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

Avenue A Concerts & Events 2008

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

Thanks to all for a great 2008 Summer Concert season!
Throughout the winter we'll be engaged primarily with private functions. Having a party? Contact us!

Avenue A performs swing, jazz, standards and popular music from the 1920's through today. The band features keyboards, sax, flute, guitar, trumpet, trombone, drums and male and female vocals. 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. With over twenty years' experience performing for special events and parties, Avenue has the experience and great sound that will make your gathering the event of the season. Contact us about booking your next event: aamusic[at]mac[dot]com or 401-334-3143.

Other Events

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

October 5: Michael DiMucci and Friends
Linden Place Gardens, 1:30 p.m.
500 Hope Street, Bristol
Diane, Karen and Dick celebrate fall with tenor Michael DiMucci as he performs a cornucopia of songs, from jazz standards and swing a la Sinatra to Broadway show tunes and Italian favorites. Bring a lawn chair, blanket and picnic for a very special Sunday afternoon at Linden Place. $15 general public, $10 Friends of Linden Place
Tickets and more information: Linden Place, (401)253-0930
Rain Site: Linden Place Ballroom
Philip Mullen with Diamond: ShamRocks, Thursday and Friday nights
733 Kingston Rd., Wakefield, RI
Avenue A's Phil Mullen performs jazz, swing and standards Thursday (5-9) and Friday (4-8) nights with Diamond on keyboards and sax. A great place to have a bite, listen to some jazz or dance.
(401)782-6700, call to confirm as times and appearances are subject to change
Newport Playhouse and Cabaret
Karen appears as the guest drummer at the Playhouse Cabaret, after the mainstage show. You can often find her there on Saturday nights, if there's not an Avenue A gig, and on occasional Friday and Sunday nights. Email aamusic[at]mac[dot ]com if you want to check an upcoming date. 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

Plan Ahead!

December 31: New Year's Eve Party, Rhode Island Shriners
Imperial Room, One Rhodes Place, Cranston
We had so much fun here this past New Year's Eve that we're going to do it again. Make a new year's resolution to spend next New Year's with Avenue A. More information as the event gets closer.
Rhode Island Shriners, (401)467-7102. Reservations must be made in advance.

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. He can be found cooking, and still singing, at Pauldon's Catering in Apponaug. Diane, Karen and Phil continue the Avenue A tradition. They are frequently joined by Dick Parent on trumpet and flugelhorn, adding a new dimension to the group and opening the opportunity for some rich horn lines. On other occasions, they may be joined by guitarist Mark Armstrong, who has played with the band since 2001; this frees Phil to play baritone and more tenor sax, along with the flute, harmonica and acoustic guitar. Saxman Dave Maher also joins the band on occasion. Depending on availability, the group now performs in configurations of three to five players. Sometimes we even coax Don out of retirement, making it an even half dozen.

Avenue A has performed for functions and concerts throughout Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts for over twenty 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 will celebrate 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.