SOULED Out BIOS
Long Island's Exclusive Dance Band!
Joseph Pierre Freyre (Band Leader/Guitar)
Joseph is very busy playing in the NY area for several different projects. He received his BA from Manhattan School of Music and his MA from SUNY Fredonia. Joseph's innovative fusion style of playing is influenced by artists like Alan Holdsworth, Jimi Hendrix, Pat Metheny, and Eddie Van Halen. He headlined the Michigan Jazz Festival in 2012 and holds endorsements from Spear Guitars, Hartke, Dunlap Picks and DR Strings.
Melanie Freyre (Vocals/Keys)
A voice teacher by day, and rockstar by night. Melanie comes from a long-line of performers and credits her talent to genetics. In addition to rocking out with SOULED Out, Melanie also enjoys her work conducting High School Chorus at East Hampton UFSD, teaching private voice and piano and directing her family-owned theatre company, Backyard Theatre, which is celebrating its 28th year. Melanie received a BA in Music Education from The Hartt School of Music at University of Hartford, MA from SUNY Fredonia, and a Post Masters Advanced Certificate in Educational Leadership from Stonybrook University.
Jess Salaway (Vocals)
Jess is a working vocalist-actress, with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Long Island University, and received a Master of Music with a concentration in Vocal Performance from Five Towns College. She has experience in musical theatre, performing in wedding bands, cover & tribute bands, a capella ensembles, and is a freelance artist throughout Long Island. Jessica has studied with Madeline-Kole, Richard Iacona, T.K. Blue, Barbara Fusco, and La Tanya Hall. Jessica was the lead singer of the Jazz Ensemble, directed by T.K. Blue, where she traveled to France and participated in the Jazz a Juan Festival in 2010, and performed at The Iridium Jazz Club in New York City in 2011. Also, Jessica performed with the Neil Diamond Tribute Band at B.B. Kings in New York City in 2013. In addition, since 2009, she has been privately teaching voice and piano lessons, and is one of the musical directors at The Church of Good Shepherd. Jessica is currently a music educator at East Rockaway Public Schools.
Brett Frederick (Vocals/Keys)
Brett is a respected teacher and vocalist with a BA in Music Education from Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and a Master's of Music from the Hartt School of Music at University of Hartford. He brings his innate talent for arranging to SOULED Out and kills it on the keys! Check out more of Brett's creative talents at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKC95pNexr1hRkKfAsPTJvw.
Dan Salaway (Drums)
Dan is a local drum and percussion teacher/performer in the eastern Suffolk County area and has played and performed in a variety of bands since he was an adolescent. Dan has a BA in Music Education and a Master's in Music Therapy. His hunger for knowledge and his persistent need to develop his ability on the drum set has caught him the recognition and mentorship of some of Long Island’s great percussionists such as Bryan Carrott, Chris Tibaldi, Dom Famularo, Ed Balsamo, and David Elliot. In addition to his work with SOULED Out, Dan is currently employed as a full-time music therapist.
Ro The Bassman (Bass)
Ro brings the funk to SOULED Out! He is an experienced bass player of over 25 years, playing in professional groups of various musical genres throughout the Tri-State area. A college professor, a killer bass player, and an all-around great guy!
Joseph is very busy playing in the NY area for several different projects. He received his BA from Manhattan School of Music and his MA from SUNY Fredonia. Joseph's innovative fusion style of playing is influenced by artists like Alan Holdsworth, Jimi Hendrix, Pat Metheny, and Eddie Van Halen. He headlined the Michigan Jazz Festival in 2012 and holds endorsements from Spear Guitars, Hartke, Dunlap Picks and DR Strings.
Melanie Freyre (Vocals/Keys)
A voice teacher by day, and rockstar by night. Melanie comes from a long-line of performers and credits her talent to genetics. In addition to rocking out with SOULED Out, Melanie also enjoys her work conducting High School Chorus at East Hampton UFSD, teaching private voice and piano and directing her family-owned theatre company, Backyard Theatre, which is celebrating its 28th year. Melanie received a BA in Music Education from The Hartt School of Music at University of Hartford, MA from SUNY Fredonia, and a Post Masters Advanced Certificate in Educational Leadership from Stonybrook University.
Jess Salaway (Vocals)
Jess is a working vocalist-actress, with a Bachelor of Music in Music Education from Long Island University, and received a Master of Music with a concentration in Vocal Performance from Five Towns College. She has experience in musical theatre, performing in wedding bands, cover & tribute bands, a capella ensembles, and is a freelance artist throughout Long Island. Jessica has studied with Madeline-Kole, Richard Iacona, T.K. Blue, Barbara Fusco, and La Tanya Hall. Jessica was the lead singer of the Jazz Ensemble, directed by T.K. Blue, where she traveled to France and participated in the Jazz a Juan Festival in 2010, and performed at The Iridium Jazz Club in New York City in 2011. Also, Jessica performed with the Neil Diamond Tribute Band at B.B. Kings in New York City in 2013. In addition, since 2009, she has been privately teaching voice and piano lessons, and is one of the musical directors at The Church of Good Shepherd. Jessica is currently a music educator at East Rockaway Public Schools.
Brett Frederick (Vocals/Keys)
Brett is a respected teacher and vocalist with a BA in Music Education from Crane School of Music at SUNY Potsdam and a Master's of Music from the Hartt School of Music at University of Hartford. He brings his innate talent for arranging to SOULED Out and kills it on the keys! Check out more of Brett's creative talents at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKC95pNexr1hRkKfAsPTJvw.
Dan Salaway (Drums)
Dan is a local drum and percussion teacher/performer in the eastern Suffolk County area and has played and performed in a variety of bands since he was an adolescent. Dan has a BA in Music Education and a Master's in Music Therapy. His hunger for knowledge and his persistent need to develop his ability on the drum set has caught him the recognition and mentorship of some of Long Island’s great percussionists such as Bryan Carrott, Chris Tibaldi, Dom Famularo, Ed Balsamo, and David Elliot. In addition to his work with SOULED Out, Dan is currently employed as a full-time music therapist.
Ro The Bassman (Bass)
Ro brings the funk to SOULED Out! He is an experienced bass player of over 25 years, playing in professional groups of various musical genres throughout the Tri-State area. A college professor, a killer bass player, and an all-around great guy!