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The BassBoards officially began in the summer of 2004.
Fronting the band today is Alan Shravsky and Vida Allworthy. Vida delivers rock and blues, while Al does the same with the R+B male vocals along with some amazing harp playing. It brings every audience to their feet. This talent is clearly evident on the recordings available on the audio/video page. |
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Al Sharavsky (vocals, harp)- Alan is an energetic R 'n B singer and harmonica player with over 20 years of stage and studio experience. He subscribes to the James Brown school of entertainment, putting on a show and engaging the audience whenever he performs. His three-octave vocal range allows him to convincingly cover everyone from Stevie Tyler to Stevie Wonder, two of his favorite artists. Alan is also an veteran commercial songwriter and producer, having composed and produced jingles for The Philadelpjhia 76ers, McDonalds, Trump Plaza, Bridgestone Tires and Hollywood Casino. By day, Alan runs an advertising and marketing communications company. |
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Vida Allworthy (vocals) |
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Mike Machnik (Electric Guitar, Slide Guitar, and Vocals) - Mike has been playing over 20 years, starting his musical career in Massachusetts taking lessons from Ralph Hammer, Stevie Wonder's guitarist. Mike joined “The Liquids”, an all original band playing throughout the northeast, getting airplay on WBCN in Boston, doing back-up gigs for Blue Oyster Cult and headlining the Paradise, the Channel and the Rathskellar in Boston's Kenmore Square. Mike brings a certain "hot flair" to his playing of The Blues and everyone enjoys his fast-paced solos. Mike also has another musical project called Rock on Wood with Jim Hindle. During the day, Mike runs the Instructional Technology Division at a local college. |
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Allan Conover (Drums) - A true "basement drummer", Alan has come out of the depths to complete the rhythm section of the band. Having played out during his high school days and then again in the 70's, Allan's regained his old touch. A self-described "Buddy Rich groupie" who idolized the late, great jazz drumming legend, Allan joined the group in the fall of 2004. The dean of Somerset County sportswriters, Allan has twice been named the New Jersey Sports Writers Association "Writer of the Year" and has won numerous similar honors from the New Jersey Press Association during his 33-year newspaper career. |
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Jim Hindle (Piano, Keyboard)Jim caught the music bug growing up in the 1960s. He has studied classical and popular piano and now takes jazz piano lessons to futher his already considerable skills. Now Jim enjoys playing keyboards with fellow musicians more then ever. Integral to the band’s success, Jim provides lead and backing keyboards to the cocktail and mini-rock bands as well as the full party band. Married with three children he owns and operates a multinational electrical manufacturing business.
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Mike Wolf (Horn Section Leader and Arranger,Trombone, Tuba, Standup Bass and Electric Bass) - A bassist and tuba player for over 40 years, Mike has been a staple in local pit and concert bands throughout the Central Jersey area. After bringing in a walk-on horn section at Zupko's Tavern in April, 2006 for an Open Mic Night, it was decided to incorporate the horns as a regular part of the band and to ditch the tuba for a valve trombone. Mike possesses doctorate degrees in pharmacy, chemistry and law, and is married with two children, one of whom is our baritone sax player, Adam. |
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Steve Dribbon (Trumpet) - – The trumpet has been Dr. Steve Dribbon's primary instrument since the age of 10. His musical accomplishments include acceptance to the Rutgers University wind ensemble as a freshman in 1976 as well as performing all genres of music including concert, pit, and jazz bands. He played professionally for a number of years with "wedding" and rock bands; but his real love has always been the blues and he is happy to be playing with the Bassboards. Music surrounds Steve’s life as his wife Lori is a music teacher and the oldest of his three children is a Berklee College of Music graduate and a professional musician. Just to keep himself busy, Dr. Dribbon is a podiatric physician with offices in Highland Park and Flemington, NJ. |
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Adam Wolf (Baritone Sax, Bass Guitar) - Adam has been hooked on the sax since he was 11 years old. Starting on the alto, he progressed through the sax family through his early teen years until hearing a Gerry Mulligan recording one day and got hooked on the “bari”. Also a bassist, Adam has performed in shows and pit bands throughout high school and college. A recent college grad, Adam is an actuarial analyst for an insurance consultant group in Somerset. |
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Ed Ronco (Saxophone, Clarinet) At the early age of 16, Ed had the rare opportunity to share a stage with Buddy Rich and Ella Fitzgerald as a member of a teen Lab Jazz Band – an experience he never forgot. Playing many musical genres in mumerous bands, he was just getting started, before retiring his horns in pursuit of an executive career. In 2002, Ed returned to NJ, picked up his clarinet, and started playing in area church venues and with some local musicians including the popular 78 West. He later started the Jazz Indigo trio, and became just the ticket to fill out a powerful horn section for The BassBoards. Ed finds work a “distraction” and is looking forward to retiring again to focus on writing and arranging music. |
Click Here to read our article in
the
4/20 issue ot the
HUNTERDON DEMOCRAT
(.PDF format)