Joe Alicastro

Joe Alicastro, Guitar

Like many of his generation Joe began playing guitar at age 10 (shortly after seeing the Beatles appear on the Ed Sullivan Show). Joe played with a variety of rock and blues bands in New York and Boston during his high school and college days. "During those years, I also got out as often as I could to see jazz artists in the many clubs in the New York and Boston." Working as an award-winning producer for NBC News for over 25 years, his love for music never ceased. He continued to play in many different musical venues, very often with SideTrack bassist Bob Miller. Good friends for many years, Miller and Alicastro met as neighbors in Greenwich Village in 1978. Most recently Joe was the guitarist for the Mercy Street Blues Band and was responsible for introducing most of the jazz elements incorporated into the group’s blues foundation.
Bud Kroll

Bud Kroll, Drums

Bud has played a wide range of percussion styles including classical, jazz, rock, and musical theater over more than forty years as a percussionist. At Stanford University he played in the Stanford University Marching Band, Stanford Wind Ensemble, and Mr. Manning's jazz group A Little Night Music. He has played in numerous musical theater, classical, and jazz groups, and is currently percussion section leader of the Hudson Valley Symphonic Wind Ensemble, playing timpani and general percussion. After thirty years in financial markets, Bud is now a volunteer high school math tutor in NYC and is focusing on music and other artistic endeavors including filmmaking and website design (including this site). Bud has appointed himself SideTrack's recording engineer as a pathetically transparent excuse to purchase more gear. Hear his mixes on SideTrack's recordings, and visit his personal website at www.bkroll.com.
Ed Manning

Ed Manning, Keyboards

Ed says he'll send his bio in just as soon as his psychiatric sessions perfect a truly troubling set of invented memories. 
Listen to or download some of Ed's earlier compositions.











 

 
Bob Miller

Bob Miller, Bass

Bob has had a long, varied, multi-instrumental musical history. He began formal study of percussion at age 6, being drawn to drums practically from birth. After studying with noted percussionist Fred Albright for many years, he continued drumming while also branching out to pretty much any instrument he could get his hands on.

In high school, Miller studied music theory, conducting, and arranging. In addition, he played bass in a rock band, percussion in classical ensembles, and guitar and piano in a "society" band. College brought continued percussion studies at the Eastman School of Music and regular performances with soul, jazz, theatrical, and classical ensembles.

Miller''s musical journey has included performances with legendary saxophonist and band leader Frank Foster, noted NYC drummer Newman Taylor Baker, popular Jewish rock group Mah Tovu, and numerous appearances in social, community, and religious settings. He has taken master classes on bass and guitar, and experimented with computerized music applications.

Mr. Miller is thrilled to continue his long association with versatile guitarist Joe Alicastro. He is elated to have been a force in getting Bud Kroll back to the drumkit and honored to belong to a unit that includes keyboard master Ed Manning.