Band

Meet The dtmPROJECT

Member Bios

David Thomas May
Piano and Keyboards
Joe Mekler
Drums & Percussion
Dave Kaplan
Acoustic & Electric Bass
Danny Muller
Tenor & Soprano Saxophones
Bill Corvino
Guitar

David Thomas May

1. What do you play with?
I play a Yamaha P-250 weighted action keyboard, Yamaha Motif-ES-6, Yamaha Sy-85, or W-5 and sometimes even my good ol’ DX-7. For large concert gigs I also use a remote (guitar style strapped) Yamaha KX-5.

2. Musical Influences?
Russ Freeman/The Rippingtons, Dave Grusin, Lyle Mays, Dave Weckl, Tower of Power, Billy Joel, Chicago, EW&F, and every piano player of I’ve ever listened to.

3. First band you were in?
“The Clydesdales”. Trumpet, trombone, drums and piano. We were in 7th grade [12 years old] and the first song we ever played was the Budweiser jingle, “When you say Bud….”, alas the name. We were a Dixieland band with red vests, white shirts, arm garters, & straw hats, the whole nine yards. Another thing, my dad used to move this 66 key melodi-grand mini upright acoustic piano for the gigs when we needed it. We had a special rolling type system and the piano flipped onto it’s back and rolled into the back of the Ford station wagon we had, just like a coffin going into a hearse. What the heck were we thinking about?

4. One reason why you play music?
Music is my life. I walk around with a soundtrack playing in my head all the time. It’s surreal at times because I often hear the score playing beneath conversations or simple drives down the street. It’s the same thing when I’m performing I am focused on the crowd and the mood and the people I’m performing with and the chemistry creates and instant sound track for the moment! Spontaneous aural emotion scapes.

5. What do you do when you’re not with dtmPROJECT?
I teach the students of Burlington City High School and direct the music program for the school. I spend time with my fantastic family which includes my beautiful wife Kelly and our two wonderful children Shannon [6] and David John [3]. Kelly and I are avid NHL hockey fans and we are season ticket owners for the Philadelphia Flyers. And then there is all the other stuff that is way too much to mention in this spot.

6. Where do I love to play?
Anywhere people are not afraid to enjoy the music. Whenever I’ve played to an audience that simply couldn’t get enough, I never wanted to leave the stage. If you’re looking for physical venues to fulfill this answer The Academy of Music & Kimmel Center performances I’ve done definitely didn’t suck, and outside I’d have to say The Burlington Riverfront Jazz Festivals at sunset!

7. Worst moment on stage? [There’s a tie]
A. I was playing a wedding with the band “Clockwork” and we’re playing this killer disco-dance set when all of a sudden the father of the bride has a massive coronary right in the middle of the dance floor. Since I was the keyboard player, they asked me to keep playing in order to keep some background noise going and keep the guests somewhat distracted while they removed him from the room.

B. Same band, different wedding at a VFW hall in Cedar Grove, NJ. The entire wedding goes off great. We finish playing the last song and we just start to wrap up wires as a loud argument begins right in front of the band stand at the head table. One of the bride’s maids is screaming at an usher and he proceeds to smack her right across the face. This instantly blows up into a good old-fashioned “donnybrook” of an Irish Brawl. Everyone in the place [everyone!] is fighting! Us guys in the band had to stand in front of our equipment and push people away as they fought or fell in our direction. This is all going on while the bride is now standing on top of the head table screaming through her tears for everybody to get the hell out of her wedding, as the groom stands on the floor trying to lift her down to carry her out of the room.

8. One thing you love about performing?
Knowing that I can say more from my heart, through my music, than I ever could with all the words in a dictionary.

9. One thing you hate about performing?
When I have to work with uninspired, uninterested performers who don’t care about the audience in front of them.

10. Something people don’t know about you?
I want to ride a cattle drive and YES, I am serious about this!

Music: “Cinemagic” by Dave Grusin, “Hard Wired” by Dave Weckl/Lyle Mays, “Killamanjaro” & ”Weekend in Monaco” by R. Freeman/Rippingtons and the “Disney Illuminations Sound Track”.
Movies: Anything Tom Hanks is in! The Waking of Ned Devine, The Incredibles, When Harry Met Sally.
Games: Blackjack, Jeopardy
Books: Self Matters – Dr. Phil McGraw & The good book!

Joe Mekler

1. What do you play with?
DW collector series drums, Sonor hilite exclusive with copper hardware. Various hand percussion instruments/toys, and a Roland SPD-20.

2. Musical Influences?
Jack DeJohnette,Peter Erskin, Dave Weckle, Vinny Caliuta, Billy Martin, John Cage, Steve Gadd, John Bohnam,Richie Gajate, Burger Sulzbruk, Zakier Huissain, & George Jinda (Special FX)

3. First band you were in?
Remember When 1979.

4. One reason why you play music?
I have to. It is comparable to breathing eating and sleeping, if I don’t I will perish.

5. What do you do when you’re not with dtmPROJECT?
Perform/tour/record with BD Lenz, Brian & the Coconutz, Standard Deviation, Lefty Lucy, and Straight No Chaser. I also play for some various Oldies shows and teach instrumental music 4-12. De/reconstruct my house, deal with all of the various situations/committees/meetings/events that come with being a City Councilman for the City of Burlington, and eBay!

6. Where do you love to play?
Where ever there are my good musical friends and my drums/percussion setup.

7. Worst moment on stage?
I was playing the Elks in Paterson NJ in 1980 with ” Johnny Golan and the Silvertones” and I was not a union member at the time. The keyboard player was and the sax player was, from a different area. A union representative who wanted that gig came in and asked for my card, I lied to get rid of him. He returned the next week realizing that my name was absent from the list. He made the keyboard player walk. So it was me and an over-vibratious tenor player for 4 sets. I became numb on several fronts…and backs.

8. One thing you love about performing?
When the unspoken communication between the players create some special moments.

9. One thing you hate about performing?
The schlep.

10. Something people don’t know about you?
Is known as nunyo.

Music: I love it all except the bad in every genre’
Movies: Ray, Lawnmower Man, Fifth Element, Its a Wonderful Life, Jaws [soundtrack], Threads, 28 Days, The Ring, Bruce Almighty, Liar Liar,
Games: Naked Buck Buck
Books: None presently

Dave Kaplan

1. What do you play with?
Electric Bass; 1994 Tobias Classic 5 String, 1985 musicman stingray 4 string, 1960’s kay wood upright, Aria Pro SWB-04 electric upright. Amp; Hartke 3500 Head, Hartke 2200 Cabinet, Yorkville XM200T Combo.

2. Musical Influences?
Chub Chatten, my middle school band teacher. He taught me about time, rhythm, feel and most of all how to listen. JJ Johnson, Ray Brown, Tony DeNicola, Earth Wind and Fire, Chicago, and David Uber

3. First band you were in?
Aquarius - my sister and I and a few friends from high school. We played many area gigs and learned to play all styles. My mom wanted us to call the group “The Kaplanters”. And you think I’m corny!

4. One reason why you play music?
Performing is the one place in the world that I can go, let the troubles of everyday life slip away from the mind and take all emotion and feeling and let it out in the music. It feels great and its fun.

5. What do you do when you’re not with dtmPROJECT?
I spend time with my son, the light of my life, and manage two music stores. Gotta pay the bills!

6. Where do you love to play?
Everywhere that I can. All different bands and styles of music. I love to be the chameleon and slip into all kinds of situations.

7. Worst moment on stage?
I was playing a dinner club in the early 80’s and had to go to the bathroom so bad in the middle of a set. So I just left the stage and went.

8. One thing you love about performing?
Watching people bop and dance to the music. This is especially cool because most people don’t realize they are bopping, which means the music is affecting their souls.

9. One thing you hate about performing?
Not being able to perform with musicians and good friends that have left us.

10. Something people don’t know about you?
Hmmmmmm. I guess I shouldn’t talk so much.

Music: Diana Krall, Maynard Furguson, Chuck Loeb, Chic Corea, Rippingtons, and Acoustic Alchemey.
Movies: Young Frankenstein and the 40 year old Virgin.
Games: Black Jack, Monopoly and Crash Bandicoot.
Books: “Odd Thomas” by Dean Koontz.

Danny Muller

1. What do you play with?
Sure wireless mic, tenor sax: Selmer Mk VI (serial number 103,000), Otto Link mouthpiece(Florida model), Vandoren Java reeds size 4, soprano sax: Yamaha 62, Selmer Soloist F mouthpiece, Vandoren Java reeds size 31/2.

2. Musical Influences?
My main influences are John Coltrane, Sonny Stitt, Charlie Parker, Michael Brecker, Chris Potter, Eric Alexander, Bob Mintzer, Bob Malach, Beethoven, and Stevie Wonder.

3. First band you were in?
When I was 16 a friend of mine called me to start a cover band. It was great because we were all young and it taught us a lot about rehearsing, making contacts for gigs, and performing. We had a lot of fun and some of us end up on the same gigs sometimes so it’s kind of like a little reunion.

4. One reason why you play music?
I just love to play and I can’t imagine doing anything else. It’s very trying at times and it’s a lot of hard work, but the end results are worth it. Just knowing that I’ll be able to pick my horn up everyday is exciting.

5. What do you do when you’re not with dtmPROJECT?
I’m teaching, doing other gigs, practicing, working on my house, and spending time with my wife.

6. Where do I love to play?
Anywhere that there is a “great” rhythm section playing along with me

7. Worst moment on stage?
I was sitting in at a jam session one night. The place was packed and I called a tune that most people play as a ballad. I started playing it as a medium swing (that’s how I was practicing it) and it completely threw the rhythm section off. It was so obvious but needless to say it turned out cool. I was so embarrassed.

8. One thing you love about performing?
I love to perform because it’s apart of playing my horn. It gives me a chance to interact with other great musicians and it allows you the freedom of expression in the moment.

9. One thing you hate about performing?
As an improviser you wear your heart on your sleeve and you’re being judged with every note that you play. A musician can sometimes feel limited by the audiences expectations.

10. Something people don’t know about you?
I’m allergic to cats.

Music: All of it. The good, the bad, and the ugly. I’ll try to listen to anything. My favorites are Coltrane Prestige recordings, Miles Davis Round Midnight, and Yellow Jackets(all of the recordings with Mintzer).
Movies: The Shawshank Redemption, and Saving Private Ryan.
Games: Rummy 500. These electronic games today rot your brain, pick up a
book!
Books: Lately I’ve been focusing my attention to musical biographies. I try to catch up on the classics every now and then

Bill Corvino

1. What do you play with?
I play an Ibanez Artstar and a Fender ‘72 reissue Telecaster straight into my old beat-up Peavey Stereo Chorus amplifier.

2. Musical Influences?
Pat Metheny, Bob Mould, Merle Haggard, Jim Hall, Jimi Hendrix, Jim Kelly (Berklee).

3. First band you were in?
Technical Difficulties was my first band when I was about 16 or 17. We played high school dances and backyard keggers. It was one of the funniest times of my life, since I had never actually been invited to backyard keggers or high school dances.

4. One reason why you play music?
Every once in a while, when everything’s working, when the audience and all the musicians are completely receptive to what’s happening around them, when the room is nice and sweaty, it is the greatest feeling of transcendence I have ever felt.

5. What do you do when you’re not with dtmPROJECT?
Work, practice, hang with Cami or my parents, and sleep.

6. Where do you love to play?
The Jughandle Inn. It’s like a big party in your living room.

7. Worst moment on stage?
I played a muskrat dinner once. I swear to God it’s true. I can’t quite put into words the desperate, dark thoughts that occupy one’s mind while performing at a muskrat dinner. I pray you never have these thoughts.

8. One thing you love about performing?
The free muskrat. Just kidding. When someone is truly affected by a piece of music that I was involved in writing or performing and feels compelled to express that effect, that’s deep.

9. One thing you hate about performing?
Two things; setting up and breaking down.

10. Something people don’t know about you?
For years I was a member of the world famous Rockettes. (Sorry, but my sincerity can only hold out for so long.)

Music: Miles Davis “My Funny Valentine- Live in Concert” and The Minutemen “Double Nickels on the Dime”.
Movies: Apocalypse Now, Harold and Maude and Dog Day Afternoon.
Games: Tag
Books: The 9-11 Commission Report

The dtmPROJECT