Performing for the first time their new line up, THE JDA PROJECT will be performing at Blue Arrow Farm your favorites from the Beatles, Doors, Steely Dan, Chicago, Moody Blues, Rolling Stones, Alan Parsons Project, Electric Light Orchestra, Procol Harum, Neil Young and more, plus JDA Original tunes from their 4 CDs.
Saturday, February 26th
6:00 to 9:00pm
Joel Pirard has been playing, writing, and recording original rock music for years, as a guitarist, bassist and keyboardist, and vocalist In 1981, Joel met Don Pitz. Joel and Don played together in ALASKA, (featuring Dan Palladino), Tombstone and ANTHEM. In 1985, Joel answered a call for a keyboardist for THE ALIENZ, where he met Arno Tietje. Arno and Joel soon became fast friends, and thus the seeds of THE JDA PROJECT were sown. JDA has released 4 CDs - A Fine TIme, Through A Moving Window, Syzygy, and Dropstones.
Don Pitz is JDA's primary lead vocalist. He also plays keyboards, guitar, bass, and percussion. Don first encountered Joel in the band ALASKA, and when that band folded they both separately auditioned for a local hot cover band called ANTHEM, and as luck would have it, both got in! At the same time Joel had been playing with THE ALIENZ and introduced Don ( then with the Clamour) to Arno, so the association was born which lead eventually to the formation of THE JDA PROJECT
Arno Tietje is the primary lead guitarist in THE JDA PROJECT Arno also sings, plays bass, percussion, lap steel guitar, and harmonica. Arno also writes much of THE JDA PROJECT's material, and is a gifted arranger. His JDA association began with Joel joining his band THE ALIENZ. In 1997, when THE JDA PROJECT 's first recorded together, the real 'magic' was born. The rest is history.
FRANK CODA, Born and raised in The Bronx. Frank started playing guitar around age 10 switching to bass a few years later and began playing area high school dances with local cover bands. In his mid to late teens he played high school & college dances , Tri-state clubs and weddings playing covers with the Tin Lizzy and City Addition. In the mid 70s he played exclusively with Tin Lizzy doing covers and original music around the tri - state area until the late 70s when the group changed direction doing all original music as Fagan and later changing the group name to the Buddy Traina Band playing the NYC circuit and producing 1 single. After disbanding in the early 90s Frank stepped away from band life to focus on family and other interests like gardening and cooking. Now as an empty-nester the time came to find a group to go out and play again with THE JDA PROJECT.
DRUMMER/VOCALIST Don Hughes has joined the band!
Don's interest in music began in the late 1960s, early high school days. He got involved with singing and harmony in vocal groups that turned into a major interest in drumming. Don joined THE 5 OF A KIND BAND. doing rock, soul, and, R&B. The 5 OF A KIND evolved into TAXI. with Don's brother Bob on vocals, percussion, and Hammond organ , driven by Chuck P. evolving further into COTTONMOUTH, who landed a major recording contract in NYC, releasing their a single, Yellowstone, reaching #9 on Billboard magazine for monthly releases. The song became a hit out west. More recording and studio work in studios in NYC. Eventually some of the members moved on. Don started other bands such as FAST FORWARD, THE HUGHES BROTHERS and THE CHOICE. Don is now our drummer/singer.
Blue Arrow Farm
86 Glenwood Road
Pine Island, NY