RICHIE VITALE'S "DREAMSVILLE" ON CD

Richie's first release as a leader, "Dreamsville," featured his friend, Gary Bartz on alto saxophone. Says Richie of Bartz, "I'd listen to Gary as a kid, him and Jackie McLean. I knew this was the real deal." After sitting in with Gary a couple or times in New York, Richie remarks, "I knew this was the cat I was looking for.

I was really glad he could do my first CD." Richie's pianist, Tardo Hammer, has played with him for twenty years now, along with his current tenor saxophonist, Ralph Lalama and his drummer Taro Okamoto.

Tardo performed with Warne Marsh, Charlie Rouse and Harold Ashby in the early 1980's. In 1985 Tardo played with tenor great Johnny Griffin and legendary alto saxophonist Lou Donaldson. By 1989 he could be seen performing with the Art Farmer-Clifford Jordan Quintet. Tardo's comping style and sense of lyricism was a natural for Richie's group.

Richie's bass player, John Ray was born in the town of Jackson Heights in Queens, New York. John has been the driving force in the Buddy Rich big Band, the Woody Herman Band, the Warren Marsh Quartet and with the jazz legend, drummer Ron Haynes. Swinging effortlessly through each tune, John shows his maturity on his instrument.

Taro Okamoto, born in Osaka, Japan, relocated to New York City in 1975. His relaxed feel and ability as a soloist was the finishing touch to a swinging quintet. He started playing with the Reggie Workman Big Band and became a member of the Sadik Hakim Trio in 1977. In 1981 and 1982 he performed regularly with Warne Marsh at the Village Vanguard jazz club in Manhattan and at the International Jazz Festival in Amsterdam. His groove could be felt throughout both of Richie's CDs.

To Order By Mail:
Please send $15.00 plus $2.00 S&H (check or money order) to:

VITALE on CD
400 West 43rd Street
Suite 8F
New York, NY 10036