The Band

Keith Paluso

Keith Paluso III is a career Park Ranger–turned-creative from the small town of Munford, near Memphis, Tennessee. After graduating with a degree in Environmental Biology from the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2012, Keith began his career as a Ranger for Tennessee State Parks, where he focused on providing environmental education to marginalized communities in poverty-stricken rural areas.
In 2018, Keith launched a second career as a singer/songwriter after he was featured as a Top 24 contestant on NBC’s The Voice. He then joined as the latest lead singer for 3x Grammy-winning jazz rock fusion band Blood, Sweat, and Tears in 2019 and has been touring the world with them ever since.. His combined love of music and the outdoors (and bird calls, in particular) also inspired him to start create environmental content in addition to music while both on the road with the band and at home.

Sam Ryan

Sam has been singing and performing in major cities throughout the northeast since his early teenage years. He continues to spend his days and nights performing and recording music and considers himself blessed to be able to live out his dream as a professional, touring musician.

Brad Mason – Musical Director & Lead Trumpet

Brad Mason has been the Musical Director (MD) & Lead Trumpet for Blood, Sweat & Tears since 2016. He has also been playing trumpet and touring with lcon Diana Ross for the last 10 years (since 2013). In 2021 Brad joined the 10 times GRAMMY winning Latin Jazz legend Eddie Palmieri’s band who continues to tour the world on the premier Jazz Clubs & Festivals circuit. Recently Brad can be seen regularly joining Kelly Clarkson and her house band on the daytime NBC Kelly Clarkson TV show all while continuing to co-lead his own band with his brother Elliot “The Mason Brothers Quintet”.

Ozzie Melendez – Trombone

Ozzie has performed and recorded with Bruce Springsteen, Marc Anthony, Billy Joel, Jennifer Lopez, Diana Ross, Paul Simon, Celine Dion and many more. His impressive career spans Broadway, movie soundtracks, commercials, and TV shows, as well as involvement in many Grammy-winning projects and gold/platinum records. Ozzie is currently touring with Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band.

Michael Boscarino – Trombone

New York City-based trombonist Michael Boscarino hails from Cranberry Township, PA. He holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Youngstown State University and a Master of Music degree from Manhattan School of Music. Michael was the lead trombonist/featured soloist of the Tommy Dorsey Orchestra from 2007 to 2013. Since 2010, he has held the lead trombone chair in the Max Weinberg Orchestra. Boscarino performed all over North America as a member of Don Henley’s band (December 2016-June 2017) which segued into multiple tours with the Eagles (July 2017-August 2021). In October 2023, Michael began appearing frequently on The Kelly Clarkson Show (NBC), performing with Kelly and her band, Y’all. Elsewhere in NYC, he has held chairs on the Broadway shows, A Night with Janis Joplin and Bandstand and has subbed on countless others. Throughout his career, Boscarino has had the great fortune of performing with such renowned artists as: Vince Gill, Rita Ora, Sheila E., Martina McBride, Frankie Valli, Chita Rivera, Bruce Springsteen, Carole King, Aloe Blacc, Natalie Cole, Elvis Costello, Ledisi and Fito Páez to name a few.

Anibal Rojas – Saxophones, EWI, and Flutes

Anibal Rojas is a highly acclaimed musician renowned for his expertise in playing saxophones, EWI, and flutes, and his notable contributions to the world of creative improvised music. Based in New York City, he has embarked on extensive journeys, captivating audiences with his performances and leaving his mark on numerous recordings, all while honing his distinctive musical style. Rojas’ sound is a captivating fusion of diverse cultures and musical traditions, blending elements of modern jazz, funk, and Latin influences. Throughout his illustrious career, he has shared the stage with an impressive array of artists, including Blood Sweat & Tears, Rita Ora, Jon Secada, Kelly Clarkson, Alicia Keys, Ralph Irizarry & Timbalaye, and many others. Originally from Chile, Rojas made the United States his home during his teenage years and later earned a bachelor’s degree in music performance from the University of Iowa. Currently, he can be found mesmerizing audiences as the saxophonist for the Kelly Clarkson show.

Ravi Best – Trumpet

Ravi Best has been a NYC based freelance commercial trumpet player for over two decades. He can be found currently touring with Kool and The Gang, Blood Sweat and Tears, and The Duke Ellington Orchestra. He has recorded, and performed with many artists such as Paul McCartney, Beyonce, Steven Van Zandt, Lenny Kravitz, Bruce Springsteen, Jay Z, Aretha Franklin, Kenny Garrett, Stevie Wonder, Herbie Hancock, Whitney Houston, and Tony Bennett. Ravi has also performed in several Broadway shows such as Ain’t Too Proud, 42nd St., The Color Purple, Diana, Chicago, and Swing!

Ric Fierabracci – Electric Bass

Three Time Grammy Nominated, Bassist Ric Fierabracci has performed, recorded and run the gamut for artists like Ebrahim “Ebi” Hamedi, Brian May of Queen, Simon Phillips, Derek Sherinian, Ron “Bumblefoot” Thal, Chick Corea Electrik Band, Billy Cobham, Dave Weckl, Jeff Lorber Trio, Andy Summers (with Sting as a special guest), Gary Husband, Karen Briggs Band, Munyungo Jackson’s “Jungle Jazz”, Dean Brown, Bill Evans, Steve Smith, Vinnie Colaiuta, Mitchel Forman, Nachito Herrera’s Cuban Trio, Raul Pineda, Chad Smith’s Bombastic Meatbats, Stanley Clarke, Brett Garsed, Phil Turcio, Special EFX, Guthrie Govan, Mike Miller, Scott Henderson, Joel Hoekstra, Mino Cinelu, Tom Coster, Marion Meadows, Planet X, Eddie Jobson’s UK, Curved Air’s Sonja Kristina, Adrian Belew to Pop artists: Sir Tom Jones, Bo Bice, Stevie Wonder, Japanese Mega Star – Misia, Jennifer Paige, Sophie B Hawkins, Euge Groove, The Beach Boys, Yanni and others.

Buster Hemphill – Electric Bass

Buster Hemphill was born in Jackson, Mississippi and began playing bass at age 14, after several years of classical piano studies. After stints in local groups and school ensembles, he attended and graduated from Belmont University (Nashville, TN), where he studied with highly regarded bassists Roy Vogt and Jim Ferguson. Additional studies in NY were with renowned bassist Ben Wolfe. After a brief time working in Nashville musical circles, Buster relocated to New York City, which he continues to call home. He has performed, toured, or recorded with Chaka Khan, Blood Sweat & Tears, Jason Miles, Max Weinberg Orchestra, The Harlem Gospel Choir, Sachal Vasandani, Peter Cincotti, Jeff Lorber, Taylor Dayne, Jody Watley, Daphne Rubin-Vega, Vonda Shepard, numerous Broadway shows (most recently: MJ The Musical) the Brooklyn Philharmonic, hip-hop cult icons Camp Lo, Felicia Collins (of Late Show with David Letterman), and many, many others in some of the most famed stages and studios around the world and on every continent.

Glenn McClelland – Keyboards

Glenn McClelland started playing playing piano at ten years of age. By the time he was sixteen he was playing weekly in his hometown restaurants and bars. During his career he has toured the world many times over. He’s spent twenty-three playing with Ween, an alternative rock band, where they recorded nine albums on Elektra records and appeared on several night time talk shows. He has played with John Poppeer of Blues Traveler, blues and jazz musicians Sonny Rhodes, Johnny Copeland, Etta James, Richie Cole and Smokey Robinson where he performed Good Morning America. Glenn has spent the majority of his career playing with WEEN (23 years) and Blood Sweat and Tears (16 years). When not touring he can be seen performing in lambertville, NJ New Hope, PA area.

Gabe Cummins – Guitar

A native of Solon, NY, Gabe Cummins has been immersed in the music industry since the age of 13. An honors graduate of Berklee College of Music (B.F.A. in Performance/Business) and NYU (M.A. in Composition/Performance), Gabe began performing in NYC upon his arrival and can be seen on stage regularly at Apotheke, Rockwood Music Hall, The Blue Note and BAM. He writes in a distinct style having produced records for Stacie Orrico and Tamika Lawrence as well as his own music. His debut single “Buttons” was produced by Gabe along with Gian Stone. The song was written with frequent collaborator Ben Samana and features Gabe playing all instruments along with his lush harmony vocals on the track. He has recorded most recently with Ben Platt, Lauryn Hill, Louis Cato, Anderson East, Chaka Khan and has been touring with jazz/rock pioneers Blood, Sweat and Tears.

Nir Felder – Guitar

Called “the next big jazz guitarist” by NPR, hailed by the New York Times as a “whiz kid”, and dubbed “incredible” by the Montreal Gazette, Nir Felder is a new voice in jazz and rock guitar. A NYC native, the Grammy winning-Felder has quickly become one of the world’s most highly sought after sideman, performing and recording with an eclectic group of luminaries in jazz and other genres including Diana Krall, Brad Mehldau, John Mayer, Chaka Khan, Erykah Badu, Common, Anderson Paak, Dave Chapelle, Rina Sawayama, Dave Matthews Band, Kamasi Washington, Blood Sweat and Tears, Benson Boone, Amy Schumer, and many others on tour throughout six continents and at venues including Radio City Music Hall and Austin City Limits and national television stations NBC, ABC, CBS, ESPN, and Fox. Seeking a more personal creative outlet, Felder first formed his own quartet in 2010, recording the critically acclaimed major label debut “Golden Age” (Sony/OKeh), called “lyrical and lofty” by The New York Times, “mesmerizing” by The Boston Globe, and “mind-boggling” by All About Jazz. He is the winner of both the 2021 and 2023 Downbeat Magazine Critics Poll for “Rising Star Guitarist” and currently teaches at both Berklee College of Music and The New School in New York City.

Dylan Elise – Drums

Born in Wellington, New Zealand in 1990, Dylan started drumming at age 6. He began performing publicly not long after, playing solo with bands, appearing on New Zealand TV programmes from age 11. He won the 2004 New Zealand National Drum Wars competition in the Adult Category at age 13. Dylan has held Drum Clinics since 2003 around NZ and opened for internationally renowned New York Drummer Tommy Igoe on his New Zealand Clinic Tour in 2006 when Dylan was 16. He has also held clinics & performed in Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, Canada, Germany, Norway, Slovakia, Switzerland, Mexico, Australia, Western Samoa & American Samoa. In 2015 Dylan moved to the United States and became a full time touring & recording member of Blood, Sweat & Tears. Performing over 250 shows throughout the USA and worldwide in the last 3 years. In 2017 Dylan released a jazz fusion album, ReAmped, with fellow New Zealanders, Nick Granville & Ben Shepherd. He has also played & recorded with Bo Bice, Jeff Lorber, Lucia Micarelli, Janine, Kimbra and many New Zealand artists

Joel Rosenblatt – Drums

Joel Rosenblatt is best known as the drummer for Spyro Gyra, one of the most successful pop-jazz groups ever. Joel’s varied early work including Dominican pianist Michel Camilo, bluesman Matt “Guitar” Murphy, jazz artist Paquito D’Rivera, and country-rock band Pure Prairie League, has given him a wide range of experience as well as making him one of the most diverse drummers around. Joel has worked with Bill Evans, Robben Ford, Larry Carlton, Chieli Minucci and Special EFX, Ken Navarro, Oz Noy, Chuck Loeb, Mike Manieri, Steve Khan, Randy Brecker, Lee Ritenour, Dave Grusin, Russel Ferrante, Michel Camilo , Bernie Williams, Eliane Elias, Michael Davis, Peter White, Manhattan Transfer and many more