GrooveLily

GrooveLily is a New York City-based band made up of Valerie Vigoda (vocals, violins), Brendan Milburn (vocals, keyboards), and Gene Lewin (vocals, drums). GrooveLily's music mixes classical music, musical theatre, jazz and rock. The band was originally formed in 1994 as "The Valerie Vigoda Band."

Members

Valerie Vigoda and plays an electric six-string violin called a "Viper". She founded GrooveLily (originally the Valerie Vigoda Band) in 1994 and created a critically acclaimed CD, "Inhabit My Heart." Before GrooveLily, she toured with Cyndi Lauper, Joe Jackson and the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. Valerie's grandfather, Samuel Vigoda, was one of the last great Eastern European cantors. Valerie is a native of McLean, Virginia.

Brendan Milburn sings and plays the keyboard. He received an MFA from New York University (NYU) in Musical Theatre Writing, and puts his talents to work arranging for GrooveLily. He record produces as well. Brendan is a native of San Francisco, and is married to Ms. Vigoda.

Gene Lewin plays the drums and sings. He has toured with Audra McDonald and has appeared on CDs with George Coleman, John Patitucci, and many others. Gene is a native of Princeton, NJ.

Music

GrooveLily often attempt to create mix of musical theatre and concert in their live shows. Their credits include:A Little Midsummer Night's Music : A musical version of William Shakespeare's play, "A Midsummer Night's Dream." "Much of the familiar dialogue, conveniently written in rhyming couplets, is scored and sung with contemporary GrooveLily melodies so well suited to the words that it's hard to believe they were written centuries apart." -- William Westhoven, The Daily Record, March 31, 2006Wheelhouse : A tale of life on the road.Striking 12 : A musical adaptation of Hans Christian Anderson's fairytale "The Little Match Girl." "Striking 12 may be the best new American musical that nobody has heard of." -- Kenneth Jones, Playbill Online, December 16, 2005

"More artfully crafted and engaging than virtually all the standard-mold musicals coming our way these days." -- Charles Isherwood, The New York Times, November 13, 2006

The creative team for "Striking 12" and "Wheelhouse" includes Tony Award winners co-writer Rachel Sheinkin and director Ted Sperling.

Brendan and Valerie are currently working on a new show, called "Long Story Short." Readings are now happening at the Civic Theatre of Pittsburgh.