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About Billy
The Billy Cofrances Jazz Quartet is a well known name in the New Haven area Jazz community, with regular shows at New Haven's 500 Blake Street and Colonial Tymes in Hamden. The quartet features Billy on alto and tenor saxphones, Tom Devino on drums, Doug Schlink on piano, and Steve Taylor on bass. Quite often, the group will feature the amazing vocal stylings of New York Jazz vocalists Nicole Pasterak and Glenda Davenport, with whom Billy has performed for many years. The group, which has developed quite a following of Jazz lovers, has made several repeat performances at local jazz hot spots, including Main & Hopewell and The Arch Street Tavern in the Hartford area, The Silvermine Tavern in Norwalk, and Ernaccio's 17 Main Restaurant and Jazz Club in Mt.Kisco, NY. Billy also performs regularly throughout the east coast with Harold Zinno, John Mobilio, and Jack Varanelli.
How It All Began
William Louis Cofrances was born October 18, 1962 in New Haven, Connecticut. He started playing the sax when he was 7 years old, from Center Elementary School in Woodbridge where he grew up, through Amity Junior and Senior High Schools. Billy performed with concert and jazz bands and was a member of the pit orchestra for all school shows. He received his first sax for $62, from New Haven sound man and bassist, Armand DeAngelo; a Holton alto saxophone which Billy still displays over his hearth at his home. While studying with music gurus Joe Sebastian for 13 years, and Sherman "Zezzy" Kahn for 5 years, Billy received a scholarship and attended Berkeley College in Boston, where he majored in Music Performance. He also attended ECA (Educational Center for the Arts) in New Haven, where he studied with pianist/arranger Bill Brown, and met pianist Jay Rowe and guitarist Rohn Lawrence. He also performed with pianist/arranger Bill Brown, pianist Mark Templeton, guitarist Dave Dana, and bassist Don Duchette. After Berkeley, Billy changed his major to Public Health, but continued his professional music career. Jazz is in his blood, since his parents were also professional jazz artists: Mom, "Rainy Day" Cofrances, a renowned jazz vocalist in the New Haven area and along Bourbon Street in New Orleans for many years. Dad, Billy Cofrances, Sr was well known in the New England area. Born in New Haven, this incredible and underrated woodwinds genius started the jazz bands at St. Michael's College and the University of Vermont. Bill Sr. also held countless jam sessions at his home following performances on the green or in clubs. Glenn Miller and other big bands would make regular visits on nights and weekends. With such exposure to the art of jazz, it's no wonder Billy is a natural talent.
Billy Cofrances started his career as a member of the popular east coast favorite JUMP STREET. Since then, Billy and his Selma Mark IVtenor and alto saxophones have been thrilling audiences all throughout New England; working with some of the best in the business: legendary jazz pianist SARAH CION; jazz vocalists BILLY WESTON and GIACOMO GATES many appearances with WALT ANDRUS, lead singer with the Tommy Dorsey Big Band; the great saxman RALPH LALAMA of Village Vanguard and the Carnegie Hall Jazz Band, and the great saxman TONY LAVORGNA. Billy also performed at the Concord Hotel in the Catskills, where he developed his classic arrangement of Tea for Two.
Return Engagements
- New York's 42nd Street Restaurant
- Ocean Cliff in Newport, RI - America's Restaurant</b> in Tenafly, NJ - Silvermine Tavern in Norwalk, CT - Ernaccio’s 17 Main Restaurant in Mt. Kisco, NY - Main & Hopewell in Glastonbury, CT
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