LIVE TO LOVE, LOVE TO LIVE: This latest offering features the incredible musical talents of Ron Velosky on acoustic and electric basses, guitarists B.D. Lenz and Steve Girardi, and multi-instrumentalist Dave Edwards on piano, violin and electric and acoustic basses. Rounding out the group is composer Greg Federico on keyboards, drum kit, and percussion.
Thirteen soulful musical portraits are beautifully arranged and performed in a generous program lasting over a satisfying 77 minutes! This recording features 9 compositions by Federico, 2 by B.D. Lenz, and 1 each by Steve Girardi and Ron Velosky. Says Federico: "This record represents the highest level of writing, arranging and performing I've ever been associated with." This statement is supported by the awards that Federico's compositions off this record have earned. In the 2002 Composer's Guild Annual Composition Contest Greg's ballad "The Promise" took 3rd place while "Faith" grabbed an honorable mention, both in the Jazz/New Age category. Greg continued to receive further recognition in 2003 as "Faith" received a 1st place award in the Instrumental category of the Portland Songwriter's Association Song Contest. This was followed by additional honors from The Composer's Guild Annual Composition Contest once again as "Beneath the Stars" finished in 1st place in the Jazz/New Age category and Greg's waltz/ballad "Lullabye For Alexis" received an honorable mention.
What the press have been saying about 'Live to Love, Love To Live':
"Federico's 'Live To Love, Love To Live'. . .is a collection of jazzy hybrids mixed with Midwestern folk impressionism, world, Latin, classical and pop. . .the album is astoundingly well constructed. It is a kind of musical motion picture, in which each track seems to tell its own story before flowing easily into the next. And like a good movie, it is filled with wonder and surprise."
-- Jack Florek (U.S.1)
"It is hard to express the mystical in music, yet Mr. Federico succeeds somehow."
-- Susan Van Dongen (Princeton Packet)
"Federico's recording takes his listeners on an eclectic and geographical journey."
-- Curt Yeske (Trenton Times)
GREG FEDERICO:
PHILOSOPHER: "Greg Federico is a philosopher. He also is a musician. It's almost impossible to separate the two facets of who he is -- and probably not necessary, because one enhances the other." (Janet Purcell-Piggott, Hopewell Valley News)
Greg Federico received his BA in Philosophy from Villanova University in 1991, but has since philosophically lived a life of music. Subsequent to his philosophy degree, Greg studied music education (specializing in drums and percussion) for two years at Trenton State College under the tutelage of Tony DeNicola (Harry James Orchestra).
Greg continued his studies on drums and exotic percussion with Joe Mekler (Deborah Henson-Conant). Greg's love of hearing live jazz took him to New York City's famed jazz "dive", The 55 Bar, where he met and subsequently studied with drummer Dick Weller, who was performing at the time with Atlantic recording artist and jazz guitarist Mike Stern. Shortly thereafter, Greg connected with drummer Richie Morales (Spyro Gyra, Grover Washington Jr.) at another Mike Stern show and this proved pivotal to Greg's educational advancement. Studies with Morales led to studies with Greg's latest mentor, John Riley (Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Randy Brecker, Woody Herman, Bob Mintzer, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra), who is the author of two books: "The Art of Bop Drumming" and "Beyond Bop Drumming".
COMPOSER: "He's a New Jerseyan who calls his music 'Midwestern Impressionism' and an instrumentalist whose compositions are poetic." (Susan Van Dongen, Princeton Packet)
Greg Federico has released four CD recordings to date: The 1992 fusion-inspired Returning; the 1995 straight-ahead sounding Another Viewpoint; the 1998 style-varied Purity; and a fourth effort in 2000 called Live To Love, Love To Live that features contemporary jazz with a poignant Midwestern twist.
In the past four years Greg has been awarded many accolades as a composer from various songwriting competitions. These include such significant acknowledgements as:
* an Honorable Mention for "Pacific Coast Highway" in the Instrumental category of the 2005 Great American Song Contest, a songwriting competition based in Portland, Oregon that emphasizes networking and educational benefits for songwriters
* 1st Place in the Instrumental category of the 2005 Portland Songwriter’s Contest for "Beneath The Stars"
* 4th Place (out of over 600 instrumental entries) in the Instrumental/Jazz category of the 2004 Unisong International Song Contest for "Beneath The Stars"
* 1st Place in the Pop category of the 2004 Portland Songwriter's Association Song Contest for "Here We Are", as well as 1st Place in the Instrumental category of the very same 2004 Portland Songwriter's Contest for "The Promise"
* Honorable Mentions for "Faith", "The Promise", "Beneath The Stars", "Live To Love, Love To Live", "Here We Are" (all of which placed in the top 1,500), and "Postcard" (which placed in the top 500) in 2004 in the ever popular and highly competitive Billboard Song Contest
* an impressive Finalist showing for "Here We Are" in the 2004 UK Songwriting Contest, an important and highly regarded contest said to be "the UK's leading songwriting event and one of the world's major international song competitions" (Channel Four Television - Ideas Factory)
* an Honorable Mention for "Postcard" in the 2004 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, one of the most prestigious international songwriting events currently running
* an Honorable Mention for "The Promise" in the Instrumental category of the 2003 Great American Song Contest
* 1st Place in the Pop category of the 2003 Composer's Guild Annual Composition Contest for "Postcard", as well as 1st Place in the Jazz/New Age category of the very same 2003 Composer's Guild Contest for "Beneath The Stars"
* 1st Place in the Instrumental category of the 2003 Portland Songwriter's Association Song Contest for "Faith"
* 2nd Place (silver award) in the Adult Contemporary/Soft Rock category of the 2003 Mid-Atlantic Song Contest (sponsored by The Songwriter's Association of Washington) for "Here We Are", as well as 2nd Place (silver) in the Latin/World/Reggae category of the very same 2003 Mid-Atlantic Song Contest for "Postcard" - these tunes were both featured on a winner’s compilation CD (comprised of all 2003 1st and 2nd Place winning compositions) that was sent out to various industry professionals for review
For a complete list of all of Greg's awards please visit www.gregfederico.com.
Greg's current projects include a fifth recording called Forever Now, targeted for release in summer 2006.
PERFORMER: "...this man is very talented in a lot of areas... Federico...concentrates on the groove and creates support for the soloists...He avoids the cliché of playing predictable repetitive rhythms...and his timing is flawless." (Jack Grassel, Milwaukee City Edition)
As a performer, Greg has had the good fortune to play with several emerging jazz artists including Milwaukee guitarist Jack Grassel (author of several guitar instructional texts including "Big Ax", a book on Jack's innovative art of accompaniment in which the guitarist plays a bass line and independent chords simultaneously), New York pianist Eric Olsen (Urban Survival), and the late, great bassist Ron Velosky (Maynard Ferguson, Denis DiBlasio) who authored "Sight Reading For Bass".
In the last thirteen years, Greg has developed several jazz ensembles, each with their own unique sound, and the philosopher - turned - musician performs on a regular basis in the Mid-Atlantic region. Though "home" for Greg is considered the New Jersey corridor between Philadelphia and New York City, he has also toured the Midwest on several occasions to promote his CD recordings. As Curt Yeske of The Trenton Times writes: "Part of the journey for young musicians is to make themselves and their talents known. Few have been any more diligent than Federico in persevering to get engagements for his groups and the exposure of his music on his CDs."
MUSICIAN: "While some musical wannabes may pin their dreams of success on pie-in-the-sky notions of fame and fortune, Federico keeps his ambitions solidly grounded on hard work and hard facts." (Jack Florek, U.S.1)
A consummate musician, Greg has been actively involved in the educational side of music as well. For over fifteen years, Greg has enjoyed providing private music instruction on piano, drums and vibraphone for children and adults alike. Greg is also one of a "dying breed" of music instructors who offer the option of private lessons in the student's home and this has helped to make his name quite popular in both Mercer and Somerset Counties in New Jersey. Greg's natural skills as a music teacher have helped him build a clientele of over 40 students per week. Greg's infectious passion for music has helped inspire some of his past young students to continue their own musical studies at the collegiate level and beyond.
Greg Federico: Philosopher, Composer, Performer, Musician. . .
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.gregfederico.com
Track List:
1. O.C. (Ocean City)
2. Bridges
3. Faith
4. Lonely Tree
5. Kathy's Samba
6. Still Waters
7. Your Soul Shines
8. The Promise
9. Beneath The Stars
10. A Special Place
11. Lullabye For Alexis
12. Live To Love, Love To Live
13. Epilogue (A Final Prayer)
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
Thirteen soulful musical portraits are beautifully arranged and performed in a generous program lasting over a satisfying 77 minutes! This recording features 9 compositions by Federico, 2 by B.D. Lenz, and 1 each by Steve Girardi and Ron Velosky. Says Federico: "This record represents the highest level of writing, arranging and performing I've ever been associated with." This statement is supported by the awards that Federico's compositions off this record have earned. In the 2002 Composer's Guild Annual Composition Contest Greg's ballad "The Promise" took 3rd place while "Faith" grabbed an honorable mention, both in the Jazz/New Age category. Greg continued to receive further recognition in 2003 as "Faith" received a 1st place award in the Instrumental category of the Portland Songwriter's Association Song Contest. This was followed by additional honors from The Composer's Guild Annual Composition Contest once again as "Beneath the Stars" finished in 1st place in the Jazz/New Age category and Greg's waltz/ballad "Lullabye For Alexis" received an honorable mention.
What the press have been saying about 'Live to Love, Love To Live':
"Federico's 'Live To Love, Love To Live'. . .is a collection of jazzy hybrids mixed with Midwestern folk impressionism, world, Latin, classical and pop. . .the album is astoundingly well constructed. It is a kind of musical motion picture, in which each track seems to tell its own story before flowing easily into the next. And like a good movie, it is filled with wonder and surprise."
-- Jack Florek (U.S.1)
"It is hard to express the mystical in music, yet Mr. Federico succeeds somehow."
-- Susan Van Dongen (Princeton Packet)
"Federico's recording takes his listeners on an eclectic and geographical journey."
-- Curt Yeske (Trenton Times)
GREG FEDERICO:
PHILOSOPHER: "Greg Federico is a philosopher. He also is a musician. It's almost impossible to separate the two facets of who he is -- and probably not necessary, because one enhances the other." (Janet Purcell-Piggott, Hopewell Valley News)
Greg Federico received his BA in Philosophy from Villanova University in 1991, but has since philosophically lived a life of music. Subsequent to his philosophy degree, Greg studied music education (specializing in drums and percussion) for two years at Trenton State College under the tutelage of Tony DeNicola (Harry James Orchestra).
Greg continued his studies on drums and exotic percussion with Joe Mekler (Deborah Henson-Conant). Greg's love of hearing live jazz took him to New York City's famed jazz "dive", The 55 Bar, where he met and subsequently studied with drummer Dick Weller, who was performing at the time with Atlantic recording artist and jazz guitarist Mike Stern. Shortly thereafter, Greg connected with drummer Richie Morales (Spyro Gyra, Grover Washington Jr.) at another Mike Stern show and this proved pivotal to Greg's educational advancement. Studies with Morales led to studies with Greg's latest mentor, John Riley (Stan Getz, Dizzy Gillespie, Miles Davis, Quincy Jones, Randy Brecker, Woody Herman, Bob Mintzer, Vanguard Jazz Orchestra), who is the author of two books: "The Art of Bop Drumming" and "Beyond Bop Drumming".
COMPOSER: "He's a New Jerseyan who calls his music 'Midwestern Impressionism' and an instrumentalist whose compositions are poetic." (Susan Van Dongen, Princeton Packet)
Greg Federico has released four CD recordings to date: The 1992 fusion-inspired Returning; the 1995 straight-ahead sounding Another Viewpoint; the 1998 style-varied Purity; and a fourth effort in 2000 called Live To Love, Love To Live that features contemporary jazz with a poignant Midwestern twist.
In the past four years Greg has been awarded many accolades as a composer from various songwriting competitions. These include such significant acknowledgements as:
* an Honorable Mention for "Pacific Coast Highway" in the Instrumental category of the 2005 Great American Song Contest, a songwriting competition based in Portland, Oregon that emphasizes networking and educational benefits for songwriters
* 1st Place in the Instrumental category of the 2005 Portland Songwriter’s Contest for "Beneath The Stars"
* 4th Place (out of over 600 instrumental entries) in the Instrumental/Jazz category of the 2004 Unisong International Song Contest for "Beneath The Stars"
* 1st Place in the Pop category of the 2004 Portland Songwriter's Association Song Contest for "Here We Are", as well as 1st Place in the Instrumental category of the very same 2004 Portland Songwriter's Contest for "The Promise"
* Honorable Mentions for "Faith", "The Promise", "Beneath The Stars", "Live To Love, Love To Live", "Here We Are" (all of which placed in the top 1,500), and "Postcard" (which placed in the top 500) in 2004 in the ever popular and highly competitive Billboard Song Contest
* an impressive Finalist showing for "Here We Are" in the 2004 UK Songwriting Contest, an important and highly regarded contest said to be "the UK's leading songwriting event and one of the world's major international song competitions" (Channel Four Television - Ideas Factory)
* an Honorable Mention for "Postcard" in the 2004 John Lennon Songwriting Contest, one of the most prestigious international songwriting events currently running
* an Honorable Mention for "The Promise" in the Instrumental category of the 2003 Great American Song Contest
* 1st Place in the Pop category of the 2003 Composer's Guild Annual Composition Contest for "Postcard", as well as 1st Place in the Jazz/New Age category of the very same 2003 Composer's Guild Contest for "Beneath The Stars"
* 1st Place in the Instrumental category of the 2003 Portland Songwriter's Association Song Contest for "Faith"
* 2nd Place (silver award) in the Adult Contemporary/Soft Rock category of the 2003 Mid-Atlantic Song Contest (sponsored by The Songwriter's Association of Washington) for "Here We Are", as well as 2nd Place (silver) in the Latin/World/Reggae category of the very same 2003 Mid-Atlantic Song Contest for "Postcard" - these tunes were both featured on a winner’s compilation CD (comprised of all 2003 1st and 2nd Place winning compositions) that was sent out to various industry professionals for review
For a complete list of all of Greg's awards please visit www.gregfederico.com.
Greg's current projects include a fifth recording called Forever Now, targeted for release in summer 2006.
PERFORMER: "...this man is very talented in a lot of areas... Federico...concentrates on the groove and creates support for the soloists...He avoids the cliché of playing predictable repetitive rhythms...and his timing is flawless." (Jack Grassel, Milwaukee City Edition)
As a performer, Greg has had the good fortune to play with several emerging jazz artists including Milwaukee guitarist Jack Grassel (author of several guitar instructional texts including "Big Ax", a book on Jack's innovative art of accompaniment in which the guitarist plays a bass line and independent chords simultaneously), New York pianist Eric Olsen (Urban Survival), and the late, great bassist Ron Velosky (Maynard Ferguson, Denis DiBlasio) who authored "Sight Reading For Bass".
In the last thirteen years, Greg has developed several jazz ensembles, each with their own unique sound, and the philosopher - turned - musician performs on a regular basis in the Mid-Atlantic region. Though "home" for Greg is considered the New Jersey corridor between Philadelphia and New York City, he has also toured the Midwest on several occasions to promote his CD recordings. As Curt Yeske of The Trenton Times writes: "Part of the journey for young musicians is to make themselves and their talents known. Few have been any more diligent than Federico in persevering to get engagements for his groups and the exposure of his music on his CDs."
MUSICIAN: "While some musical wannabes may pin their dreams of success on pie-in-the-sky notions of fame and fortune, Federico keeps his ambitions solidly grounded on hard work and hard facts." (Jack Florek, U.S.1)
A consummate musician, Greg has been actively involved in the educational side of music as well. For over fifteen years, Greg has enjoyed providing private music instruction on piano, drums and vibraphone for children and adults alike. Greg is also one of a "dying breed" of music instructors who offer the option of private lessons in the student's home and this has helped to make his name quite popular in both Mercer and Somerset Counties in New Jersey. Greg's natural skills as a music teacher have helped him build a clientele of over 40 students per week. Greg's infectious passion for music has helped inspire some of his past young students to continue their own musical studies at the collegiate level and beyond.
Greg Federico: Philosopher, Composer, Performer, Musician. . .
Check out the artist's website:
http://www.gregfederico.com
Track List:
1. O.C. (Ocean City)
2. Bridges
3. Faith
4. Lonely Tree
5. Kathy's Samba
6. Still Waters
7. Your Soul Shines
8. The Promise
9. Beneath The Stars
10. A Special Place
11. Lullabye For Alexis
12. Live To Love, Love To Live
13. Epilogue (A Final Prayer)
Suggested CDs:Other Genres:
- JAZZ: World Fusion
- WORLD: World Fusion
- TYPE: INSTRUMENTAL