New York, New York - The One and Nines, out of Jersey City NJ, will be releasing Just Your Fool as a 7” 45RPM vinyl record. The track is from their self-titled and produced The One and Nines EP. The record is being released on September 28th on Brooklyn-based Cotter Records and distributed by Traffic Entertainment Group out of Boston. The band performs regularly in the Tri-State area, and the release party and performance for the 7” will be at Sullivan Hall in NYC on Thursday, September 30 at 8PM. They have also been chosen as one of the featured acts to perform at the South Orange International Blues Festival (SOIBF) being held on Sunday, September 12th. Local music fans and media will not want to miss their 3PM set.
Wax Poetics contributor Jon Kirby says of the band’s performances: “The music of The One and Nines is straight, no chaser rock & roll, served well above room temperature. As each song is manufactured for dance-floor consumption, few window units in the Tri-State can combat a One and Nines show at full tilt.”
The One and Nines EP contains six original songs along with a hidden track that is the version of Just Your Fool to be released as a vinyl single. The EP has received airplay on WEVL’s Soul Stew out of Memphis, and Felix Hernandez’s legendary Rhythm Revue on 88.3FM WBGO out of Newark, NJ. Recorded in 2009 at 9 Lives Studio in Jersey City with owner and engineer Nicola Stemmer, the recording process was 100% analog. The tracks were mixed down to tape at Excello Recording in Brooklyn with studio-owner/engineer and bluesman Hugh Pool at the helm.
The One and Nines came together during the summer of 2007 when a group of Jersey City musicians — including guitarist and songwriter Jeff Marino and lead singer Vera Sousa — teamed up for a “soul”-themed warehouse party. As they strung together tunes by the Meters, Irma Thomas, Etta James, and of course James Brown, the musicians and party-goers quickly realized that behind this pick-up band stood real talent and a passion for a very specific, almost forgotten style of music. Marino, who began emulating guitarists such as Steve Cropper and Pops Staples at a young age, is quick to express why he is so attracted to the classic styles of rhythm & blues: “Because it’s great. The singing, the playing, music coming from such a different world than the one we live in today, with a basic connection that is lasting and real. That’s fascinating to anyone.” Marino goes on: “We certainly aren’t attempting to recreate anything. We just want to make music that we like, simple as that.”
While Marino’s songwriting and Sousa’s alluring vocal riffs fashion a driving creative force, the two gain solid support from the soulful and emotional instrumentation of their backing band, which includes organ and three-piece horn section. The subtle arrangements and production are rooted in the grooves and tone of their favorite recordings — Stax, Sun, Spector — while the songs are written and performed with a spontaneity and sincerity that make the record undeniably current. The One & Nines have been steadily building a buzz throughout the nightclubs and smoky dives they regularly perform at. With their high energy shows reminding fans what a professional R&B bar band should be, The One and Nines strive to inspire fervor within their audience. Sousa explains: “We love to perform. The more we perform the more defined we become. People are always telling us how much they love what we’re doing and asking what we call our brand of music. All I can say is it’s The One and Nines.”
WHO ARE…THE ONE AND NINES
Named for the four-lane thoroughfare that connects most of North Jersey’s major metropolises, The One and Nines speak volumes of the artistic currents coursing through their collective birthplace. Whether the Boss or the Fugees, the earnest acts of the Garden State are as original as they are uncommon. A welcomed addition to the roster, The One and Nines create music that is simple, yet sophisticated, acknowledging over fifty years of music history without being forced to repeat it.
A bar band of the highest order, the music of The One and Nines is straight, no chaser rock & roll, served well above room temperature. As each song is manufactured for dance-floor consumption, few window units in the Tri-State can combat a One and Nines show at full tilt. The songwriting of guitarist Jeff Marino makes respectful nods to the Stax sound, early stages of Motown, and blue-eyed brethren like Van Morrison and Steve Winwood. His combo, complete with horn section and Hammond organ, makes short work of the rich arrangements, creating a thick foundation to support the occasional improvisation or stray solo. Singer Vera Sousa perfects the formula, referencing eloquent vocalists like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald in her steadfast delivery, often deferring to the romantic melodies of her native Portugal. Her voice mirrors her posturing within the mighty ensemble—a beauty amongst brawn, an enduring rose lit by neon beer signs.
The One and Nines have received accolades far and wide from grateful show goers as well as music mogul Felix Hernandez whose radio show Rhythm Revue is a fixture in the hearts of soul aficionados nationwide. When the legendary DJ overheard the group’s debut at Stan’s Square Records in Jersey City, he asked shop owner and industry veteran Stan Krause if he might borrow the disk for play on his acclaimed program. A week later, the group’s “Wait” debuted on the heels of Curtis Mayfield’s “Make Me Believe In You,” introducing an affluent audience to a rising generation of Jersey soul providers. “I liked it,” muses Marino of his broadcast premier. “I’d like to hear it again.”
With a full length on the horizon and a tireless performance schedule, The One and Nines are well on their way to regular rotation. Their ability to connect with soul fans young and old is proof that their particular brand of American music is moving forward, if only taking occasional glimpses back to admire their progress. The One and Nines are prepared for the journey—and the request lines are open.
– Jon Kirby
Band Personnel: Vera Sousa (Vocals); Jeff Marino (Guitar, Vocals); Alex Tyshkov (Bass, BV harmonies); Will Hansen (Piano, Organ, Fender Rhodes); Travis Ferrara (Drums); Barami Waspe (Tenor Sax); Matt Maley (Baritone Sax); RJ Avallone (Trumpet); Craig Redmond (Percussion); Jodi Mozeika (Cello on “Just Your Fool” CD track).
Featured Tracks: Walked Alone; Wait; Something On Your Mind; Just Your Fool ; Anything You Got; Tears Fall; and Just Your Fool (hidden track) (vocals by Sousa)
For photos, music and more information please visit: WWW.THEONEANDNINES.COM
For more info about The South Orange International Blues Festival http://www.southorangebluesfestival.com/
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Media Contact: Denise Marsa, KeyMedia Public Relations, info@KeyMediaPublicRelations.com (862) 242-8536 or (212) 243-4893
Wax Poetics contributor Jon Kirby says of the band’s performances: “The music of The One and Nines is straight, no chaser rock & roll, served well above room temperature. As each song is manufactured for dance-floor consumption, few window units in the Tri-State can combat a One and Nines show at full tilt.”
The One and Nines EP contains six original songs along with a hidden track that is the version of Just Your Fool to be released as a vinyl single. The EP has received airplay on WEVL’s Soul Stew out of Memphis, and Felix Hernandez’s legendary Rhythm Revue on 88.3FM WBGO out of Newark, NJ. Recorded in 2009 at 9 Lives Studio in Jersey City with owner and engineer Nicola Stemmer, the recording process was 100% analog. The tracks were mixed down to tape at Excello Recording in Brooklyn with studio-owner/engineer and bluesman Hugh Pool at the helm.
The One and Nines came together during the summer of 2007 when a group of Jersey City musicians — including guitarist and songwriter Jeff Marino and lead singer Vera Sousa — teamed up for a “soul”-themed warehouse party. As they strung together tunes by the Meters, Irma Thomas, Etta James, and of course James Brown, the musicians and party-goers quickly realized that behind this pick-up band stood real talent and a passion for a very specific, almost forgotten style of music. Marino, who began emulating guitarists such as Steve Cropper and Pops Staples at a young age, is quick to express why he is so attracted to the classic styles of rhythm & blues: “Because it’s great. The singing, the playing, music coming from such a different world than the one we live in today, with a basic connection that is lasting and real. That’s fascinating to anyone.” Marino goes on: “We certainly aren’t attempting to recreate anything. We just want to make music that we like, simple as that.”
While Marino’s songwriting and Sousa’s alluring vocal riffs fashion a driving creative force, the two gain solid support from the soulful and emotional instrumentation of their backing band, which includes organ and three-piece horn section. The subtle arrangements and production are rooted in the grooves and tone of their favorite recordings — Stax, Sun, Spector — while the songs are written and performed with a spontaneity and sincerity that make the record undeniably current. The One & Nines have been steadily building a buzz throughout the nightclubs and smoky dives they regularly perform at. With their high energy shows reminding fans what a professional R&B bar band should be, The One and Nines strive to inspire fervor within their audience. Sousa explains: “We love to perform. The more we perform the more defined we become. People are always telling us how much they love what we’re doing and asking what we call our brand of music. All I can say is it’s The One and Nines.”
WHO ARE…THE ONE AND NINES
Named for the four-lane thoroughfare that connects most of North Jersey’s major metropolises, The One and Nines speak volumes of the artistic currents coursing through their collective birthplace. Whether the Boss or the Fugees, the earnest acts of the Garden State are as original as they are uncommon. A welcomed addition to the roster, The One and Nines create music that is simple, yet sophisticated, acknowledging over fifty years of music history without being forced to repeat it.
A bar band of the highest order, the music of The One and Nines is straight, no chaser rock & roll, served well above room temperature. As each song is manufactured for dance-floor consumption, few window units in the Tri-State can combat a One and Nines show at full tilt. The songwriting of guitarist Jeff Marino makes respectful nods to the Stax sound, early stages of Motown, and blue-eyed brethren like Van Morrison and Steve Winwood. His combo, complete with horn section and Hammond organ, makes short work of the rich arrangements, creating a thick foundation to support the occasional improvisation or stray solo. Singer Vera Sousa perfects the formula, referencing eloquent vocalists like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald in her steadfast delivery, often deferring to the romantic melodies of her native Portugal. Her voice mirrors her posturing within the mighty ensemble—a beauty amongst brawn, an enduring rose lit by neon beer signs.
The One and Nines have received accolades far and wide from grateful show goers as well as music mogul Felix Hernandez whose radio show Rhythm Revue is a fixture in the hearts of soul aficionados nationwide. When the legendary DJ overheard the group’s debut at Stan’s Square Records in Jersey City, he asked shop owner and industry veteran Stan Krause if he might borrow the disk for play on his acclaimed program. A week later, the group’s “Wait” debuted on the heels of Curtis Mayfield’s “Make Me Believe In You,” introducing an affluent audience to a rising generation of Jersey soul providers. “I liked it,” muses Marino of his broadcast premier. “I’d like to hear it again.”
With a full length on the horizon and a tireless performance schedule, The One and Nines are well on their way to regular rotation. Their ability to connect with soul fans young and old is proof that their particular brand of American music is moving forward, if only taking occasional glimpses back to admire their progress. The One and Nines are prepared for the journey—and the request lines are open.
– Jon Kirby
Band Personnel: Vera Sousa (Vocals); Jeff Marino (Guitar, Vocals); Alex Tyshkov (Bass, BV harmonies); Will Hansen (Piano, Organ, Fender Rhodes); Travis Ferrara (Drums); Barami Waspe (Tenor Sax); Matt Maley (Baritone Sax); RJ Avallone (Trumpet); Craig Redmond (Percussion); Jodi Mozeika (Cello on “Just Your Fool” CD track).
Featured Tracks: Walked Alone; Wait; Something On Your Mind; Just Your Fool ; Anything You Got; Tears Fall; and Just Your Fool (hidden track) (vocals by Sousa)
For photos, music and more information please visit: WWW.THEONEANDNINES.COM
For more info about The South Orange International Blues Festival http://www.southorangebluesfestival.com/
####
Media Contact: Denise Marsa, KeyMedia Public Relations, info@KeyMediaPublicRelations.com (862) 242-8536 or (212) 243-4893