Artist description Contact: Scott Forman (516) 819-8975 email: skyfish@excite.com ~~~Leap of Faith has a catalogue that includes over 20 "radio friendly" songs as well as raging live instrumentals with material always in the works. They are currently promoting their recent self-titled album, “Leap of Faith.” Their music would get airplay with bands and artists such as: Pearl Jam, U2, The Red Hot Chili Peppers, Creed, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles, The Allman Brothers, Eric Clapton. Each member of the band has a unique style and music background that collectively contributes to Leap of Faith’s phenomenal sound and presence on stage.~~~Scott Forman is the lead singer/songwriter in Leap of Faith. Scott's soulful voice is both moving and gut wrenching, equally matched by his live screaming, melodic guitar solos; influenced by players such as: Jimi Hendrix, Stevie Ray Vaughan and early Eric Clapton. Forman is a BMI affiliated singer/songwriter who has worked behind the scenes with artists such as Aerosmith, Stevie Wonder, Miles Davis, Chaka Kahn, Robert Palmer, Joan Jett, and many others. He has recorded several albums as a solo artist and has performed at many NYC renowned music clubs such as The Bitter End, The Side Walk Cafe and the Gaslight. ~~~Kris Dalene is the Drummer in Leap of Faith and is the youngest member of the band at 17 years old. Kris began playing drums at 8 years old. One can't help but make the connection to the young John Bonham with his hard hitting, high energy, over the top playing. Kris' instructors and mentors include current drummer for Blue Oyster Cult, Bobby Rondinelli, former drummer for Black Sabbath, and Hall of Fame Jazz drummer, Jim Chapin. At 14, he recorded his first album with an original hardcore alternative band named Subdivision. Subdivision played to audiences throughout Long Island for three years. Leap of Faith uses several of the top bass players in the New York area

Music Style Rock , Alternative

Musical Influences The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, The Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Bob Marley, Peal Jam, Creed, Eric Clapton, Tom Petty

Similar Artists Pearl Jam, Creed, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, Tom Petty

Group Members Scott Forman on guitar and Vocals, Kris Dalene on Drums

Instruments Vocals, Guitar, Drums, Bass

Albums Leap of Faith debut self titled CD, New Release

Press Reviews ***Leap Of Faith ***By Chris Harris **************The East Hampton Star*****************************http://www.easthamptonstar.com/20000601/feat2.htm In a world overrun with prefabricated, dime-a-dozen boy bands, 14-year-old one-hit wonderettes, and puerile metal-rap fusion acts, it's comforting to know that there is at least one band out there indifferent to the almighty dollar, just looking to write a few songs that might mean something to somebody.Meet Leap of Faith - a young, up-and-coming rock-and-roll trio, whose style skillfully blends the better elements of alternative, classic rock, hardcore, and funk, creating a surprisingly airy sound, with no one musical ingredient more identifiable or overpowering than another. For them, it's not buying into industry hype, but a genuine passion for music, for performing, and a desire to arouse something deep within the listener, essentially doing for others what music does for them, that has steered their ambition and shaped their dreams."They Understand""I love to look at somebody and sing, and watch that person smile, because they understand what I am singing about," said the former bassist Ricky Vacca, who calls Huntington home, and is the only member who has to drive more than 20 minutes to make rehearsals at the band's Butter Lane, Bridgehampton, studios four times a week. "No matter who you are, what you are, where you're coming from, where you're going, in that moment, nothing else matters, and we're all connected. Everybody in the room, sharing. That's what I live for."Leap of Faith's lead singer, guitarist, and principal songwriter, Scott Forman, has lived in East Hampton for four years. The band's drummer, Kris Dalene, is an East Hampton native, and, at 17, the youngest member of the collective.Band's BeginningsUnlike most bands, Leap of Faith is not composed of lifelong pals who, one momentous afternoon, decided to jam in one of their garages, and realized within minutes they had something special. A solo artist in his own right for many years, Mr. Forman scrapped a steady gig at the Hit Factory, the famed Manhattan recording studio, as an assistant engineer and producer, working on albums by Robert Palmer, Stevie Wonder, and Miles Davis, to pursue his own work. He released a few CDs, then tried promoting them by making the rounds of the New York nightclub and coffee house circuit. It wasn't long before Mr. Forman knew his career could go no further without a band.Needed A Team"I started getting record label attention," Mr. Forman said of his brief solo stint. More and more record executives began showing up for his sets, and "I found I wasn't able to reach the intensity level I needed for my live shows" without "a team. So, I decided I needed to put a band together."A short while later, at a point in his life when "I was feeling pretty jaded," he recalled, Mr. Forman was introduced to Mr. Dalene, who was barely 16 at the time, and looking for something different after his band of more than three years, Subdivision, a local hardcore outfit, split. Mr. Dalene, who first picked up a pair of drumsticks at the age of 8, learned his craft under the tutelage of Jim Chapin, a noted jazz drummer, and Bobby Rondinelli, former drummer for Black Sabbath, who now plays with Blue Oyster Cult.Pleasant SurpriseDubious because of the drummer's age, Mr. Forman reluctantly accepted an invitation to hear Mr. Dalene play, and was more than pleasantly surprised."He is just unreal, man," Mr. Forman said, comparing his bandmate to the late John Bonham, the drummer for Led Zeppelin, who "was just a monster player."Some months later, after a brief run with a "hired-gun bass player," and a performance before 350 people at a party given by Courtney Ross for everyone who had worked on the Ross Institute expansion, an ad for a bassist was placed in the now defunct Long Island Voice. A handful of players responded and were auditioned.Took Little Prodding"The first guy came in all slouched over, no energy, no stage presence," said Mr. Forman. "And then Ricky comes in, and he's all smiles, cracking jokes - just being Ricky. And that was it."For Mr. Vacca, a man who spent much of his 20s traveling up and down the Eastern seaboard with an acoustic guitar, playing wherever anyone would listen, it took little prodding to join."I just happened to be in the market," said Mr. Vacca, who was performing as Paul McCartney with "Beatlemania," a tribute band to the boys from Liverpool. "But my true love is singing and writing songs, and performing as me. Being in Leap of Faith, it's like full-circle. And Scott's lyrics are phenomenal - finally, a positive message, about hanging in there, and doing the best you can."CommitmentWith that, the band was complete. Each member agreed to exclusivity and abstention from drugs and alcohol, at least until the band reached a "certain level of success," Mr. Forman said. "The commitment level is really high. When you get a team together, and the team commits to the team, that means you can accomplish great things."Conceivably, making the biggest commitment of all three was Mr. Dalene. As a senior at East Hampton High School, he has had to juggle academic and musical obligations since the band was founded more than a year and a half ago. He has even gone so far as to put his college education on hold, perhaps sacrificing a football scholarship - a captain of the East Hampton Bonacker football team, he has drawn attention from a number of college teams.First Album"I made the decision a while ago that I wanted to play drums for the rest of my life, whether it was in a band, teaching, whatever. I told my parents I wanted to take a year off, to see where this goes," Mr. Dalene said.The band recently put the finishing touches on their first album, a self-titled, 11-track CD, recorded over two months this winter at their studio behind the Telemark Construction building in Bridgehampton, which is owned by Frank Dalene, Kris's father. Mr. Dalene, along with Eliza Rowe, are the band's executive producers. The band has sold a few copies already, at shows it has given at its studio, and on its Web site, www.mp3.com/leapoffaith.Alternative FlavorMany of the songs on the album have an alternative flavor, marked by consonant melodies. The music is generally optimistic, with lyrics like, "I do believe we all receive help from above, and sometimes that's all you need."Throughout, there is raw guitar, with funk-driven, potent bass riffs, and impeccable drum work. These elements complement the light, beautifully cacophonous vocals that, on some tracks, smack of a young Eddie Vedder, and at other times, Chris Cornell - when Chris Cornell is really singing.Careful listening reveals trace elements of the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix, Jane's Addiction, and, in rarer cases, the Pixies, the Descendants, and even the Smiths. Manhattan ShowcaseLeap of Faith will be showcasing at Wilson's, a nightclub on West 79th Street in Manhattan, on June 10, at 9 and 10:30 p.m. A number of industry types have been invited to the show. One has already called to confirm - Nile Rodgers, the groundbreaking producer, songwriter, and guitarist who has worked with Madonna, David Bowie, Duran Duran, INXS, Diana Ross, Seal, and Peter Gabriel. On Aug. 31, the band will play at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center, a benefit for Mission for Kindness, a not-for-profit anti-violence organization."Everything we have done in this band has been a leap of faith. Each one of us took a leap of faith from careers that were somewhat potent. And we all believe in these songs and the way we sound together. We have put everything else on the back burner, except this band. I think it's a pretty optimistic name, and I hope it inspires people."

Additional Info All artwork by Kat Dalene

Location Bridgehampton, NY - USA

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