Album Notes

2003 marked Doc Scanlon’s 25th year as a band. During that year, a number of performances were given with a galaxy of upstate New York’s finest vocalists and musicians sitting in for the celebration. The new CD is the sound of what turned into a heckuva party. The energy is electric, the vibes are great, and magic is in the air. It’s a snapshot of a bunch of friends getting together playing some great jazz, rock and R&B favorites.

Appearing with Doc on the CD ise the best of the best of the Capital Region: New Yorkers who exemplify talent, heart and quality. Some guests featured from the CD recording include:

Jill Hughes: From her early days singing in her grandfather's church, her legendary days entertaining the summer Saratoga set at the Metro Café, to her bringing down the house at last year’s Tulip Fest with the original Motown band The Funk Brothers, Jill is not just a singer, she is a force of nature.

Jay Traynor: As the original lead singer in Jay and the Americans (the voice of their first hit, She Cried), Jay was acclaimed as a teenage sensation. Nowadays, Jay lends his clear tenor to the music of Frank Sinatra and Bobby Darin as well as the classic rock songs of the 50’s and 60’s, and tours with 60’s doo-wop band, The Happenings.

Colleen Pratt: The product of a talented musical family, Colleen often devotes her full rich vocals to swing and jazz (including some hot scat singing), but anyone who’s heard her knows she also delivers on pop, Motown and contemporary ballads in a big way.

Franklin Micare: On his own or with his formidable trio, Franklin is a walking catalog of swing, pop and soul. His ability to mingle musical styles has gotten him a avid club following and keeps him a top draw on the social circuit. His resume includes two albums released on Columbia Records, a Broadway show and the voice on various TV commercials from his NYC days.

Also on the new CD are blues man Ernie Williams, Jay Yager of the Burners UK and a contingent from Alex Torres and the Latin Kings. Their participation in the original events is captured with torrents of fun and frenetic feelings by the expert recording work of Ace Parkhurst and Pat Tessitore.

Of course, making the night flow seamlessly from genre to genre with verve, fire and talent are the members of Doc Scanlon themselves, who bring their years of experience to bear: Cliff Lyons on sax, Professor Paul Evoskevich on sax, Riff Baxter on trumpet, Don Young on guitar, Gene Garone on drums and the bass of Reggie “Doc” Scanlon. Their career has brought them acclaim and renown from appearances in Russia and Finland, as well as performing at New York State Governor’s Inaugurals and the John F. Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. This will be their fifth CD.