Elisa Dease, known in her past career by her maiden name Elisa Fiorillo, is a well- established pop, jazz, and R&B singer. Dease’s father, Alexander Fiorillo, is a classical pianist who teaches at Temple University in her hometown of Philadelphia and studied piano with one of the best pianists in the world, Vladimir Horowitz. Fiorillo won the 1985 Star Search talent show. In 1987, she was signed to Chrysalis Records. She first performed the song “Jackie” on the Summer School soundtrack and caught the eye of John “Jellybean” Benitez who asked her to be the lead vocalist on two songs on his 1987 album "Just Visiting This Planet." One of the songs, “Who Found Who,” was a hit worldwide, reaching the Top 20 in many countries in addition to great club success. At the same time, Fiorillo released her self-titled debut album featuring the pop singles “How Can I Forget You” and “Forgive Me For Dreaming.” The second album she released on Chrysalis, "I Am," was released in 1990 (several songs co-written and produced by Prince). It was recorded at Paisley Park recording studio after she had contributed, as a backing vocalist, to the soundtracks of Prince's Graffiti Bridge and Batman. The album scored a Top 30 hit in the U.S. and Top 20 in Australia with “On The Way Up,” which Dease (Fiorillo) co-wrote with Prince. Dease also sang on Prince’s album "Diamonds And Pearls" & Graffitti Bridge's "Love Machine". After Chrysalis, Fiorillo was signed to A&M Records where she recorded an album that was unfortunately never released. Dease continued with studio work, singing for artists such as Belinda Carlisle, Dave Koz, La Toya Jackson, David Cassidy, Billie Myers and was featured on the video game "Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater" singing “Don’t Be Afraid.” Billie Myers asked Elisa to join her band to sing backup vocals for her promotional tour during which they opened for the band Savage Garden. Darren Hayes, lead singer of Savage Garden, asked Dease to sing backup vocals and be featured on his "Superstars and Cannonballs" tour. She performed a duet with him on "Right Dead Back On It”.
Fiorillo also has credits directing and acting in Anime cartoons! She directed TV series, such as the 2001 "Mahou Shoujo Neko Taruto" as well as the 2002 TV series "Mao Dante." Fiorillo did voiceover work and played the role of “Ayamo Nakamura” in the 2003 TV series "Stratos 4 ," the lead voice of “Nei” in "Stella Deus: The Gate of Eternity" and the lead voice of "Chips" in "Taruto."
Fiorillo’s 2007 album entitled "Labor Of Love" is available at her website. She turned to her musical direction toward jazz in the 2000s.
Currently living in Las Vegas, after posting a clip on YouTube of her Jazz trio The Real Deal, Elisa got a call from a very familiar voice. In 2009, Prince called to ask her if she wanted to join his band The New Power Generation (NPG). Of course Elisa said YES! Who wouldn't want to perform with one of the best live performers on the planet? Since joining the NPG, Elisa has performed in the USA, Canada, Australia and Europe. Some of the highlights: The Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland, The North Sea Jazz Festival in Curacao and The Grand Prix in Abu Dhabi.
Elisa Dease
Reese is a master guitar player with extensive experience in live performance and studio session work.
His experience includes over 400 live performances covering many different styles to date including opening for Martin Sexton, Ron Holloway, Linwood Taylor, Bo Bice, Scotty McCreery, as well as an invite to open for Ted Nugent. He won the National Guitar Workshop competition in April of 2011, has participated in showcase events, numerous festivals, and played prestigous clubs such as the Friars in New York City. He has been featured in numerous publications, radio tours, television spots, and was the featured artist of the week for Underground Artists Live out of New York.
Tyler Reese released his first CD at the age of 15. "Risus21,″ "released in June of 2010, is an exploration of progressive rock with moderately dark, heavy riffs and a lot of high-energy guitar. His second CD, “Because I Can,” which was released when he was 17 in October 2011, is a series of contemporary, 21st century arrangements of traditional jazz standards with aspects of funk, rock and blues. Tyler has played lead guitar for numerous groups in the genres of rock, metal, pop, country, Americana, R/B, and jazz. Tyler has played with Billy Davis, Gary Grainger, Martin Sexton, Ernie Lsley, John Lee, Kevin Walker, Benjie Porecki, Greg Grainger, Bo Bice, Scotty McCreery, Adrianna Freeman, Ben Bradford, and more. In August of 2012, Tyler spent a week with Pat Metheny at a master’s guitar workship in Connecticut, including spending personal time with the progressive guitar master in individual instruction. In the fall of 2013, he released a single with Kimberley Dahme, bass player for BOSTON. Tyler attended the Berklee College of Music, and is now a studio and live musician in Nashville, Tennessee. He is currently co-writing and working with producer Jeff Silverman (former touring and session guitarist for Rick Springfield), in addition to co-writing and producing a CD with Elisa Fiorillo Dease in The Dease & Reese Project.