MORE THAN WE ARE

VOCALIST: JUNE ASAI PIANIST: NICK FILOMENO

NEW COVER DUO WITH A JAZZ TWIST - NJ/NYC/PA

OUR STORY:

Nick Filomeno is a super gifted jazz pianist/fellow alumni (Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University) who I have recently had the pleasure of working with and embarking upon this new journey in Jazz. Below are some videos from our rehearsals together so far as well some live features from gigs.

If you would like to book us for your venue or have any interest in furthering our careers, please go to my contact form here.

Jazz in the Yellow Room Session 2

Song: Autumn in New York

Still a work in progress. We recorded more songs, but due to technical difficulties, i.e., not lining the shot up right on the video camera - this is all we've got. We did, however, get our first gig together and it will be at Mara's Continental Restaurant in New Jersey this coming Friday the 19th! Keep watching our progress. This will be the 3rd week of my jazz journey. Still so much to learn!!! Some notes to myself. Loosen up babe, this is jazz. Next time guys, next time... Cheers!

Jazz in the Yellow Room Session 1

Songs:The Nearness of You,This Can't Be Love

It's a work in progress...but...I thought I'd give y'all a taste of what I've been working on over the past 2 weeks...Jazz... Hope you will see the growth as we keep rehearsing and uploading as we go. Here are some highlights from our first rehearsal. Jazz and me...Who would have thought? Anyway, super excited for this journey on top of all my journeys in acting, singing, and songwriting in 2018! Cheers! P.S I know the lighting is bad...filming at night is never a good idea. Next time I will film us during the day.

Jazz & Dine @Mara’s Continental Cuisine -South Amboy, NJ

Songs: Skylark, Manhattan, This Can't be Love, Summertime, Fly Me To The Moon, Autumn in New York.

Here are some highlights from our first Jazz gig as a duo at Mara's Continental Cuisine in South Amboy, NJ! Side Note: Had the pleasure of ordering the Grilled Portobello Mushrooms Steaks with Balsamic Gaze - Delicious. Wonderful restaurant with a nice atmosphere and a real live talented chef!!

Back to the music: Things to improve on. This was my first jazz gig ever so I was pretty much a noob and it's exciting to see that my vocal technique has definitely improved. I have added a mixture of my classical vocal technique to this stew and it seems to be working.

As for my performance, next time I will definitely have a mic stand and rely less on my music. I don't know why I looked at my music that much. I never did that on the recordings from "Jazz in a Yellow Room" but this is what happened at my first gig so I must accept the reality. Holding my microphone scrunches up my shoulders and gives me less mobility and vocal freedom. However, I give us a two thumbs up for performing this with only two rehearsals under our belts!

Things to iron out. Tempo, tempo, tempo and performance ease.

Homework for me is to actually start watching Jazz singers perform and learn a trick or too. I've listened a ton but there's nothing like a live performance. ‘Till next time.

Please keep following our journey as we evolve. Things to look forward to... A Disney jazz set (I'm so excited!!!!)…Christmas jazz set..coming soon, stay tuned!