Joe and Paul Midiri
Joe Midiri – Clarinet, Saxophones, Paul Midiri – Vibraphone, Trombone, Pat Mercuri – Guitar, Ed Wise – String Bass, and Jim Lawlor – Drums.
The Midiri Brothers, identical twins, graduated from Glassboro State College in the mid-1980s, and have been keeping Swing alive all over the country ever since.
Joe Midiri’s creativity, technique of breathing, and sound – as with his clarinet in D over High C, is unsurpassed. Paul does many of the arrangements, and his vibes remind us of the great Red Norvo in the Benny Goodman Sextet.
Shine:
Joe used the circle breathing technique for holding a note forever on After You’ve Gone. Ed Wise used his voice mike, humming along when he’s bowing that marvelous string bass.
Joe Midiri on soprano sax
Always, the song I sang to my grandchildren when they were babies. Joe moved to soprano sax, again holding long notes, for The September Song – sweetest soprano sax you ever heard!
Ed Wise Humming along with his string bass
Paul did the arrangement for a tune he heard on a Count Basie recording, Let’s Go – clarinet and vibes playing together in sync, with Ed humming in the background.
Joe Midiri sings Louis A.
Joe’s Louis Armstrong imitation is precious, sometimes on Wonderful World.
Here he’s Louis on Pennies From Heaven. Joe on alto sax, Paul trombone.
Pennies From Heaven
Pat Midiri
Pat Mercuri, guitar, plays catchy riffs, fills in any spaces.
Avalon:
Together:
Paul joins drummer Jim Lawlor for Lime House Blues
The Midiri Brothers are entertainers as well as virtuoso swing musicians. They keep the crowd laughing with their sibling rivalry banter. The Midiri Brothers Sextet keep dancers Swinging! Check out their schedule at The Midiri Brothers – New Jersey