Description
Jimmy Vivino served as the Music Director on the TBS late night show “CONAN.” Vivino has been a consistent element in O’Brien’s late night career, starting with the first episode of “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” in September 1993. In June of 2008 Vivino moved from New York to Los Angeles and worked as Music Director/guitarist/arranger on “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien,” “The Legally Prohibited from Being on Television Tour” In addition to his solo work, Vivino plays with The Prisoners of 2nd Avenue, Rumble & Twang with Lee Rocker, The Barn Burners, The Rekooperators, and the successful Beatles tribute band The Fab Faux. Vivino has also recorded and played live with such legends as Johnnie Johnson, Hubert Sumlin, Levon Helm and Al Kooper. Earlier in his career Jimmy got his start producing playing and arranging for such artists as Phoebe Snow, Laura Nyro, John Sebastian and Donald Fagen. Summer 2014, Jimmy headlined the King Biscuit Festival with his other band, Jimmy Vivino & the Black Italians.
A musician all his life, Jimmy also devotes his time to organizations that mean something to him. The Notes for Notes benefit, sponsored by Seymour Duncan pickups provides young people the opportunity to explore, create, and record music for free. Recently, Jimmy has also gotten involved with The Boot Campaign, a non-profit organization that is dedicated to cultivating awareness, promoting patriotism and providing assistance to military personnel and their families.
Rich Pagano
For the last 25 years, Rich Pagano has made a living as a New York City session drummer, singer and touring musician. His recording, producing and stage credits include, Patti Smith, Rosanne Cash, Robbie Robertson, Ray Davies, Willie Nile, gospel icon Marie Knight, Joan Osborne, Levon Helm, Roger Waters, Mott The Hoople, legend Ian Hunter and the premier Beatles band, The Fab Faux in which he is a founding member and singer/drummer.
Some of the mentioned artists have recorded at his New York City studio, New Calcutta Recordings with Rich as engineer or as producer. Other current endeavors include teaching a class that he created called, The Art of Recording Classic Drums as an adjunct teacher at The Clive Davis Institute of Music at NYU in New York City or at his studio. Rich is also a sought after Musical Director and has curated events as a band leader for The Michael j. Fox Parkinsons Gala, Michael Dorf Presents, CES Convention in Las Vegas and The Annual John Lennon Tribute in New York City. Management and booking of musicians, artists and events is facilitated through his company, Hi-Fidelity Music.
Currently, Rich is in the studio recording his second solo release with his band, the sugarCane Cups and intermittent touring with celebrated singer/songwriter Marshall Crenshaw and Early Elton Trio.
Jesse Williams
Bassist, guitarist, Educator
Grammy Nominee
Professor at Berklee College of Music
“The best bassist I’ve had in my band” ~ Al Kooper (ROCK & ROLL Hall of Fame inductee)
“.. the most versatile bassist I’ve worked with” ~ Peter Kontrimas (studio engineer for Esperanza Spaulding and many others)
One of the most respected and sought after bassists on the east coast, Jesse has 30+ years of experience playing internationally at some of the world’s leading venues and festivals, and over 25 years teaching electric and upright bass and guitar. Jesse is known among music enthusiasts as a musician who brings deep experience and versatility to the stage and studio. Jesse is considered a “musical chameleon” who is at home in styles ranging from blues, rock and soul, to funk, country and jazz.
