Freddy V (average White Band) With Special Guest Mo Pleasure at 606 Club

A saxophonist of power, range and creativity Freddy Vigdor, affectionately known worldwide as "Freddy V", has been the featured sax soloist with the iconic group the Average White Band since 1997. Born and raised in Connecticut to a musical family, Freddy was encouraged to take up the sax at an early age, eventually studying in New York with Lou Marini (of Blues Brothers fame), who he lists as one of his major early influences. Other influences include Tom Scott, Cannonball Adderley and a little later Dave Sanborn, Mike Brecker and Kirk Whalum. In the early 90's he started working the US music scene with the likes of Matt "Guitar" Murphy as well as New York clubs and the soul, jazz and blues circuit, establishing a burgeoning reputation as a fluent and muscular player. His life, however, was to change irrevocably when, in 1997, he got the call to join The Average White Band as their new saxophonist. By this time the British originated AWB was already an iconic outfit with over 20 years of top flight performances and recordings to their name and Freddy fit right in. And so began Fred's two decade long membership of the seminal R&B band which continues to this day as soloist, supporting keyboardist and horn arranger. He has performed with the band around the globe at festivals, clubs, on television and radio programs while, as a prolific composer, his work has been recorded by the likes of Grover Washington, Jr., Bob Baldwin, Marion Meadows, and of course AWB. In 2008 he finally released his first solo album “Easier Than It Looks”, featuring some of the finest musicians on the US groove scene, co-written and produced by his friend, multi-instrumentalist Mo Pleasure and received with universal plaudits. As well as AWB, when touring schedules allow, Freddy has been seen with a variety of other artists, including singer-songwriter Michael McDonald as well as a developing an interest in the educational realm. Since the release of his album he has been appearing more and more as a solo artist, including trips to the UK performing with a number of the terrific UK musicians he will be playing with at the Club tonight about whom he said, "At this stage, I'm pretty comfortable playing my material, especially with the calibre of musicians I get to play with. I did a little mini-tour in England with some great players over there...by the third night it was just amazing". Freddy's Special Guest tonight is the aforementioned US-born multi-instrumentalist Mo Pleasure, who includes work with the likes of Ray Charles, Earth Wind & Fire and Michael Jackson on a remarkable cv. Tonight Mo, a friend of the Club who has already performed here on a number of occasions on bass, will be playing keyboards! As Freddy says "Mo is a rare breed". He is indeed. Completing the line up from the UK will be Phil Mulford-bass, Terry Lewis-guitar and Jack Pollitt-drums. Definitely need to book for this one....

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A saxophonist of power, range and creativity Freddy Vigdor, affectionately known worldwide as "Freddy V", has been the featured sax soloist with the iconic group the Average White Band since 1997. Born and raised in Connecticut to a musical family, Freddy was encouraged to take up the sax at an early age, eventually studying in New York with Lou Marini (of Blues Brothers fame), who he lists as one of his major early influences. Other influences include Tom Scott, Cannonball Adderley and a little later Dave Sanborn, Mike Brecker and Kirk Whalum. In the early 90's he started working the US music scene with the likes of Matt "Guitar" Murphy as well as New York clubs and the soul, jazz and blues circuit, establishing a burgeoning reputation as a fluent and muscular player. His life, however, was to change irrevocably when, in 1997, he got the call to join The Average White Band as their new saxophonist. By this time the British originated AWB was already an iconic outfit with over 20 years of top flight performances and recordings to their name and Freddy fit right in. And so began Fred's two decade long membership of the seminal R&B band which continues to this day as soloist, supporting keyboardist and horn arranger. He has performed with the band around the globe at festivals, clubs, on television and radio programs while, as a prolific composer, his work has been recorded by the likes of Grover Washington, Jr., Bob Baldwin, Marion Meadows, and of course AWB. In 2008 he finally released his first solo album “Easier Than It Looks”, featuring some of the finest musicians on the US groove scene, co-written and produced by his friend, multi-instrumentalist Mo Pleasure and received with universal plaudits. As well as AWB, when touring schedules allow, Freddy has been seen with a variety of other artists, including singer-songwriter Michael McDonald as well as a developing an interest in the educational realm. Since the release of his album he has been appearing more and more as a solo artist, including trips to the UK performing with a number of the terrific UK musicians he will be playing with at the Club tonight about whom he said, "At this stage, I'm pretty comfortable playing my material, especially with the calibre of musicians I get to play with. I did a little mini-tour in England with some great players over there...by the third night it was just amazing". Freddy's Special Guest tonight is the aforementioned US-born multi-instrumentalist Mo Pleasure, who includes work with the likes of Ray Charles, Earth Wind & Fire and Michael Jackson on a remarkable cv. Tonight Mo, a friend of the Club who has already performed here on a number of occasions on bass, will be playing keyboards! As Freddy says "Mo is a rare breed". He is indeed. Completing the line up from the UK will be Phil Mulford-bass, Terry Lewis-guitar and Jack Pollitt-drums. Definitely need to book for this one.

"If you appreciate the great saxophone players in jazz...you will love what Freddy V serves up" enjoythemusic.com;
"The tonal beauty of Freddy's saxophone shines...throughout" JazzTimes

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