Mr Gone Celebrates Herbie Hancock’s Headhunters at 50

Well known for bringing the classic music of Weather Report and the Headhunters to life, the Hudson Valley based electric jazz ensemble Mr. Gone will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of Herbie Hancock’s “Head Hunters” along with a special tribute to the late saxophonist Wayne Shorter. Released on October 26th 1973, “Headhunters” was a commercial and artistic breakthrough for Hancock, crossing over to funk and rock audiences and bringing jazz-funk fusion to mainstream attention.

Led by saxophonist Peter Furlan and keyboardist Neil “Nail” Alexander, Mr Gone is known for hard grooving renditions of this classic music and often round out their performances with original compositions and extended group improvisations. It all adds up to an amazing musical experience.

Peter Furlan (Saxes)

Peter Furlan is a saxophonist, composer, arranger and educator whose striking originality is demonstrated on his Twinz Records release (www.twinzrecords.com) Spy Glass Hill. He has performed and recorded with Terumasa Hino, Dizzy Gillespie, Thomas Chapin, Don Alias, Frank Foster, Brian Lynch, David Budway, John Hart, Mike Richmond, Terry Silverlight, Cameron Brown, Vinnie Cutro, Steven Bernstein, Mahavishnu Project, The Temptations, 10,000 Maniacs and many others. Accordingly, the diversity of these musical experiences has served to inform Peter’s comprehensive and eclectic creative palette.

He is the founder, artistic director and conductor of the Rockland Youth Jazz Ensemble (www.ryje.com) in Rockland, NY, an adjunct music professor at Bergen Community College in Paramus, NJ, and the vice-president of the Rockland County Jazz and Blues Society (www.rcjbs.org). He leads The Peter Furlan Project, Peter Furlan Trio & Quintet, and co leads (with Neil Alexander) Le Jazz Electronique and Mr. Gone.

Neil “Nail” Alexander (Keys)

In addition to being a performer, Keyboardist/Composer Neil Alexander is involved in many facets of the music business including Music Production, Live Sound, Musical Theater, Modern Dance and Film. In from 1999 he formed his own electric jazz ensemble Neil Alexander & NAIL, releasing multiple CDs and touring extensively. As an side musician he has recordings and/or a performance history with a variety of groups and artists such as Gunther Hampel, Tony Thunder Smith, Joe Lovano, Tal Ross (P-Funk), Erik Lawrence, and The Adaptors Movement Theater.

Since 2008 Neil holds the keyboard chair in Gregg Bendian’s Mahavishnu Project, a repertory ensemble exploring the incendiary early works of guitarist John McLaughlin. From 1996 – 2006 he played keyboards in the successful Pink Floyd Tribute “The Machine” where he was a driving force in the group’s sound and subsequent success. In 2012 he released his first solo piano CD Darn That Dream: Solo Piano Vol. 1 to critical acclaim, and From 2013- 2014 Neil went on tour performing his solo piano transcription of Igor Stravinsky’s Rite Of Spring for the 100th anniversary, releasing a follow up live CD in 2016. He also performs solo experimental music under the name “Nail Jung” and leads an 8-piece contemporary chamber group called the “X Ensemble”.  

WITH:
Charlie Dougherty (bass)

Charlie Dougherty is an accomplished bassist, composer/arranger, and educator.  His performance experience ranges from shows at many of the top jazz clubs in and around New York City to the North American premieres of several works by contemporary classical composers.  His music has been performed internationally, and he can be seen on two nationally-syndicated television specials as the conductor and musical director of PJ Rasmussen and the Boardwalk Jazz Band.  He served as assistant director of the William Paterson Summer Jazz Camp for several years, and is currently a high school orchestra director.

Bryan Kopchak (Drums)

Bryan Kopchak is a Drummer and Producer from the Hudson Valley. Primarily self-taught, his expansive taste in music and sound has led him into a wide variety of experiences and roles as a musician. Bryan has established himself as a steady presence in the Hudson Valley music scene and continues bring people together for the love of music.