Meet the Band Leader
Jeff Dieterle
Jeff appears on Alicia Keys’ MTV Unplugged CD/DVD compilation with the Chops Horns section, ChopsHorns.com. He has also performed with Alicia Keys at the Fashion Rocks TV show in 2004, at Live Earth in 2007 at Giants Stadium, and at the BET Awards TV show in 2010. Jeff can be heard on several tracks of Maria Carey’s Emancipation of Mimi CD, which was produced by Randy Jackson. Jeff has performed for the BET Honors Awards held in Washington DC in 2008 and 2011 with Ray Chew (Apollo Theatre, & Dancing with the Stars TV show band leader). Jeff is also on track 10 of India Arie’s Voyage to India CD. Jeff’s studio recording experience include broadcasts of the the Fox Networks cartoon The Tick.
Jeff has worked with brides, grooms, party planners, and special event organizers since Total Soul was founded back in 2001. When hiring Total Soul, you are booking directly with Jeff who is the band leader/owner. Therefore, our overhead is lower than most other groups. We pass this savings on to our customers!
ABOUT TOTAL SOUL
NYC’s MOST EXCITING BAND!
Entertaining audiences since 2001, the band performs at weddings, outdoor concerts, clubs, casinos, and parties spanning the tri-state area and country…
Entertaining audiences since 2001, Total Soul started out as a Motown-type band, a la The Four tops and The Temptations. As the band’s song list expanded to include all genres and current hits, the band developed a unique ability to please all age groups, and to keep a dance floor packed all night long!
Total Soul is today’s top choice for couples who are getting married, as well as a crowd favorite at club and concert venues.
You will be dealing directly with the bandleader throughout your entire planning process. Reach out today for a quote!
Meet the Band
VOCALS
Billy Robinson
William (Billy) Robinson- Vocals
VOCALS
Emily Lucas
Emily Lucas- Vocals
VOCALS
David Lucas
David Lucas- Vocals
KEYBOARDS
Miho Nobuzane
Miho Nobuzane- Keyboards
A versatile jazz pianist, composer, & vocalist, Miho Nobuzane was born in Osaka, Japan, where she majored in classical piano during college. After she moved to New York, she began to distinguish herself immediately in the Brazilian music scene. She has performed & toured with such well-known great musicians as Bernard “pretty” Purdie, Filo Machado, Martha Reeves & the Vandellas, Hendrik Meurkens, Bakithi Kumalo, and many others. Miho has three albums: “Make You Happy,” “Simple Words ~Jazz loves Brazil,” and “Anata Ni Deaeta”. Miho performed in Sao Paulo Brazil in a concert sponsored by Japan Consulate in Sao Paulo at Espaço Cachuera with Filo Machado. Miho is a NORD keyboard endorsee. Miho is an educator at Afro Latin Jazz Alliance. Miho’s dynamic approach to the keyboard sets her apart from the others! Recent reviews: “Her playing is refreshing and her crossover style is magnificent she plays it all! Miho’s new CD has been well worth waiting for.” -Bernard “pretty” Purdie. “Miho Nobuzane … wonderful songwriter and talented pianist … beautiful a d melodic improvisations and a Brazilian swing in the heart … A great pleasure to play with Miho.” -Filo Machado
TRUMPET
Jerry Romano
Gerald Romano- Trumpet
Jerry received his BA from Fairleigh Dickinson, attended the University of Miami, and completed his Masters’s Degree as a Graduate Assistant at Jersey City State University in performance and education. He is a renowned Jazz educator, who had led the Monmouth Regional Jazz Ensemble to many awards for various competitions, as well as sitting on the Jazz Faculty for the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey.
Recently retired, Jerry was the director of bands at Monmouth Regional High School for 22 years and had been an educator in New Jersey Public Schools for a total of 31 years. He was also an adjunct professor at Brookdale Community College for 15 years. He is the recipient of the 2016 Monmouth County Arts Educator Award. He was selected “Teacher of the Year” in 1993 and 2007, and All-Shore Band Director of the year in 2014.
SAXOPHONE/KEYBOARDS
David Lackner
David Lackner- Saxophone, Keyboards
David is a composer and multi-instrumentalist (saxophone, piano, flute, E.W.I., synthesizers) specializing in jazz, minimalism, and pop music. In 2008, David founded his record label and project studio, Galtta, as a vehicle for producing, film scoring, and releasing music of various like-minded artists. In addition to Jazz and New Music, David has studied North Indian vocal music with La Monte Young and Marian Zazeela, and explores just intonation and long durations with his ensemble, Synthetic Love Dream. Since graduating with a degree in jazz performance in 2007, David has released 7 solo albums, can be heard on over 75 releases, has toured across the US, Canada, and Germany, and has performed and recorded with: Martha Reeves and The Vandellas, The Drifters, Adrian Knight, Max Zuckerman, Lydia Lunch, ESPTV, Martin Bisi, The Phantom Family Halo, Center Divider, Mickey Rooney, Sid Simmons, Billy G. Robinson, Alice Cohen, Fielded, ARP, Randy Gibson, Anthony Vine, Fielded, Mark Price, Makoto Kawabata, Mike Boone, and John Swana.
DRUMS
Gary Weiss
Gary Weiss- Drums
GUITAR
Keith Yaun
Keith Yaun- Guitar
BASS
Greg DiLorenzo
Greg DiLorenzo- Bass
SAXOPHONE
Joao Goncalves
Joao Goncalves- Saxophones
SAXOPHONE
Marcus Weiss
Marcus Weiss- Tenor Saxophone
Marcus started listening to Total Soul as a small child when he came to watch his father Gary play the drums with the band. He would offer his assistance with band setups and tear downs, as well as setting up drums for his Dad. As Marcus grew up, he developed his own passion for music and played the baritone saxophone in the NYC public school system. He spent many hours in his basement jamming with his father and eventually moved to the tenor saxophone as his main instrument. After high school, Marcus continued to hone his saxophone skills by studying and performing in NYC. In between saxophone gigs, Marcus shares his leadership skills with a career in business management.
BASS
Mark Rufino
Mark Rufino- Bass
Mark has been performing with Total Soul since 2006. Mark comes from a family of musicians and music educators. As a small child, Mark started his musical journey at a very early age studying the famous Suzuki Method on violin. He later moved on to the larger upright bass and also the tuba holding down the low end for one of NJ’s top public school programs- the Roxbury High School Band. Mark has now taken his prodigious musical talents to the area of live sound engineering where he is living out his dream! He currently mixes Off-Broadway shows and in theaters where he works alongside many of NYC’s top actors and performers. Mark is also the lead sound technician at NYC’s Redeemer’s Upper Westside Church. He is one of the top-call sound engineers in NYC’s Christian Community, mixing for churches as well as many non-profit Christian organizations throughout Manhattan.
VOCALS
Marika Reid
Marika Reid- Vocals
VOCALS
Kiminey Thomas
Kiminey Thomas- Vocals
VOCALS
Yameil Nunez
Yameil Nunez- Vocals
AUDIO MIXING
Michael Pettorini
Michael Pettorini- Audio Engineer
Mike attends the William Paterson University School of Music. He is currently finishing his Bachelor’s Degree in Sound Engineering Arts. Mike has a keen ear for mixing Total Soul, as well as many other tri-state area bands. His ability to serve musicians and assist band leaders makes him an in-demand audio engineer with Total Soul’s sister business- Soul Party Sound.