Jazz on the Half Shell

Guitarist and vocalist Ahmad Ali was raised in a diverse community on Long Island, N.Y. where he was exposed to a wide variety of Soul and Jazz. His early bands include Premonition, which recorded a session with Don Kirschner at his Associated studios in Manhattan, and Protocol when they opened up for Will Downing at the Paramount  theatre. Ahmad continued with Soul 4 Real as their musical director on their tour of London, Amsterdam, Bulawayo and Harare in Zimbabwe. He also doubled as Road manager for their back up band, Blusyde. He had the honor of playing on the Soul 4 Real album “Heat” where he actually plays on more tracks than are credited to him. He also worked with the Blackwood Band and James Brown Impersonator “Black Velvet” when they opened for “Blue Magic" at the Brownsville Recreation center. Currently, Ahmad has been working  with various local groups, as well as working at WBAI 99.5 FM in NY  and streaming at WBAI .org  were he Co Hosts The show “In The Moment".

Bob Hovey, trombone, has appeared locally with Teddy Charles, The Sunnyland Jazz Band, The Isotope Stompers, King Scallop, Mambo Loco, Park Ave Blues Band, Gordon Hurley Big Band, The Golden Fists of Fury.  His numerous other credits include organist Jimmy McGriff, Haiti's Sensational Magnum Band, The Temptations, The Four Tops, The Nurses, King Charles, Bob Hope, Rich Little, and The Great American Circus Band among many others in the USA and Europe. He has, as both leader & sideman, performed and recorded in NY's Town Hall, Cooler, 55 Bar, Tramps, Village Gate, CBGB, La Mama, The Kitchen, Knitting Factory as well as in many of lower Manhattan's less fashionable music venues.

James Benard has been a percussionist for 40 years starting at age 10 and going on to study with many local N.Y. drummers, including Jack DeJohnette and Tony Williams. James received his major in Applied Percussion and Studio Music and Jazz at the University of Miami. During and after college he worked as a percussionist throughout South Florida and in the Caribbean. He now resides in the New York area where he continues to perform and teach.

An esteemed and accomplished Jazz musician, Neil Ralph has been performing and teaching music for most of his life. He has been seen in many local bands throughout New York, playing keyboards, guitar and bass with equal proficiency. A longtime friend and band mate with Bob Hovey, Neil shares an encyclopedic knowledge of music compositions and constantly adds new ideas to the mix. This seasoned performer has been referred to by Roland Parker as “NYC’s best kept secret”.

Kim Tetrault has been playing electric and acoustic bass since 1977 with various groups including the Nuclear Hillbillies, Half Life, King Scallop and the Oysterettes, and the original Golden Fists. The association with his shellfish aquaculture day job apparently influenced the creation of Jazz on the Half Shell, which has brought together old and new friends to form an ensemble that is comfortable with all music forms, from bebop to Motown.

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