Artist description Blues/Soul/Funk/Fusion Quartet

Music Style Blues, Funk and Soul

Musical Influences Danny Gatton, Pat Martino, Robert Cray, WWW, SRV...

Similar Artists Steely Dan, Robert Cray...

Artist History We've been a band for over two years and have released our debut album in July of 2001. We're fairly fresh on the scene, but do plan to play a lot of shows in the Chicago area and hopefully outside of the Chicago area this year. Everyone in the band is and/or was pursuing a jazz degree at DePaul University in Chicago.

Group Members guitar/vocals - Nick Peraino keys/rhodes/vocals - Paul J. Mutzabaugh bass - Adam Whitson drums - Frank Alongi Nick Peraino Nick has been playing guitar and singing since he was 13 years old. At age 22 he has recorded two albums. One of these albums was recorded at age 18 and the other this past spring with his new band Blue Moon Risin'. He's currently studying at DePaul University in Chicago for a degree in Jazz Studies performance and playing around Chicago weekly. With his Robert Cray influenced vocals and mean blues and jazz chops, he plans to travel and forge new territory with Blue Moon Risin' at his side. Paul J. Mutzabaugh Paul is 22 years old and has been playing piano for 16 years. He is also currently studying at DePaul University for a degree in composition. Paul's major influences include pianists Jim Ridl and Laurence Hobgood, guitarist Pat Martino, the Spin Doctors, singer Kurt Elling and 20th century classical composer Edgard Varese. Paul adds an exceptional flavor of fusion to the band with his Rhodes and organ chops. Frank Alongi Frank has been playing drums for 15 years. After a high school gig with a hard-core band, Frank has decided to play music on the more funk, blues and jazz side of things. His double bass drum playing, used tastefully, certainly adds intensity to the group. While being a performer and a teacher, Frank is also an educated musician. His interaction with the solos and singing is much applauded by the other band members. Adam Whitson Adam has been playing bass and guitar since he was a wee bitty. As well as Nick and Paul, Adam is also studying jazz at DePaul University. Though he's studying jazz and practicing his swing feel, he can lay down a dirty shuffle groove and a bouncy funk groove with extreme solidity. One audience member once said that Adam's playing reminded him of the bass players of the early 70's. His tone and feel is almost identical to the sound of those old funk and soul bass players. The band is very serious about what they do, each member plays in this band as well as at least one other gigging band. Three of us are also jazz majors at DePaul. We show up on time and bring our friends. Gig history : Elbo Room, Beat Kitchen, Wise Fools Pub, Lakeview Links, Monkey Room, US Beer Company, O'Malley's, Hoghead McDunna's, Nevin's Live, and Rooster Blues and BBQ.

Instruments guitar, keys/rhodes, bass, drums

Albums Nick Peraino and Blue Moon Risin' (debut)

Press Reviews Nick Peraino and Blue Moon Risin', Nick Peraino and Blue Moon Risin' (self released) Oddly enough, one of the elements missing from the modern music scene is musicianship. Enter Nick Peraino and Blue Moon Risin', a band of mostly music majors from DePaul University. When these guys let it fly, they unleash a passionate, synergistic blend of influences into their sound. Their late night jams are legendary. And these characters even manage to make it to early morning classes the very next day. On Nick Peraino and Blue Moon Risin', the self titled debut, Peraino jams the six strings and sings while the boys hold down the bluesy rock grooves. Pulling classic rock, rhodes heavy rhythms and funky jazz vibes together, this quartet rails through original tracks like "Life's Fundamentals" and "In With the New." While these cuts do not necessarily break into new musical territory they do feature the fruits of thousands of hours of music school discipline. Peraino attacks his guitar with machine gun ferocity. Drummer Frank Alongi smacks the skins, tracing time with smoky fills and slick beats. And bassist Adam Whitson pulls it all together with seamless twists and a subversive bottom end. On "Balance," the band serves up some very tasty guitar chops. Funky, harmony driven and quirky, this track stands as the best of the record. On this one Paul J. Mutzabaugh stirs up a spicy keyboard solo that makes the mouth water. But this disc is not all about the upbeat. "Joy" and "Coastal Sunset" both turn quiet and introspective. Instead of dominating with the big sound of Blue Moon Risin', Peraino takes center stage with passion and intimacy. These tracks show the magnitude of studied composition and skillful performance. Nick Peraino and Blue Moon Risin' recorded this disc on campus in just a few days in May, 2001. It holds the tingling, raw energy of young, extraordinary musicians set free in the studio. Without a trace of sound effects or overproduced studio nonsense, these cats stir up the magic while the night is still young. --IndieMusicReview.com March, 2002 http://www.indiemusicreview.com/nickperaino

Location Chicago, IL - USA

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