COOL CHANGE is a music project that consists of a number of great musicians from the North Shore area. The nice thing about it is, it can change from an acoustic duo, to a two guitar trio, to a one guitar/percussion trio to a full band and fits into whatever venue or party we’re hired to play. The kind of music, being classic rock, R&B, and a small dose of pop, stays the same but the library of songs just keeps growing. One of our goals is to have people listening to songs and thinking “I love this song, no one ever plays this!!” and it’s working. More often than not, people will come up after the gig and say just that, that our song selections are like old friends they haven’t heard from in a while.
The whole thing started because I wanted to get out of the rut I was in and just play music with my friends for fun. I called Paul and we got the ball rolling. We went into the Lakeside Tavern in Wakefield on the coldest night of January 2004 to play our first gig as a band. We weren’t sure what the turnout would be but boy what pleasant surprise! People came out in droves to escape the cold, listen to some good music and have fun. It’s just kind of taken off from there and the list of musicians, gigs and good music keeps growing. Check out the rest of the website to learn about each individual member of the project on our unique bio page and learn what each one adds to The Cool Change project. And by all means check out our schedule and come on out and see us. By the way, I’m Joanie, just a Wakefield girl who wanted to play the music I love and jam with my friends. I’m a lucky girl, cause that’s what I got.
Cool Change is available for private parties also, go to the contact page and write to me for more information. Thanks for visiting the website, hope we see you soon!!!
JOANIE 🔗 “I think my mic batteries just died”
Lead Vocals and Percussion
I guess it’s time to tell you a little about me. I guess I was about eight years old when I realized I could sing and about fifteen when I realized I loved it and didn’t want to live my life without it. I studied at the New England Conservatory of Music when I was a sophomore and took a shine at that time to the Drama and Music Depts at Wakefield High. When I graduated I started to study with my first private vocal coach which was great but it was also then when I started to sing in my first Rock and Roll band. My coach made me choose….hmmm let’s see, study with a strict vocal coach, which I have to pay for and commute into Boston twice a week, or play with a rock band, go on the road and make some money…I was 18, whatt’ya think I did? From there I was in a few different music projects including other bands and a couple of duo’s…that’s when I met Paul. I went to Berklee in 1984 for a couple of years…what a trip that was, I made alot of friends and contacts there. After that I decided I wanted to make some money and got into a wedding band…I did that for a long time but as it goes, it was time for a Cool Change if you haven’t guessed, that’s where the name came from. This was something I’ve wanted to do for a while, put together my own thing. Sometimes it takes a little push to get there. I mean I, was a bandleader for about 10 years but this project is different…my heart and soul is involved in every decision from song selections to the people I work with. Anyway yada yada yada, that’s a little bit of me and my life…I’m just happy to be singing and playing music with all my friends…I’m very lucky to be surrounded by such talent. I live in the North Shore area with my 13 year old son Tom and my cat Linus…and life is good.
PAUL 🔗 “Did I tell you I love my guitar?”
Lead Guitar
I met Paul (he’s a Wakefield boy) about twenty years ago. He was part of the first band I was ever in and we’ve been friends and partners in music ever since.
Paul is a Berklee graduate and spent his first few years out of college teaching guitar and playing in a rock band on the side. After the band broke up we put an acoustic duo together that lasted about a year (I think we even wrote a jingle for a carpet company) after that we went in different directions. He played in several function bands over the years, all the while, writing and free lancing. (He’s working on a recording project right now. He’s written all the music and has asked a few friends to collaborate and lend their lyric writing and playing talents on all of the tracks, we’ll keep you posted on it’s progress, I guarantee it’ll be great when it’s done.)
The nice thing about playing music is, you usually end up coming around full circle and hooking up to play with old friends. That’s what happened. Years later we started playing together again, and put Cool Change together. His passion is definitely playing music, and yes Paul, you did tell me you love your guitar (he actually names them…) Actually I will say his guitar does come second to his first two loves…his son’s Zach and Dylan. Paul is a great friend, dad and musician.
MIKE MAZOLA 🔗 “Latin’s not really my thing, Man…”
12 String Acoustic Guitar and Vocals
I met Michael…well I think it was around 1986 and we’ve been friends ever since. Both of us playing in different bands over the years, we never actually got to play together until just recently. Mike has been a drummer in the North Shore for well…I think as long as he could hold sticks. Over the past twenty years he’s lent his talent to a few very well known bands in this area, not only playing drums but adding great vocals as well. Funny thing is, although Mike sings with us, he doesn’t play drums, instead he plays acoustic guitar with Paul and we become a two guitar acoustic trio. This guy loves to play and puts his heart into everything he does, from learning and playing the songs he loves to buying a new toy at Guitar Center every other week. His talent, positive attitude and sense of humor (the latter being an extremely important asset for the Cool Change project) makes him a pleasure to work with. He’s not only a great musician but a great dad as well to his ten year old son Michael.
MIKE POHAS “Take it easy kid…”
Drums / Percussion / Vocals
I met Mikey in the mid eighties when he played drums for a band named “Backtrack”. It took us about ten years but we finally got to work together when he joined my band back in 1996 (I think). When we disbanded he got his dream gig with the “Class of 66” now known as the “Classmates”. When he’s available, we depend on him to lay down the groove either with Paul and me as a trio or in a full band.
Playing drums isn’t all he does though…no no no…Mikey has a wonderful voice. He adds color and life to every song he plays. It all comes from his personality. He’s not only a great musician but quite an entertainer as well. He almost does as many imitations as me (ha ha) Seriously, the man can answer any T.V. or music trivia question and do just about any voice…and the movie quote…geez, don’t get me started. The three of us spend half the gig entertaining each other as well as our audience. Mikey is a great addition when we get to play together.
BOB TIRELLI 🔗 “Hey isn’t that Mr Tirelli? …holy sh#%”
Bass and Vocals
Bob is a Berklee graduate and has played in numerous bands. He not only plays with us but also with a popular trio alongside great guitar and voice man Ray Zerkle called Fossil Fuel as well as freelancing.
He played the general business circuit for around ten years before he decided he just wanted to play for fun…and fun he has…he’s known for making me laugh in mid-song with his one liners and voices…”we’re going to have one of our sexy pahhties” but having a good time is what it’s all about. It wouldn’t be a gig without one of his stories, or “Moons?” after the gig.
If we need to find a new song to play we can usually find one on his iPod (one of his many musical toys…these boys just love to buy toys)
But Bob doesn’t just play, oh no…he’s also teaching music in the town of Marblehead to some very lucky eighth graders (note the quote above) a very busy man he is. His great bass playing, vocals and sense of humor is always a welcome addition when we get to jam as a full band. Bob is a devoted family man and lives with his wife Sherry and their two daughters Olivia and Samantha.
JOHN ZORZONELLO “Yeah, the song goes something like that”
Drums
We met John just this year. He was playing with ‘Replay’, a great local band we got to know down at the Lakeside Tavern in Wakefield. John’s been playing for a long time…and you can tell when he plays that he loves what he does. He just lays down the groove, throws out the one liners and is as laid back as you can get. His talent, sense of humor and ugly shirts (just kidding John) make him a pleasure to play with when we get the full band together. John a.k.a. Johnny Z also makes the third to Bob and Ray in ‘Fossil Fuel’…he’s very busy these days. You can check out F.F.’s schedule at www.RaymondLeeMusic.com.
Actually the nice thing about John doing gigs with us is that he usually brings his wife Debbie with him (then I’ve got someone cool to hang out with…Debbie rocks) They live in the North Shore area with their children…yep, we got some family men in this here group of musicians.
STEVE COFFILL “Yeah I’m in, I’ll play…where’s the gig??”
Keyboards and Vocals
We met Steve the same time we met Johnny Z. When he’s available and not busy playing with “The Lee Hawkins Band” or his freelancing solo gigs (he’s available for your wedding/function cocktail hour folks and also plays in many local establishments) he lends Cool Change his wonderful talent on keys when we’re in full band mode. I remember the first gig he did with us…everytime I turned to look over at him, he had a smile from ear to ear…the guy absolutely loves to play and it’s something you can not only see, but hear when his fingers hit the keys for a solo.
Steve’s been playing since he was a young lad and it shows…and in addition to playing, he also passes on his knowledge of music to students in the Lynn Public School system as well as having a full schedule of private piano students. It’s so nice to be surrounded by such enthusiasm.
RAY LEE 🔗 “Can I get a yee haww”
Guitar, Keyboard, Harmonica and Vocals
I had the pleasure of meeting Ray Lee (Zerkle) a couple of years ago, when he played at an outdoor barbeque I was attending at the Danversport Yacht Club. I sat in and sang a few songs with him and the rest, as they say is history. Ray played with the Class of 66 for…well…20 years (give or take…I’m not sure of the actual number…but it was a long time!!) Along with “The Class”…over the years, Ray has also made quite a name for himself playing solo gigs and also with his band ‘Fossil Fuel’. Now…when he’s not busy (which is rare) he lends his talents as a musician and performer and his sense of humor to Cool Change. He plays with both the trio when needed (if he’s available) and the band, whatever the case it’s always a good time. You can find out where he’s playing at RayZRock.com, check him out, you won’t be disappointed. Ray lives in Westford Ma. with his wife Kathy.
Cool Change — The Original Lineup
