Artists:Blue Number Nine

blue number nine

This eclectic Jersey City based group is the brain child of lead singer and flutist Stefanie Seskin, a recipient of ASCAP's ASCAPLU$ songwriter award in the "Popular" category since 2001. blue number nine, formed at the end of 1995, is the largest project of this music maker since childhood, whose own blood-line of professional artists includes her grandfather, Fred Skerritt. Skerritt played with some of jazz's greats during his time with Machito's Afro Cuban Orchestra in the 1940's and his love of a strong rhythm layered with the melodic flavor of many cultures is a foundation strongly infused in his granddaughter.

Seskin's strong stage presence is due not only to years of playing music, but also to her dance training and natural athletic ability - and lest anyone think Stefanie is solely a creature of music and movement, she also holds a Master's Degree in Communications. This combination of the aesthetic and the intellectual makes her a dynamic songwriter, creating music that you can think about and dance to.

Marco Accattatis covers the bass guitar. Marco moved to the US from Italy to study music and has since performed on various projects covering a broad range of styles - jazz, fusion, funk, rock, dance, caribbean, r&b, soul, pop, and bluegrass. Marco is a former member of the Tony Trishka Band and appears on the group's album "Bend." Currently, he plays with several other groups, teaches private students and was also performer /composer in residence for the NYU New Music Ensemble at New York University.

Igor Fejzula recently filled the guitarist position in blue number nine. He was born in Belgrade (Serbia) and moved to Barcelona (Spain) at the age of 11. He performed throughout Barcelona and the north Mediterranian coast in different pop, rock and soul bands, then moved to New York City in 2005 where he received a BFA degree in jazz performance from City College of New York. In addition to blue number nine, he has performed with many other bands of different styles. He also teaches private guitar lessons.

The final ingredient in the core of the rhythm section is Jack M. Gourdine II, a drummer since the age of 13. An army brat raised in Okinawa, Gourdine spent his teens playing NCO clubs - a tough proving-ground for a young musician. His professional experiences range from marching bands to orchestras to soul and R&B groups - his range provides the group with the rock-solid foundation that only a seasoned drummer can provide.

In the vocals department, blue number nine also boasts diverse and talented man and women who round off the group's sound with tight vocal harmonies. Current vocalists include Viola Karuri, Paul Munoz, Morgan Rose Fite, Nadina Mauri-Gallagher and Dara Seitzman.

When blue number nine brings in The Random Horns, the talent on stage sets the already-hot room on fire. Core members, who appear on the band's latest album, "let's find a way", are Lily White on sax, Rob Susman on trombone and Chuck MacKinnon on trumpet. Jenny Hill (sax) and Pamela Fleming (trumpet) are also NYC regulars. When on tour, the band has been known to fearlessly pick up the local area's finest horn players.

blue number nine is a unique blend of musicians and musical styles, flavored with intelligence and expertise, given to aural flight but never far from the beat. Their high energy performances and fresh funk grooves draw an audience into a special musical world of sound, movement and joy.