz with a great teacher named John Miele. I studied with him for 10 years, he taught me jazz theory, technique, and occassionally karate (no kidding)!
Over the years since my rock n' roll days have become a memory I have moved away from "electric" guitars. My first good guitar was a Telecaster. I've kept this guitar, despite having only taken it out of its case once in the from 2005 - 2007. Happily I've had the opportunity to play that guitar on some engagements with the Irving Street Reps production of "Smokey Joe's Cafe".
As a I moved more into jazz my guitars got progressively more hollow. The evolution went from the Tele to a Gibson ES 335, to a Gibson ES 175, to a Gibson L 4, to my Mark Campellone Standard (heavily influenced by the Gibson L 5). This last is a truly acoustic instrument with a floating pickup for "convenience."
As far as flattops go, I've always had one around - My original was a high quality Yamaha J200 copy, then a Taylor 612C, and currently my William Moll Small Jumbo SJ Prototype. I have not yet found the flattop of my dreams, although I recently did dream that I was playing my old Taylor - wierd.
The flat top is used extensively with Kaplan Caluori - my guitar violin duo. I use it for the Irish/Celtic Traditional songs and even a couple of classical pieces.
In May of '07 I picked up a fine classical guitar and I have worked more than 100 classical pieces into my constantly expanding set list.
Sounds Like: Music from 14th to the 21st century.
George Benson, after hearing me play a few songs said: "George Van Eps reborn!"
Type of Label: Unsigned