BEN CASSARA QUARTET-FOR CAROL/THE SONGS OF CAROL FREDETTE

Born and raised in the Bronx, Cassara started singing when he was 13. He has played at many of the venues in the tri state area, including Jazz at the Kitano, Pangea, 55 Bar, Trumpets, Shanghai Jazz and Midday Jazz at St. Peter's. He inaugurated and runs the Wednesday night Jazz Series at Pangea. "He's one jazz singer for whom words aren't just syllables on which to hang notes...they're the very center of the song."