Houseofreedom All-Stars - Meet The All-Stars

Freedom Bremner

Bandleader, Creative Director, Vocalist,

FUN FACT:

“In junior high school in D.C, I used to talk to a very friendly kid at the bus stop who always had great jokes and funny stories, but I never knew his name. Years later I saw him on television and found out his name was Dave Chappelle.”

MAGIC MOMENTS: My collaboration with Moby, "At Least We Tried" and the subsequent performance on Saturday Night LIve. He wrote the song his voice and it was way to low for me to sing. Fearing I was going to loose the gig anyway, I took a shot and asked him I could try it in an octave higher in falsetto . He loved it, it took on a completly different energy, my vibe....Moby really gave me some room to craft it. Coincidentally when Vibe Magazine reviewed it , they compared my falsetto to Maxwell's. Nice...I'll take it.."Then we played on SNL with Winona Ryder as the host... That was kind of epic.

"STAND 2020" Jameison & Freedom "It started as a shared passion project for Jameison and I to cover and re-imagine one of our favorite Sly and The Family Stone songs as a stripped down duet. It grew into a lushly arranged, composition, a powerful concept video that was a call to action for the 2020 election, as well as a de-facto Houseofreedom All-Stars production., as more of our friends volunteered their time to be a part of it. It's probably the single piece of work I'm most proud of. "

Screaming Headles Torsos - “Code Red” "Coming into that band replacing the original lead singer, knowing the band had a critically acclaimed body of work and an international following, was daunting. That record, Code Red, allowed me to insert my voice and ideas into the band's canon of work. Arranging the vocals, co-writing and co-producing the album Code Red, was both validating and vindicating."

Patti Labelle , “I’ll Never Stop Loving You” "I played the part of the keyboard player in the music video for Patti's song "I'll Never Stop Loving you" It was the first time ever working for a living legend. We waited on her to get her wardrobe together for hours, then she decided she wanted to switch clothes with her stylist who was wearing all black an one big piece of jewelry. Then we could begin. I'll never forget it."

FAVORITE SOUND: My mothers' laughter

FAVORITE CONCERT:
"I saw Prince's Musicology Tour at Madison Square Garden with my best friend. It was unreal, I can still see it. In the same month they did a live broadcast of a different the concert date on the same tour and showed it in theaters nationwide. I saw that too. I have never heard or seen anything that musically perfect and alive before or since. Though, Stevie Wonders' performance of the Songs In the key of Life album in it's entirely, comes very close."

A FAVORITE ALBUM "So many, but Songs in The Key of Life, Stevie Wonder by is a definite."

Benji Alonce

Percussion

FUN FACT: My father Herman Nau is one of the founding Members of the Haitian group Tabou Combo also known as Tabou Combo Super Stars. Founded in 1968 they went on to have a career spanning 50 years. The first Haitian group to perform in Japan. Their song Mabouya was covered (remade, renamed ‘FooFoo” ) and performed at the 1999 Super Bowl by Legendary Guitarist Santana.

SOME FAVORITE CAREER MOMENTS: I performed at the 60th Grammy Awards at Madison Square Garden with Kesha

May 2021 I Performed SNL with Miley Cyrus. That felt amazing!!!!

Co produced two songs for Haitian female artist Phyllisia Ross. This was an honor because I’ve always wanted to be in production beat making.

FAVORITE SOUND: The crowd screaming at a show

FAVORITE CONCERT: "Went to see Prince perform at Madison Square Garden February 7, 2011. The night Kim Kardashian got kicked off stage, by Prince. I was about 10 feet from Prince on the floor. I was on a high for at least a full month after that show."

A FAVORITE ALBUM "It's a tough one, but I’ll say Michael Jackson Off The Wall for now. I love it because it's Quincy and Michaels master piece that set up Thriller."

Al Carty

Bass Guitar and Musical Director

FUN FACT: "Before pursuing music as a career, my mind was set on medicine and becoming an obstetrician.

MAGIC MOMENTS: Live 8 Philly "Performed with Rob Thomas right before Stevie Wonder’s closing set. Reportedly 1 million in attendance."

Tamia “Officially Missing You” The first time I saw my name in the credits for a CD single, the song got regular rotation airplay AND it had a music video

Luther: Never Too Much "I played on the score by Robert Glasper for the upcoming documentary on the life and career of Luther Vandross."

FAVORITE MUSICAL MEMORY My sister planned a family trip that allowed my mom to watch me perform with Alicia Keys in Paris at Bercy Arena when I was her Music Director. My household was strict growing up and mom didn’t attend concerts so to have that moment and her tell me how proud of me she was afterwards was monumental.

FAVORITE SOUND: My mothers' laughter

FAVORITE CONCERT: "I hate “favorite” questions but for me it’s Prince “Musicology Tour” (it’s the combo of elements in his show… singing, playing, solos, dancing, show production, the arrangements… the genre bending…

A FAVORITE ALBUM This is impossible to answer 😩

Nicholas Cassarino

Guitar and Vocals

FUN FACTS: "I come from a musical family and wehave a band called the Cassarino Family Band."

"My first instrument was punk bass, specifically punk rock bass."

MAGIC MOMENTS : "Perfomring at Rihanna’s birthday party in 2017 ,"

"Touring heavily with my band the Nth Power, for the last 10 years and releasing 5 albums."

"Being the musical director for a podcast called Sounds from the Cellar filmed above the Comedy Cellar in NYC "

"Performances with Babyface, Mellissa Etheridge, John Mayer, Toni Braxton and Stephen Marley"

FAVORITE SOUND: The River at Bartlett Falls in Bristol Vermont

FAVORITE CONCERT: Stevie Wonder Songs in the key of life tour MSG 2014"

A FAVORITE ALBUM: "Too hard, gotta do top 5: Kaya- Bob Marley, All ‘n All - Earth Wind and Fire, Newport ‘63 - John Coltrane, Don Juan’s Reckless Daughter - Joni Mitchell, Voodoo - D’Angelo"

Gil Defay

Trumpet

FUN FACT: In any setting I will do my part to never let the ship sink!!!

"Once, I was on a gig with a major client and the drummer bass drum pedal broke. While leading the horn section and playing trumpet we were naked and exposed without the bass drum sound. So…I beatboxed the whole rest of the set with drummer playing the rest of the kit with no pedal!!! The performance despite the mishap was a success!!!

A LEGIT MUSIC BIZ MOMENT:

The pastor who married Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon asked me if I wanted to sing in the choir on a few date on Mariah Carey tour. I was like man, “I don’t want to sing in…” Then I thought to myself….I wanted to know about major stage show production..... So I said “Yeah. I’m in.” We ended up being booked to perform at Madison Square Garden. Once I got there, my plan was to sneak off and get behind the scenes, find out what other celebrity artists would be performing with her and see the production set up, both on stage and in the production room behind the stage (I did just that…Lol) and that’s where I found out what programs were being used, and all the post production skills and tactics they used to make the show happen. I was ecstatic, elated, ful of joy and satisfaction!!!

So now, because of my escape, I think I’m off the hook singing…Lo and behold they looked for me diligently, found me, took me back to the dressing room put make up on me, got my choir robe, put it on me and set us up to perform the songs that we’d rehearsed. They let me know were hittin’ the stage in 60 seconds. I was like, “You know what??? LET’S DO THIS!!!” I did it. I sang with the choir, nailed my parts and had a blast!!!

We also ended up performing at The Prudential Center in Newark, NJ and on Good Morning America (WABC-TV NY). Man, that was wild!!!

SOME FAVE PEFRORMANCES: Housoefreeom All-Stars, New Years Performance with Max Weinberg. One weekend. One rehearsal, a packed ballroom at the Waldorf in Boca Raton, Florida. One rehearsal and we nailed it!!!!

Lauryn Hill at The Louis Armstrong Wonderful World Festival: One intense rehearsal the day before with the full band. Knocked it out the park, the next day!!!

In the studio with Swiss Beats, Forrest Whitaker and producer Rick Steele. I asked them what do they want exactly. They just said, “Do what you do!!!” Then I just stopped overthinking and flowed on whatever they played me. They went crazy!!! Ran into my booth showed me love and I appreciated it. That was an epic night.

FAVORITE SOUND: A tight band in service with love, sincerity, and honesty and top notch skills connected to the people changing the atmosphere bringing the people to utopia from the everyday struggles and stress they’ve dealt with but the music makes them leave better than the way they came.

FAVORITE CONCERT: Too many too mention!!!! Sting’s Bring On The Night!!!

FAVORITE ALBUM: Freddie Hubbard - Red Clay

Pat Firth

Keyboards and Vocoder

FUN FACT: "I make the best margarita you’ve ever had in your life."

MAGIC MOMENTS: Working with Thom Yorke, (Radiohead) re orchestrating and performing selected songs from Hail To The Thief

Carsie Blanton, currently recording and touring, with performances at venues such as Red Rocks Amphitheater and The Kennedy Center

Atina: The Evil Queen Of The Galaxy, arranging and music directing workshops with Alan Menken

FAVORITE SOUND: Crunching potato chips

FAVORITE CONCERT: Stevie Wonder, Songs In the Key of Life 40th Anniversary Tour

A FAVORITE ALBUM: Peter Gabriel, So

Tania Jones

Vocalist, Vocal Director

FUN FACTS: "I'm good at the random quirk of mirror-writing, which is the art of writing backwards and the words appear normal when seen through a mirror. Leonardo da Vinci was well known for his tendency to write backwards (he was a lefty); his reasons for doing so are still a source of speculation today."

"I'm also a visual artist; I love to draw and do graphic design."

"I love to bake! But it's always too many calories for me to eat on my own, so I'll bake things, keep a bit for myself and then give the rest away."

MAGIC MOMENTS: "Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul - been a background singer with LSDOS since 2017. It was my first opportunity to travel the world as a musician. It also gave me the chance to share the stage with Paul McCartney, which is one of my proudest accomplishments.

The Late Show with Steven Colbert: I occasionally do parody clips for LSSC on CBS. Sometimes the show will come up with some Weird-Al-esque style parody songs regarding current events. They create and air music videos to go along with them. When those songs feature a female lead singing, it's usually my voice you're hearing.

I was never on America's Got Talent as a contestant, but once upon a time I did play in their House band (piano).

FAVORITE SOUND: The sounds of nighttime during summer in the countryside - crickets and cicadas chirping as the wind blows through the trees

FAVORITE CONCERT: "I really haven't attended that many concerts that I wasn't playing in. My favorite (solely as a concert-goer) would be Frankie Beverly and Maze."

A FAVORITE ALBUM : The Love Below - Andre 3000

Masato Itoh

Guitar

FUN FACTS: "I record guitars for video game soundtracks but I suck at playing Guitar Hero."

I earned a bachelor's degree in physics before becoming a professional musician. I like to understand how things work and also Brian May (Queen) did it too."

MAGIC MOMENTS: " Little Glee Monster "Close to You" Recorded electric and acoustic guitars for a Japanese pop artist Little Glee Monster. It marked #1 on Billboard Japan."

Video game "No Straight Roads" soundtrack "No Straight Roads is an action-adventure game about an indie rock band duo who utilizes the power of rock to free Vinyl City from the oppressive EDM empire 'NSR'. I got to record guitars for the main character and basically shredded the whole time. It was a lot of fun.

Concert - Final Fantasy XV Official Orchestral Concert- "Playing music for one of the most successful video game series that I used to play as a kid with orchestra and rock band was unreal."

Your Favorite noise or sound: Whatever Edward Van Halen does.

A FAVORITE MUSICAL MEMORY: "I was a house band guitar player for a rock club in Tokyo in my 20s. One day Metallica showed up and jammed with us. That was a magical night."

FAVORITE CONCERT : Derek Trucks in Tokyo in 2007. "That was when I quit my band and I wasn't sure what to do next. Saw him playing the guitar and I started crying. That made me decide to move to the US to pursue my dreams in music."

A FAVORITE ALBUM Glenn Hughes "Burning Japan Live"

Gene Lake

Drummer

FUN FACTS: "I'm a big a big Prince and Weather Report fan, and had dreams of joining one of these bands at one point! My Prince adjacent destiny, seems to have it's own trajectory though.. Recently, I've been playing with the Minneapolis Funk All-Stars, a tribute band led by St. Paul of The Family, (on of the bands Prince created and produced). Except for me, this tribute band is comprised entirely of Prince alumni, on top of that I was asked play drums and help develop the new Prince Purple Rain musical set to premier on Broadway in 2025."

"Electric bass is my second instrument."

MAGIC MOMENTS "Throughout 2023, the year I spent as the drummer for MJ the musical on Broadway. The show was so great, we played the Tony awards and the show won Tony's, and it just got better and better we built such a camaraderie in the band and cast, I started calling it the magic carpet ride."

Playing on these records :

Meshelle Ndegeocello's Peace Beyond Passion "

Maxwell's Urban Hang Suite
D'Angelo's Brown Sugar

FAVE MUSICAL MEMORY: "Seeing James Brown and the Jackson 5 live at Concert- Kiel Auditorium St. Louis Missouri, 1971."

FAVORITE SOUND: The sound of waves on the ocean

FAVORITE ALBUM: "Processions" by Weather Report

Gregoire Maret

Chromatic Harp

FUN FACT: " I did a tv show in Switzerland as a guest and Claude Nobes was also invited. He then asked me to come to play at the Montreux jazz Festival and sit in with all the bands I wanted to play with… it was magical."

SOME FAVE CAREER MOMENTS: "I cowrote a song named Heavens with Dianne Reeves."

"I had the honor of having Jimmy Scott as a guest in my album and it was his last performance and recording. Biggest honor."

"George Benson doubled a solo I recorded the song "Stairway To Love", for the album "Irreplacable".. Another huge honor. That really blew my mind."

FAVORITE SOUND: Kids in a school yard or birds singing.

A FAVORITE MEMORY: First time I had the chance to play with Herbie Hancock we played maiden voyage and was just surreal…

FAVORITE CONCERT: "Prince playing his hits"

A FAVORITE ALBUM: "John Coltrane crescent and Stevie wonder songs in the key of Life"

MILES ROBERTSON

Keyboards

FUN FACTS: "I am not a singer, but with the love, support and encouragement of my mother, at the age of six, I entered a junior calypso competition in my homeland of Barbados (held annually during our national summer festival, Crop Over) and though I didn’t win (I placed 3rd), I look back on the experience fondly.

This is a fun fact because, anyone who knows me knows that I’m generally reserved so the thought of me with a microphone in hand, front and center, I’m sure would garner more than a few laughs.

SOME MAGIC MOMENTS:

I’m not big on highlighting past accomplishments (as I aim to always be in the now), but here are some of the proudest moments I’ve had in my career:

Performing on the Today Show with Sean Kingston in 2007 This was significant because it was my first national TV appearance; a major goal of mine as a teenager.

Performing on the Late Show with David Letterman with Adele in 2009 Knowing the power and influence of late night talks shows, especially in the 20th century; Letterman was arguably at the zenith of the medium, so having the opportunity to perform on the show was a surreal moment.

Performing on the Grammys with Adele in 2009 & 2012 For musicians, the Grammys is analogous to playing in the Super Bowl (no hyperbole!). To that fact, there is no greater platform that showcases the talent and excellence the music industry has to offer so I’d have to say that has been my biggest achievement to date, and to have the ability to do it twice was beyond a blessing.

FAVORITE SOUND: Silence "Due to a mix of a music-centric lifestyle and my natural disposition, silence is an essential part of my daily existence."

FAVORITE CONCERT: MJ the Musical-"I’m not a big concert goer, but the experience was magical; not to mention, it was my first time attending a Broadway show (Thank YOU, Freedom!)
FAVORITE ALBUM: ‘Nard - Bernard Wright

Tiffany T'zelle

Vocalist

FUN FACT: "Mary J Blige and I used to sing the same demos when producers were shopping for production deals."

SOME FAVE PERFORMANCES: Ne-Yo - “All Because of You” album I sang background with a few others on the last song on the album. For a while, It was a gift that kept giving!

"During the pandemic, I sang background on Aretha Franklin’s “You’re All I Need”, a Walmart commercial for the holidays. Such a blessing…Another gift that kept giving!! ☺️

Freedom Bremner & Arvid Martinsen "Top of The Mountain" Concert , Norway, 2016. Freedom, Vivian Sessoms, and I came in from New York to perform with Arvid's band at the top of a mountain. The audience hiked up the mountain, because you know.. they're Norwegian, and the band was flown up in a helicopter."

THE PROUD PROJECT with Houseofreedom All-Stars, concept video 2022 and gala performance in Philadelphia, 2023

FAVORITE SOUND: "My God-daughter/great niece’s voice. When she was born, she reminded me so much of my nieces when they were younger and those memories bring my Mother and her examples of love back to me."

FAVORITE CONCERT: "Unfortunately, this list is very short because I’ve never been able to attend many concerts, However, I was able to see James Brown and the Whispers while singing background for artists who opened for them. Also, Miss Diana Ross, the Boss because DUH ?! i was a part of her show! ☺️

A FAVORITE ALBUM: Whitney - Preacher’s wife soundtrack: "I have so many favorites …Anita Baker, Kim Burrell’s first album, Rachelle Farrells first album… Michael Jackson … too many … I’ve listened to so many ON REPEATT!!

Eddie Torres

Percussion

FUN FACTS: "I hold a purple belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and a Black Belt in Tiger Schulmann's MMA ."

"I am is extremely squeamish. "

" My Favorite thing to do is travel ."

MAGIC MOMENTS: "I played percussion on a Jose Feliciano album. It was an amazing experince working with such a legend. But the best part was when I called my mom during the session, her being a huge Jose Feliciano fan. Jose got on the phone with her and talked about growing up in Puerto Rico. She still tells her friends about the conversation. "

"Growing up, I learned how to play conga using and old wooden mick create listening to Vickie Sue Robinson's "Turn the beat around". Years later I had the most surreal experince playing that song with her. Of course i had to tell her about the old milk create. She loved the story, but hated how old it made her feel.

"Playing percussion on the remake of the James Brown classic "Living in America" with the Hollywood all-stars, featuring the Uptown Horns."

FAVORITE NOISE OR SOUND: "My children's voices. Sorry for sounding corny "

FAVORITE MUSICAL MEMORY: "Sitting and Jamming in the dressing room with some of the giants of percussion for Candido's birthday bash."

FAVORITE CONCERT:
Kings X

FAVORITE ALBUM: Anything by Tito Puente and Ronnie James Dio

Anthony Ware

Saxophone

FUN FACT: "I started training in the Brazilian martial art Capoeira in Shanghai."

"While looking up a new album credit I found another Anthony Ware listed in the rap category. Assuming the other Anthony Ware had more notariety , more credits to his name, I noticed a credit which revealed that we were the same person. I had recorded a track with for friend who promised it would be for iconic rap group, Public Enemy and completely forgotten about it. My track did end up on the P.E. record. I spent seven years in the dark. "

MAGIC MOMENTS: "Recorded on J Cole's " For Your Eyez Only"
"Worked with Dee Dee Bridgewater/ Jennifer Holiday"
Recorded on Grammy Nominated Album Dear Love from Jazzmiea Horn

Recorded with Theo Crocker/ Kassa Overall

FAVORITE SOUND: "drones?"
FAVORITE ALBUM(S): Stevie Wonder Fullfilingness
Corrine Bailey Rae "The Sea"
Black Sabbath Black Sabbath, Joshua Redman "Passage Of Time"

FAVORITE CONCERT: Little Dragon at Terminal 5