| Bios
The Wildcats, one of the premier rhythm and blues bands in the New England area, are known for their untamed, high energy brand of blues. Playing originals and not so traditional covers, guitarists and singers Fay Adams and Jeff Adams bring their harmony and chemistry and love of the blues to the front of the band, putting their heart and soul into their music. They team up with Boston and Worcester area blues veterans looking to create a
groovin', get-you-up-and-movin' feeling. The Wildcats showcased at the NXNE conference in Toronto, in 2002, when they released their CD on Black Rose Records, "By the Light of Day."
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Fay
Adams, singer, songwriter, guitarist "No matter how many people we play to, we're gonna [sic] give it all we've got," she says. And she means it. Fay can belt it out sweat and soulful or hard and intense. She has the power to convey the true feeling of the music in an honest expression of emotion and conviction. Influenced by Etta James, Ruth Brown, Bonnie Raitt, Debbie Davies, Angela Strehli, and Chicago blues artists, Albert Collins and Little Milton, her Philadelphia upbringing and soul roots show in her songwriting. Fay has blended impression with passion and produced a seasoned, original style.
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Jeff
Adams, guitarist, singer, songwriter ""We're all about heart," Jeff states. "The energy that we have and the way we feed off each other...people can see that; feel it." Jeff's playing has influenced many to go out and get a guitar or give up playing one altogether. He cranks, folks! A two-decades vet of the scene, Jeff's past includes going on the road with Al Valentino and the Playmates of Beep Beep fame, and he's played with the likes of Dennis Brennan in the Dirty Rye Band, the Hoodoo Doctors with Scott Bronnes, and Blue Midnight with Ron Sloan and Steve Ramsey. He plays like Fay sings: from sweet and soulful chords and melodies to an out and out fury.
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Rick Calcagni,
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bass Bassman Rick Calcagni was born and raised in R.I. and learned his craft in the hardcore R&B bars of Providence's south side. Engineering student by day and bass funkster by night, he had played with local legends Fatman Wilson, Louie Camp, and Willie Love by the time he finished school. In the late 80's Rick helped found the Alternate Quartet, a free-jazz-fusion ensemble out of Stow MA. They released one CD, the sparkling "Rainforest Rhumboogie" in 1994. In addition to regular gigs with the Wildcats, Rick currently holds down bass duties in the Stacy Queen Band, the Big Blue Daddys and Allman Brothers tribute band The Peacheaters. Rick can really rock, knows how to feel and play the blues, and the ladies love his impish grin and long flowing tresses. Don't miss him at the next Wildcats show!
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Dana Bonardi,
- drums Having played for most of his 21 years, and with the touch and groove of a seasoned pro, drummer Dana Bonardi does more before breakfast than most drummers do all day. He's studied with the legendary Billy MacGillvary, worked with local heroes Jason James, Lisa Marie and Stacy Queen, and made his presence felt in the drum chair at many of the area's blues jams. Tight, precise, solid time, imaginative, a great sense of groove and a massive backbeat; these are a few of his favorite things. Quote Dana: "These 'cats are the pick of the litter!"
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Shinichi Otsu,
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keyboards Shinichi Otsu was born in Japan where he began his musical studies at the age of seven. A graduate of Berklee College of Music in Boston, MA, he studied piano with Boston Pops pianist, Bob Winter, Dave Limina, Bruce Katz, Ray Santisi, and Ed Bedner. Since 1998, Shinichi has appeared in many clubs and festivals including the Newport Jazz Festival (1998) and the Boston Globe Jazz & Blues Festival (2000) and has also been pianist for Gabrielle Goodman, a renowned songwriter and background singer for Chaka Khan, Roberta Flack and Al Jarreau. In 1999 Shinichi was nominated for Multi-keyboard player award. Shinichi has performed with the Temptations, Jean Carne, Kenwood Dennard and others, and was also the pianist for the Tony prize winning musical Rent and the Disney radio band. Shinichi is currently a staff pianist for the voice department of Berklee College of Music, and continues to tour locally and nationally with Rhode Island based Greg Piccolo and Heavy Juice.
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Bruce McGrath,
- saxophone Bruce "the Goose" McGrath is the latest guest saxophonist to join the Wildcats. This veteran player has that hot, R&B sax style covered, along with the personality and out-front stage presence that brings on the heat when he joins the 'Cats on occasional shows. Originally from Connecticut, where he played with played with Streetemperature and Tom Sanders & The Hornets, "Goose" is a multi-woodwind player who plays all four saxophones equally well, and is sure to mix it up good with the Wildcats. He plays regularly with The Bose Corp. All-Stars, Ricky "King" Russell and the Cadillac Horns, Fatwall Jack, the Liz Lannon Band, the Than Smith Band and many others. He's toured the U.S., Canada, and Europe with "The Lovedogs"1999-2001 and is on their 3rd CD "New Tricks" (Tone-Cool 1179) and with "The Part Time Lovers" 2001-2002 and on their 2nd CD "Down For The Ride". So check the Wildcats line-up for the addition of Bruce McGrath - and better bring out the fire extinguisher! |
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Mark "the Shark"
Seibel,
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saxophone Since moving to New England from Oklahoma 30 years ago to attend Berklee College of Music, Mark "the Shark" Seibel has become a fixture on the Boston music scene. Known for his big Tenor sound, downhome vocals, stage presence and sense of humor, The Shark has been in numerous bands, both as a blues player and in other genres as well. He has played with the Party Sharks, the Movers, Two Bones and a Pick, Rhumboogie, spent nearly 10 years as part of the Rick Russell Band's Cadillac Horn section, fronted the hippest act on upper Cape Cod, 5 Guys Named Mo, and played in other settings including jazz, rock and pop acts. He has played with such national artists as Bo Diddley, the Four Tops and John Lee Hooker. He now lives in Nashua, NH, is a software analyst by day and an enthusiastic if not always accomplished golfer on weekends. He has two teenaged sons who are also pretty musical. In addition to Tenor he plays Alto Sax, flute, clarinet, keyboards and guitar, and also writes and arranges.
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Frequent guest appearances by: |
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| Scott
Shetler,
- saxophone This veteran Boston Horn man is responsible for the fine horn arrangements (and sax and clarinet work) on the Wildcats CD, "By the Light of Day". Scott Shetler has appeared on many albums and toured throughout the world as a side man and arranger with great artists such as, Johnny Adams, Mighty Sam MacClain, Michelle"Evil Gal" Willson and Gene Pitney to name a few. His latest work with Michelle, "Wake up Call" was voted Best Blues Album at the 2002 Boston Music Awards. Watch for Scotty as a special guest at Wildcats shows - he really heats it up!
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Jeff
Simpson,
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Hammond B-3 organ Born in Japan, Jeff took up piano at an early age. He started playing in public at 14, begging his parents for transportation and wreaking havoc at local school dances in Columbia, SC. Since those early beginnings he has appeared on stage with Janis Joplin, Bob Seger, Brownsville Station, The Temptations, The Grass Roots, The Four Tops, The Dixie Cups, The Coasters, Maurice Williams and The Zodiacs, Arthur Conley, James Brown, Blue Oyster Cult, Yes, The Eagles, Rod Stewart and Faces. Gentle Giant, Edgar Winter, Ronnie Montrose, Dan Hartman, Marshall Tucker, Black Oak Arkansas, The Allman Brothers, Tower Of Power, Earth Wind And Fire, Wet Willie, Ten Years After, and Oh My God! - Buck Owens. During a stint in the US Army, he toured Southeast Asia entertaining troops in remote locations. Following his Army enlistment, he toured with the National Guard Stage Band. When he started to outgrow his uniform, Jeff began playing nightclubs and weddings. After all this time, Jeff still has all (most) of his hair and has resisted the urge to become a drummer.
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Bill Urmson, -
bass Bill Urmson graduated from the New England Conservatory of Music in 1983. For the past 20 years he has been the bassist with the George Russell Living Time Orchestra, performing at festivals throughout the world, and on recordings in the US, France and Japan. In 1985, he appeared on Russell’s Grammy nominated recording "The African Game". Bill has toured with Jazz groups throughout Europe and New York City, and lived in Los Angeles from 1991-2000, where he performed on sessions for numerous recording artists, as well as several commercial jingles. Bill appeared regularly in the LA jazz club scene as a member of the progressive jazz group "Dark Horses", which included guitarist Barry Coates and reedman Steve Tavaglione. Bill currently lives in the Providence, RI area with his wife and daughter. In addition to his music career, Bill works as a software developer and is a licensed private pilot.
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Gabe
Cabral,
- drums Gabe is the ultimate musician's drummer - he's performed with Johnny A, the Tune Weavers, Max Weinberg, B.J. Magoon, and others at venues across the country, from Jazz festivals in San Francisco to B.B. King Club in N.Y.C.. He has opened up for many prestigious acts, including Peter Frampton, Natalie Cole, Robert Cray, Derek Trucks, Robben Ford, Little Feat and B.B. King. He's a Berklee College of Music graduate and has studied with many notables in the drum world Casey Scheuerell to Jackie Santos. Most importantly, as "Shark" has pointed out, he's a "Shuffle Demon" with a smooth, yet hot, blues groove, not mention a bio picture, that really makes Fay, all the women, and some of the men, sing, swing, swoon and shake! Watch and listen for Gabe at lots of Wildcats' shows, from Union Station to New Years Eve 2003!
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Billy
MacGillivray,
- drums Billy MacGillivray,of Worcester, Massachusetts, is a veteran of the New England music scene whose experience runs the gamut of musical styles from Country to Rock and Roll and from Classical to, of course, the Blues. Hailed by musicians and artists as the ultimate drummer, Billy finds the pocket and has a snare hit "to die for" - it's "like butter", says Wildcats' Fay Adams. Billy goes back into early and crazy musical beginnings with songwriter/singer Dennis Brennan and Wildcats' Jeff Adams as they played in popular, parallel and competing, local high school bands in the late 1960's. Billy continues to play with Dennis Brennan, who won the 2002 Boston Music Award for Best Roots Act. Billy Mac has also backed Duke Levine, James Montgomery, Swinging Steaks, Rust Farm, the Joeys, "She's Busy", Paul Rishell and Annie Raines, George McCann and many others, leaving, no doubt, a lasting impression and glimpse into "percussion Nirvana."
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