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pop pop it's show time 10:380:00/10:38
Gil Defay
Trumpet
FUN FACT: In any setting I will do my part to never let the ship sink!!!
"Once, I was on a gig with a major client and the drummer bass drum pedal broke. While leading the horn section and playing trumpet we were naked and exposed without the bass drum sound. So…I beatboxed the whole rest of the set with drummer playing the rest of the kit with no pedal!!! The performance despite the mishap was a success!!!
A LEGIT MUSIC BIZ MOMENT:
The pastor who married Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon asked me if I wanted to sing in the choir on a few date on Mariah Carey tour. I was like man, “I don’t want to sing in…” Then I thought to myself….I wanted to know about major stage show production..... So I said “Yeah. I’m in.” We ended up being booked to perform at Madison Square Garden. Once I got there, my plan was to sneak off and get behind the scenes, find out what other celebrity artists would be performing with her and see the production set up, both on stage and in the production room behind the stage (I did just that…Lol) and that’s where I found out what programs were being used, and all the post production skills and tactics they used to make the show happen. I was ecstatic, elated, ful of joy and satisfaction!!!
So now, because of my escape, I think I’m off the hook singing…Lo and behold they looked for me diligently, found me, took me back to the dressing room put make up on me, got my choir robe, put it on me and set us up to perform the songs that we’d rehearsed. They let me know were hittin’ the stage in 60 seconds. I was like, “You know what??? LET’S DO THIS!!!” I did it. I sang with the choir, nailed my parts and had a blast!!!
We also ended up performing at The Prudential Center in Newark, NJ and on Good Morning America (WABC-TV NY). Man, that was wild!!!
SOME FAVE PEFRORMANCES: Housoefreeom All-Stars, New Years Performance with Max Weinberg. One weekend. One rehearsal, a packed ballroom at the Waldorf in Boca Raton, Florida. One rehearsal and we nailed it!!!!
Lauryn Hill at The Louis Armstrong Wonderful World Festival: One intense rehearsal the day before with the full band. Knocked it out the park, the next day!!!
In the studio with Swiss Beats, Forrest Whitaker and producer Rick Steele. I asked them what do they want exactly. They just said, “Do what you do!!!” Then I just stopped overthinking and flowed on whatever they played me. They went crazy!!! Ran into my booth showed me love and I appreciated it. That was an epic night.
FAVORITE SOUND: A tight band in service with love, sincerity, and honesty and top notch skills connected to the people changing the atmosphere bringing the people to utopia from the everyday struggles and stress they’ve dealt with but the music makes them leave better than the way they came.
FAVORITE CONCERT: Too many too mention!!!! Sting’s Bring On The Night!!!
FAVORITE ALBUM: Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay
MILES ROBERTSON
Keyboards
FUN FACTS: "I am not a singer, but with the love, support and encouragement of my mother, at the age of six, I entered a junior calypso competition in my homeland of Barbados (held annually during our national summer festival, Crop Over) and though I didn’t win (I placed 3rd), I look back on the experience fondly.
This is a fun fact because, anyone who knows me knows that I’m generally reserved so the thought of me with a microphone in hand, front and center, I’m sure would garner more than a few laughs.
SOME MAGIC MOMENTS:
I’m not big on highlighting past accomplishments (as I aim to always be in the now), but here are some of the proudest moments I’ve had in my career:
Performing on the Today Show with Sean Kingston in 2007 This was significant because it was my first national TV appearance; a major goal of mine as a teenager.
Performing on the Late Show with David Letterman with Adele in 2009 Knowing the power and influence of late night talks shows, especially in the 20th century; Letterman was arguably at the zenith of the medium, so having the opportunity to perform on the show was a surreal moment.
Performing on the Grammys with Adele in 2009 & 2012 For musicians, the Grammys is analogous to playing in the Super Bowl (no hyperbole!). To that fact, there is no greater platform that showcases the talent and excellence the music industry has to offer so I’d have to say that has been my biggest achievement to date, and to have the ability to do it twice was beyond a blessing.
FAVORITE SOUND: Silence "Due to a mix of a music-centric lifestyle and my natural disposition, silence is an essential part of my daily existence."
FAVORITE CONCERT: MJ the Musical-"I’m not a big concert goer, but the experience was magical; not to mention, it was my first time attending a Broadway show (Thank YOU, Freedom!)
FAVORITE ALBUM: ‘Nard - Bernard Wright