For many, the years from 1955 to 1965 represent the most compelling era in jazz. Iconic recordings were being made by Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Art Blakey & the Jazz Messengers, Charlie Parker, Dizzy Gillespie and many others too numerous to mention. These recordings continue to influence musicians today and represent some of the most beloved and infectious jazz music ever.

This concert pays homage to three towering giants of this era - Miles, Trane and Blakey- with meticulous recreations of their most memorable music - a ‘greatest hits’ if you will. Join us for an unforgettable evening of their music, arranged as originally recorded.

Inspired improvisation and musicianship by an all Cape band featuring Joe Mongelli, trumpet; Scott Avidon, saxophones; Michael Dunford, drums; Mark Borgmann, piano and Michael Ryle upright bass.

Artist Bios:
Joe Mongelli, trumpet & flugelhorn has been a mainstay in the Cape jazz community since moving to Harwich full time in 2015. His groups, the Joe Mongelli Jazz Trio and The Cape Jazz Crew, have performed sold-out concerts recreating the music of Miles Davis, John Coltrane, Frank Sinatra, Ruby Braff and Art Blakey at many Cape venues. His 2016 CD WashAshore received high critical acclaim for creative arrangements, stellar ensemble playing and inspired improvisation. It can be heard on Spotify, Pandora and Apple Music and is available on Amazon.

Joe has a Master of Performance degree from The Manhattan School of Music and a Bachelor of Science degree from New York University. He studied jazz improvisation with Jimmy Giuffre at NYU, classical trumpet with Mel Broiles, Phil Smith and Alan Dean and arranging with Don Sebesky. He has numerous published works including big band compositions, brass quintet arrangements and a collection of original trumpet descants.

Scott Robert Avidon, saxophones is trained in both Jazz and Classical idioms, having studied in the United States and France. He received his Bachelor’s degree in Jazz Studies from Rutgers University, and his Master’s degree in Classical Saxophone from Western Michigan University. The recipient of Down Beat Magazine’s “1995 Collegiate Jazz Soloist of the Year Award, Avidon has moved on to an impressive career as a professional saxophonist performing with such artists as The Branford Marsalis Quartet, The Dave Liebman Group, Mel Torme, The Temptations, The Spinners, Martha Reeves, Eliot Zigmund, and Harvie S, among others.

Mark Borgmann, piano, lives in Dennis and plays all over Cape Cod. Whether it’s jazz, pop, blues or rock ’n roll, Mark does it all. In addition to playing with the Joe Mongelli Jazz Trio, Mark performs regularly with the Mojo Kings, the Sharkz Jazz group, the Bert Jackson Quartet, and Pocketful of Soul. He can often be heard as a piano soloist and accompanying many of the Cape’s most well-known singers at area restaurants. (See https://www.markborgmannmusic.com for more info).

Michael Ryle, bass, lives in Eastham and studied with Edgar Meyer Sr at the University of Tennessee and began his professional career performing with orchestras in the greater Knoxville area and at the World’s Fair. He moved to New England in 1983 and put aside the instrument to work as a software engineer and study piano but since coming to Cape Cod in 1998 he has picked up where he left off, performing with the Cape Cod Symphony, freelancing jazz and chamber music and arranging and composing for big bands and his own group, Jazzical Cats.

Michael Dunford, drums

After graduating from Berklee College of Music, Michael performed with many notable Boston-area classical, jazz, blues, and rock groups, recording and touring throughout New England and the U.S. Now residing in Sandwich, he regularly performs in clubs, theaters, and concert halls from Boston through the South Coast, and is a sought-after drum instructor. In 2019 Michael made his directorial debut with “We Are The Champions: A Musical Tribute to Queen” and in 2021 launched “Piano Men: A Musical Tribute to Billy Joel & Elton John” to appreciative audiences.