A unique mix of swing, jazz & fun music from the 20's thru today.

Avenue A Concerts & Events 2012

[Diane (keys), Phil (sax) and Dick (trumpet)]

Schedule is subject to change due to weather and other events we can't control. Please check back to confirm dates and appearances.

As always, the band is available for private functions!

Avenue A performs swing, jazz, standards and popular music from the 1920's through today at parties and special events throughout southern New England. Whether you need music for your wedding or your fiftieth anniversary, a gala event or your fiftieth birthday party, Avenue A can provide the classic sound you're looking for without breaking the budget. Contact us about booking your next event: aamusic[at]mac[dot]com or 401-334-3143.

Concerts 2012

Avenue A is currently taking bookings for summer concerts in 2012.
Contact us for more information or to book a concert performance.

July 15 (Sunday): Peace Dale Village Green, 6:00 p.m.
325 Columbia Street, Peace Dale, RI
Go to one of South Kingstown's beautiful beaches, then wrap up the weekend with an Avenue A concert!
Sponsor: Town of South Kingstown Parks and Recreation, (401)789-9301
Rain Site: Performance will be held in the Neighborhood Guild Hall at the same location
July 18 (Wednesday): Warwick, RI, 6:30 p.m.
Location TBA
August 1 (Wednesday): West Warwick, RI, 6:30 p.m.
Location TBA
August 31 (Friday): Narragansett Gazebo, 6:00 p.m.
Route 1A, Narragansett, RI
Located directly across from Narragansett Beach, this is a great place to spend a summer evening.
Sponsor: Narragansett Parks and Recreation, (401)782-0658
Rain Site: Concert will be rescheduled

Other Events

These are not official Avenue A events, but they do feature official Avenue A members:

February 10 and 11: Phoebe Madden and Michael DiMucci
The Towers, Narragansett, RI
Diane and Karen perform with Phoebe and Michael for a special Valentine's Concert at the beautiful Towers in Narragansett. Don't miss this unforgettable concert, Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday at 3 p.m. $20.
Sponsor: The Narragansett Towers
April 26-29: Manhattan at the Bay
3070 Pawtucket Avenue, Riverside, RI
Join Diane and Karen and the Bay View Players for the 29th annual cabaret, Reach for the Stars, a spectacle not to be missed!
Sponsor: St. Mary Academy Bay View

Ongoing

Philip Mullen around Town
You can also catch Phil with Reminisce and various other local bands. Yep, he's a busy guy . . .
Newport Playhouse and Cabaret
Karen appears occasionally as the guest drummer at the Playhouse Cabaret, after the mainstage show. But whether she's there or not, there's always great food and entertainment at the Playhouse!
Newport Playhouse and Cabaret Restaurant, (401)848-7529

Avenue A is available for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and other special occasions.
Our unique selection and presentation of music will compliment your special event.

Contact us at aamusic[at]mac[dot]com.

Download the Avenue A brochure [pdf]

What We Play

Avenue A performs music from the 20's to today's adult contemporary, music that will please all ages. Concert performances feature our specialty of swing and jazz standards, along with a sampling of the many other types of music we enjoy playing, such as ragtime, boogie woogie, Latin and more. Upbeat arrangements of tunes made famous Glenn Miller, the Andrews Sisters, Duke Ellington, Nat "King" Cole, and others showcase the vocal and instrumental talents of the group.

Avenue A also performs as a function band for weddings, anniversaries, fundraisers and other special events. Our ability to play many different styles of music along with our varied instrumentation and great vocal harmonies makes us perfect for any occasion. Check out a sample of our songlist.

The band features keyboards, sax and/or trumpet, guitar, flute, harmonica, and drums. Everyone in the band sings, providing a variety of vocals and vocal harmonies. Whether you need a three, four, or five-piece group, Avenue A has the musical mix that will make your event unforgettable.

Where We've Been

[Phil on banjo] Avenue A began performing together in 1984 when vocalist Don Blais asked his college pal, pianist Diane Gualtieri, to back him up at a St. Patrick's Day party. Diane had been working with drummer Karen Mellor for a few years at that point, and suggested that she should come along, too. After playing mostly Irish music for five hours, the trio decided that they probably had a better future playing swing and jazz. Soon the group evolved into a general business band that played all types of music, performing on Bay Queen cruises for several summers and working steadily as a function band. In 1988, the trio had the good fortune of hooking up with guitar-playing saxophonist Phil Mullen, whose instrumental and vocal talents rounded out the band's sound. On top of that, he had similar culinary interests, which is a critical factor in most musical organizations.

[Diane on keyboards] Don has since retired and dedicated himself to cooking and singing classical music. Diane, Karen and Phil continue the Avenue A tradition, joined in 2000 by Dick Parent on trumpet and trombone. The addition of brass added a new dimension to the group, creating rich horn lines and an expanded repertoire and sound. From time to time, other regular substitutes may be found playing in the band including Mark Armstrong (guitar), Bill Smith (trumpet), Dennis Cook (sax) and Jack Martin (trumpet). Depending on availability and client needs, the group now performs in configurations of three to five players. Need a big band sound? Ask for Avenue A and the Dick Parent Orchestra, which features Diane, Karen and Phil on guitar with an additional five horns, a great sound for those big events!

Avenue A has performed for functions and concerts throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts for over twenty-five years. The band provided the music for the annual Chance to Dance performances at the Providence Performing Arts Center for fifteen years, and Diane and Karen celebrated their twenty-fifth year performing with the Bay View Players at St. Mary Academy Bay View's Manhattan at the Bay in Riverside, RI in 2008. Time flies when you're having fun!

Avenue A is . . .

Philip Mullen
Saxophone, Flute, Guitar,
Banjo, Harmonica, Vocals

Karen Mellor
Drums, Vocals

Diane Gualtieri
Keyboards, Vocals

Dick Parent
Trumpet, Trombone, Vocals

Band Manager: Karen Mellor

Avenue A. If music's not fun, why do it?
For more information, contact Avenue A at aamusic[at]mac[dot]com or 401-334-3143.