Cat's a Bear
Cat's a Bear is a contemporary original jazz group performing in the Eastern Great Lakes region of the United States, whose members have more than 100 years of combined professional musicianship. The group has existed for 40 years, with its roots in Boston, MA.
Founders Frank Singer and Joe Dorris, along with current members Joseph Frisina and Nick "Tito" Ronzitti, and former bandmates Tony Stefanelli, Phil Papotnik, Basil Ronzitti, Bob Dorris, Russ Hoffman and the occassional guest have explored every form of music available including Latin, Standards, Fusion, Blues and more--all showcased on their albums. Cat's a Bear original scores are intense and multilayered masterpieces, amazing both novices and the trained ear alike.
Since the 1980s, Cat's a Bear has received extensive radio play and excellent national reviews. It's guitarist and commissioned composer, Frank Singer, was one of three finalists in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest of 1999--winning for Unity and Diversity, the title track of One World Tribe's debut album.
"...You can expect a high degree of interplay, thrusting rhythms, imaginative, soaring harmonies, and really virtuostic instrumental work from every member."-- John Chacona, Jazz and Blues Festival EmCee
"For jazz aficionados, a rocket ride through arrangements played with unmatched musical technique by some very serious talents."--Bay City Nights
"...high energy and algebraic approach to jazz"--John Chacona, Erie Times-News Showcase
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Cat's A Bear Music Online:
Albums:
Including Covers Exclusive to Cat's A Bear.com
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Outdoor Cats 2021: 814 Day EP:
3 Live Tracks recorded in 2021 at 814 Day.
Nick "Tito" Ronzitti, Joe Frisina,
Frank Singer, Joe Dorris.
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Outdoor Cats 2019:
5 Live Tracks recorded in 2019 at Celebrate Erie.
Joe Frisina,
Frank Singer, Joe Dorris.
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Outdoor Cats 2013 +:
7 Live Tracks recorded in 2013 at The Erie Blues and Jazz Festival,
with 5 Bonus Tracks from a 2014 Performance at Celebrate Erie.
Phil Papotnik,
Joe Frisina,
Nick "Tito" Ronzitti,
Frank Singer, Joe Dorris.
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21st Century Cats:
16 Tracks recorded between 1992 and 2013.
Phil Papotnik, Tony Stefanelli,
Nick "Tito" Ronzitti, Joe Frisina,
Frank Singer, Joe Dorris.
Cover from the Recordings:Senor CS: Composition by John McLaughlin. Stella By Starlight: Composition by Victor Young. Stolen Moments: Composition by Oliver Nelson. -
And To All...:
Cat's A Bear plays JD Jazz - Holiday Music.
Released in November 2009.
Joe Dorris on Vocals and Harmonica,
Frank Singer on Guitar.
Includes the Blues version of Auld Lang Syne!
Apple iTunes | Amazon.com | Amazon Music
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Outdoor Cats 2007:
7 Live Tracks recorded in 2007 at The Erie Arts Festival.
Phil Papotnik,
Tony Stefanelli,
Nick "Tito" Ronzitti,
Frank Singer, Joe Dorris.
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Takes From The Lab EP:
5 Tracks of 2 tunes recorded at various rehearsals, 2002-2005.
Phil Papotnik,
Tony Stefanelli,
Nick "Tito" Ronzitti,
Frank Singer, Joe Dorris.
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Live At Forward Hall (2004):
6 Live Tracks recorded in 2004 at Forward Hall.
Tony Stefanelli,
Nick "Tito" Ronzitti,
Frank Singer, Joe Dorris.
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Live At The Rex EP 2003:
4 Live Tracks recorded in 2003 at The Rex Jazz Club in Toronto, Canada.
Phil Papotnik,
Tony Stefanelli,
Frank Singer, Joe Dorris.
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Basil By The Bay:
5 Tracks recorded live at the Papermoon in 2000 and 2002.
Basil Ronzitti, Nick "Tito" Ronzitti, Phil Papotnik,
Tony Stefanelli, Frank Singer, Joe Dorris (Vocals on Covers).
Covers from Basil By The Bay:I Mean You: Composition by Thelonius Monk. Sugar: Composition by Stanley Turrentine. (Se Acabo) La Malanga: Composition by Rudy Calzado. Summertime: Composition by George Gershwin, Arrangement by Basil Ronzitti. Four: Composition by Miles Davis.
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The Cycling Troll Sessions:
10 Tracks recorded at Cycling Troll Studios, Including
Tito: In Search of a Revolution (1993)
and the two Original Tracks from
Tito In Wonderland (1996).
Phil Papotnik, Tony Stefanelli,
Frank Singer, Joe Dorris (Vocals on Covers).
Covers from Tito In Wonderland:Blues For Alice: Composition by Charlie Parker, Lyrics by Joe Dorris. Sugar: Composition by Stanley Turrentine. 'Round Midnight: Composition by Cootie Williams, Thelonius Monk, Lyrics by Bernie Hanighan. Honey Suckle Rose: Composition by Thomas "Fats" Waller.
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In Search Of A Revolution 2: Lost And Found:
13 Tracks of Trios and Quartets from the Revolution Sessions, Previously UnReleased - 1993.
Phil Papotnik, Tony Stefanelli, Frank Singer, Joe Dorris.
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Tito: In Search of a Revolution:
7 Trio Tracks and 1 Quartet Track with Phil Papotnik.
Frank Singer,
Joe Dorris and Tony Stefanelli.
Original Album Artwork by Hal Singer.
These Tracks are part of
The Cycling Troll Sessions.
Apple iTunes | Amazon.com | Amazon Music
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Live at the Annex:
Erie Art Museum Annex Live Quartet Performance from December 17, 1993.
Phil Papotnik, Tony Stefanelli, Frank Singer, Joe Dorris.
Cover from the Performance:Binky's Beam: Composition by John McLaughlin.
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A Day In The Life Of A Cat:
6 Tracks recorded on June 17, 1992.
Phil Papotnik, Tony Stefanelli,
Frank Singer, Joe Dorris.
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90s Lives of the Cats:
25 Tracks recorded in 1992 and 1995.
Nick "Tito" Ronzitti, Phil Papotnik,
Tony Stefanelli, Frank Singer, Joe Dorris.
Covers from 90s Lives of the Cats:
01: Autumn Leaves by Joseph Kosma 02: Honeysuckle Rose by Fats Waller 03: Don't Get Around Much anymore by Bob Russell and Duke Ellington 04: Icarus by Ralph Towner 05: Song For My Father by Horace Silver 06: In A Sentimental Mood by Duke Ellington 07: There Will Never Be Another You by Harry Warren and Mack Gordon 08: All The Things You Are by Oscar Hammerstein II and Jerome Kern 09: Confirmation (Take 1) by Charles Parker 10: Confirmation (Take 2) by Charles Parker 11: Rhythm: Oleo by Sonny Rollins, Anthropology by Charles Parker, Nick's Lick and At Home On Trantor by Frank Singer 12: Cherokee by Ray Noble 13: Indiana / Donna Lee Indiana by J.F. Hanley and B.MacDonald, Donna Lee by Charles Parker 14: Manha De Carnaval (Black Orpheus) by Carl Sigman and Luiz Bonfa 15: Night In Tunisia by Dizzy Gillespie
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The Tito Experience:
5 Sextet and 6 Quintet Tracks with Frank Singer on Keyboard,
Joe Dorris on Drums, Tony Stefanelli on Bass,
Nick "Tito" Ronzitti on Congas and Percussion,
Anthony Stefanelli on Percussion,
and Phil Papotnik on tracks 1-5.
Cover from the Album:All Blues: Miles Davis. -
95 And Still Alive - The Gig:
10 Live Performance Electronic Duo Tracks from Frank Singer and Joe Dorris.
The last live duo performance recorded at Gannon University, October 22, 1995.
Bonus tracks include 5 Eye Of The Pyramid outtakes and
a Joe Dorris original called Ravine.
Cover from the Album:Spain: Composition by Chick Corea.
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2 Live Cats / '95 and Still Alive Dub:
7 Live Electronic Duo Tracks from Frank Singer and Joe Dorris, and 16
Electronic Backing Tracks, including the Eye of the Pyramid Tracks.
Covers from the Album:Somewhere Over The Rainbow (Tranebow): A Tritonic Reharmonization of the Classic Wizard of Oz Composition. Music by Harold Arlen, Lyrics by E.Y. Harburg. Spain: Composition by Chick Corea.
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Eye of the Pyramid:
8 Original Tracks from the CAB Duo of Frank Singer and
Joe Dorris.
THE Electronic Cat's A Bear Album.
Album Design by Frank Singer.
Apple iTunes | Amazon.com | Amazon Music
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Cats
On The Radio 2: Live Broadcast from WERG FM, Emerson College, Boston MA.
August 26, 1987. Bob Dorris, Frank Singer, Joe Dorris.
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Cats
On The Radio: Live Broadcast from WERG FM, Emerson College, Boston MA.
March 31, 1987. Bob Dorris, Frank Singer, Joe Dorris.
Cover from the Broadcast:Great Gorge: Composition by Joe Farrell.
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Cat Tracks EP:
3 Tracks from the Bob Dorris Era, including a live version of
'Trane Steps with Russ Hoffman at Berklee Performance Center, and two
versions of Kikit. The 4th cut is an experimental electronic Kikit
Jam from the composer.
Purchase includes an Electronic Duo bonus track of BearFeat from
The Birdland Years.
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Live in '85:
Live recordings from three Boston gigs at The Willow,
Ryle's and Jack's, featuring one of Cat's A Bear's most
dynamic Quartets, with Russ Hoffman, Bob Dorris,
Frank Singer and Joe Dorris.
Covers from the Gigs:American Tango/Cucumber Slumber Medley August 1985 (The Willow): Compositions by Weather Report. Great Gorge September 24, 1985 (Ryle's): Composition by Joe Farrell. American Tango/Cucumber Slumber Medley November 21, 1985 (Jack's): Compositions by Weather Report. Great Gorge November 21, 1985 (Jack's): Composition by Joe Farrell.
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The Euphoria Sessions: 10 tracks recorded at Euphoria Sound Studios in
Revere, MA in 1984 and 1986.
Covers from the Sessions:4 x 5 1986: Composition by McCoy Tyner. Bob Dorris, Frank Singer, Joe Dorris. Great Gorge 1986: Composition by Joe Farrell. Bob Dorris, Frank Singer (Guitar and Piano), Joe Dorris. -
Cat Lines:
Precursors, Experiments and Developments of Cat's A Bear's composer, Frank Singer.
Includes the original Monkey Wrench.
Covers from Player's Lounge:Blues For Alice: by Charlie Parker. Tune Up: by Miles Davis. Donna Lee: by Charlie Parker.
Frank Singer: Bass | Nokes Kelly: Sax | Larry Maksin: Drums
- Live Gigs:
- Cat's A Bear Live at Voodoo BrewPub, January 10 2020
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15 Live Cuts from the CAB Quartet of Frank Singer,
Joe Dorris, Joseph Frisina and Nick Ronzitti
Recorded at the Event on January 10, 2020 at Voodoo BrewPub in Meadville, Pennsylvania. All original music written by Frank Singer. - Cat's A Bear Live at Artlore Studio - 8 Live Cuts from the CAB Quartet of Frank Singer, Joe Dorris, Joseph Frisina and Nick "Tito" Ronzitti. Recorded at the Event on November 27, 2019 at Artlore Studio in Erie, Pennsylvania. All original music written by Frank Singer.
- Cat's A Bear Live at Artlore Studio - 7 Live Cuts from the CAB Quartet of Frank Singer, Joe Dorris, Joseph Frisina and Nick "Tito" Ronzitti. Recorded at the Event on November 21, 2018 at Artlore Studio in Erie, Pennsylvania. All original music written by Frank Singer.
- Dirty Dog Live TV Presents Cat's A Bear Live at Walt's Tavern - 6 Live Cuts from the CAB Quartet of Frank Singer, Joe Dorris, Joseph Frisina and Nick "Tito" Ronzitti. Recorded at Walt's Tavern in Conneaut Lake, PA by Dirty Dog Live TV on August 10, 2018. All original music writteh by Frank Singer.
- Cat's A Bear Live at Artlore Studio - 6 Live Cuts from the CAB Quintet of Frank Singer, Joe Dorris, Joseph Frisina, Phil Papotnik and Nick "TIto" Ronzitti. Recorded at the Event on November 22, 2017 at Artlore Studio in Erie, Pennsylvania. All original music written by Frank Singer.
- Media:
- Cat's A Bear on Facebook
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Cat's A Bear on YouTube:
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Tito: In Search of a Revolution
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©2002 -
Cat's A Bear | Naked Kitty Productions |
frank@franksinger.com