CASSANDRE MC KNLEY
vocals
We first met Cassandre when she invited Mike to perform a duet with her on her latest MaxJazz recording "'Til Tomorrow: Remembering Marvin Gaye". When the vocalist's chair in Moonglow opened up, Cassandre expressed interest, and the rest, as they say... She has certainly made herself at home in the band, and we couldn't be happier. Cassandre is currently in pre-production for her latest CD... we'll keep you posted!
CLICK HERE to hear Cassandre & Mike's duet "Your Precious Love" from the CD.
MICHAEL PAYETTE
BASS, vocals
Michael was a founding member of two of the most sought-after function bands in the area before forming MOONGLOW. He is a well-respected member of the Greater Boston musical community, and his bass playing and strong vocal ability are always in demand.
In addition to his years of live performance experience, Michael has sung on numerous radio and television ads in the Boston market . His voice was prominently featured in a recent presentation at the Charles Hayden Planetarium in Boston's Museum of Science.
BRIAN LECCESE
GUITAR, vocals
Born of Rock and schooled in Jazz, Brian has found his true identity somewhere in between the two. He has played professionally for 15 years, and earned his B.A. in Jazz Theory and Perfomance from Westfield State College in 1999, studying guitar for 4 years with Bob Ferrier while there. After graduating, he won a graduate Teaching Assistantship at UMASS, Amherst from 2000-2002, studying Jazz Composition and Arranging under the tutelage of Jeff Holmes.
During his academic career, Brian was fortunate to study and play with world-renowned musicians such as Roy Hargrove, Dr. Billy Taylor and Mark Whitfield, to state a few. He also won the 2001 National Downbeat Magazine award for best Pop/Rock/Blues soloist for his work on a Frank Zappa medley performed by the UMASS Studio "Rockestra".
In addititon to performing with MOONGLOW, you can see Brian playing in and around the Greater Boston area and the North Shore, as well as Southern New Hampshire and Vermont with his other project, Organism.
CHUCK LANGFORD
SAXOPHONE, VOCALS
Chuck joined MOONGLOW two years ago, and we couldn't be happier! He studied music at the University of Massachusetts and the New School for Social Research in New York, under the tutelage of saxophone greats Archie Sheppp, George Coleman, Yusef Lateef and pianist Barry Harris.
He has played or shared the stage with jazz greats George Benson, the Count Basie Orchestra & Donald Byrd, R&B legends Ray Charles, Al Green, the Temptations, the Chi Lites & Solomon Burke, Pop artists en Vogue, Blues artists mighty Sam McClain & Toni Lynne Washington.
In addition to being a great saxophonist/performer (he & Shawn crack us up onstage all the time), Chuck is also an accomplished teacher, and has many private students. Send us an email if you're interested in studying with him. We'll put you in touch!
Chuck is also hard at work on a recording project... check back often for details!
SHAWN HINES
TRUMPET
Shawn is a veteran of the US Army Band, and a graduate of the University of Miami's School of Music He has appeared with a wide variety of artists including Tony Bennett, Joe Williams, Celia Cruz, Arturo Sandoval, the Spinners, The 4-Tops, the O’Jays & the Temptations.
Additionally, Shawn led his own band in Europe while teaching at the Ecole du Jazz et Musique Actuel in Lausanne Switzerland. Shawn has also played trumpet in Broadway shows and Broadway touring companies. He is currently a Director of Bands at Providence College in Rhode Island and writes and arranges music for movies and local bands.
DANIEL COUTU
KEYBOARDS, vocals
Daniel has performed in many bands in and around the Boston Area, including Boston Music Award winners Batwel Rada, Hommuculus, Shockra, the Hip Pocket Orchestra and Hot House, with whom he performed in Las Vegas and St. Thomas. He has also performed with Senegalese Master percussionist Ibrahima Camara, who won a Boston Music Award for Best World Music act.
Daniel received a degree in Music Synthesis from Berklee College of Music. In addition to his prowess in the area of live performance, he is a composer, arranger at Virtual Planet Studios. He also teaches piano. If you're interested in taking lessons, E-mail us for more information!
STEPHEN CLEMENTS
DRUMS, vocals
Steve is a member of the talented Clements family (THREE of the brothers are fixtures on the local music scene). He started playing the piano at an early age, and switched to drums. He has studied at the New England Conservatory and Berklee College of Music.
As a drummer and vocalist, he has been a part of New England's music scene for the past 20 years. Boss, Psycho Serious and Tsouky and the Memories are a few of the bands who were lucky enough to have Steve as a member. And now, he performs with us!