Neil Alexander & NAIL
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Goin' ta bed. Thought I was getting ahead earlier; then the phone rang. Ah well. Out the door 8:30 am, better get some rest. Nite all. :)
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Bio
“All music is crossover”, says Neil Alexander, a self-styled “Jazz Synthesist” and composer from Newburgh, NY. He knows what he’s talking about, having played thousands of gigs in about every style in 30+ years of making music. He’s had ample opportunity to see where different styles intersect and how music crosses over. Well known from his ten years with the well known Pink Floyd Tribute and Jam band The Machine, Neil is reaching new musical heights with his all instrumental, hi-tech jazz-funk jam band featuring Charlie Kniceley (Rashid Ali, Jack Dejohnette) on electric bass and Nadav Snir-Zelniker (Dekel Bor, KJ Denhart) on drums. Combining traditional elements of jazz, funk, rock, jam and ambient music with cutting edge electronics, they stretch out to embrace many different styles and bring these together into a powerful original blend. They are currently touring to support their new CD “Tugging at the Infinite”. The CD reflects Neil’s many influences while showcasing the group’s versatility - from hi energy fusion jams to greasy funk and sweet ballads. You just may find yourself dancing…
About
Starting with classical music at age 8, Keyboardist NEIL ALEXANDER fell in love with the sound of the synthesizer after hearing "Switched on Bach". It would be another 7 years before he got his first synth. From then on he spent as much time becoming an expert programmer as well as a first rate pianist. Listening to keyboard heavy bands like ELP, Yes and Genesis growing up, another significant change came when he first heard the Mahavishnu Orchestra: Jazz! Since then he has performed continuously for 30+ years. He works with music in all forms and styles from Composer/Arranger and Production of Live Sound to Musical Theater, Modern Dance and Film. Grants from NYSCA and Meet The Composer gave Neil the opportunity to continue building on his composing skills. Neil also teaches Master Classes in Synthesizer Programming and Music Performance Technology, and composes works for small ensembles. As an active musician he has recordings and/or a performance history with a variety of groups and artists such as Gunther Hampel, Tal Ross (P-Funk), Charles Haynes, Erik Lawrence, and The Adaptors Movement Theater. His classical repertoire includes works by Stravinsky, Charles Ives, and John Cage. He recently retired from 10 years with the Pink Floyd Tribute "The Machine", where he was a driving force in the group's success for ten years. Absorbing influences by the music and sounds of artists such as Zawinul, Jan Hammer, Eno, Bill Frisell and Bill Evans, Neil has forged a sound uniquely his own. In addition to NAIL, Neil does solo acoustic & electronic performances; shows on Laptop Computer, and "Scene Re-seen" (live electronic scoring of silent films).
Drummer NADAV SNIR-ZELNICKER, who graduated with a BFA in music from the Jazz department at Purchase College Conservatory of Music in 2002. He has performed in numerous venues and festivals around the US with such greats as Jon Faddis, Dr. Todd Coolman, Arthur Lipner, Stella Mars, Howard Wilson big-band, the Dekel Bor Trio, The Burr Johnson Band, and the Celtic-Fusion band "MacTalla Mo'r" among others.
Bassist CHARLIE KNICELY has been a staple on the Woodstock NY music scene for 30 years, playing in turns with a long list of artists including Al Martino, Jerry Vale, Ron Carter, Joe Beck, Ed Summerlin, Jack Dejohnette, Mike DeMicco, Warren Bernhardt, Pete Levin, Connie Francis, Danny Brubeck, Hudson Valley Philharmonic, Lew Soloff and Rashid Ali. After retiring from the music scene in 1995 he is back and working to re-establish himself in the musical fabric of the northeast and Scotland where he has played many times in the Edinburgh International Fringe Arts Festival.
For booking, additional info and more audio clips, go to the Official NAIL Website at www.nailmusic.com.
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