"The alluring Miss Clark... you won't be able to resist"
--The Village Voice

Her singing combines the deep sense of romanticism of a by-gone-era with classic vocal influences. Shawn Clark (vocals) has been leader of Lapis Luna for 7 years. A former dancer who loves all things Busby Berkley, she switched to singing where she learned on the bandstand and quickly established Lapis Luna as one of New York’s premier jazz groups.

Since the band’s inception she has toured far and wide and has been featured in art, culture & music publications from all over the world, most notably Art Forum and Smithsonian Magazine, and appeared on NYC Channel 13 City Arts where she was said to be ‘a film noir waiting to happen.’ She also sings with the powerhouse Chris Byars Octet.

Thanks to her parents and their National Lampoon’s Vacation sensibility Shawn is proud to have visited all but two States. She’s eaten and drank her way through Europe and has an eternal case of wanderlust. Shawn resides in Williamsburg, Brooklyn with 1 husband/partner in crime, 3 cats, a vegetable garden and a grill.

“Crooning sweetheart Shawn-Aileen Clark with Lapis Luna; always dressed to the nines and paying respect to old-time hipsters. Sophisticated and alluring.”
The New York Press

John Merrill (guitar) has been playing guitar since he was 12 years old. Before he played guitar he played drums and clarinet. It was his guitar teacher David Stoltz and his next door neighbor saxophonist Leonard Brown that ignited a passion for jazz music.

As a student of the New School he had the opportunity to study with jazz greats such as Jim Hall, Gene Bertoncini, John Weber, Mark Elf, and Junior Mance. While still in school John often played five to six nights a week in many NY jazz clubs. John provides accompaniment to vocalese darling Annie Ross, and vocalist Antonia Bennett.

He has one album credit as a leader entitled “Natural Progression,” and is preparing a follow up album. John has continued to devote his time to studying, performing and writing music.

John is also very involved in Brazilian and Western Classical Music, and classic literature. John led the very popular weekend jam session at the legendary jazz club “Smalls” in Greenwich Village which brought out the best talents of the NYC jazz scene. You can find him at performing at various jazz venues and exclusive events in New York City almost everyday

Chris Pistorino (bass) was born in Brooklyn but grew up in Middletown, Connecticut where as a young lad he began his music studies at Wesleyan University. 13 years ago he moved back to New York where he received high honors and degrees from the New School/Mannes School of Music. His music has been showcased at festivals and concert halls nationwide.

Chris teaches bass and music privately, and continues his own studies with John Schaeffer, retired Principal of the New York Philharmonic. He is quite the versatile musician. He is a member of the Greenwich Village Orchestra where he gets to play big symphonies. As one of the popular ‘Blue Vipers of Brooklyn’ he plays and sings Dixie, early swing, and blues.

As co-host and music director of Lapis Luna, Chris is instrumental in helping achieve the band’s sound; he transcribes all the little-known-seldom-heard songs in their repertoire, as well as arrangements that add sparkle to the traditional tunes they love to play so much.

He is an early settler of Williamsburg, Brooklyn here he lives with his wife/partner in crime, Shawn Clark, the 3 cats, a full wine rack and a stocked bar.


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Tom Abbott (tenor saxophone/clarinet) was raised in a family of musicians in Orem, Utah. He has studied with Tony Malaby, Dave Glasser, Ray Smith, Tim Price, and at the New School University Jazz Program in New York City. A prolific composer and arranger, Abbott also plays and studies a variety of musical instruments, including baritone, alto, and tenor saxophones, clarinet, mandolin, banjo, bass clarinet, flute, bassoon, and piano. He has his own big band and it’s really good.

He is a resident of Sunset Park, Brooklyn with his wife, vocalist Kelsey Jillette.

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Chris Byars (woodwinds, percussion, and arranger) is a New York native who enjoys leading ensembles of all sizes or just fitting in with whatever's already going on. He tends to bring more than one instrument to any performance situation—tenor, alto and soprano saxophones, flute, clarinet & congas.

Byars has a remarkable musical past (child soloist with the New York Opera, amongst other things). Still quite young, he is well-regarded in the jazz industry and recently landed a coveted spot in the John Pizzarelli Big Band where he is also arranging a lot of the music they perform. He leads the revered Chris Byars Octet, co-leads the long-running quintet Across 7 Street with bassist Ari Roland, and as a sideman appears with the Village Vanguard Orchestra and the Neal Miner Sextet. Byars’ discography includes five titles on Smalls Records, and one each on Criss Cross, Steeplechase and M&I Records (Japan).

Chris is arranger of the Lapis Luna Orchestra and an integral part of the 6 piece bands’ style. His method of arranging is clever and distinctive, breathing new life into any music he approaches, which is always presented to rave reviews.

Chris inhabits the Riverdale section of the Bronx with his wife and two children.

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As a teenager Brian Floody (drums) studied timpani with Dr. John Beck at the Eastman School of Music. Brian enrolled at the New School and studied with many renowned musicians including Jimmy Cobb and the late Vernel Fournier. Since 1993 he has traveled extensively throughout the world performing with Howard Alden, Junior Mance, David "Fathead" Newman, Frank Wess, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, and the Toledo Symphony Orchestra. In September 2006 he spent three weeks on a tour of Japan with guitarist Tomoya Hara and bassist Mark Tourian. Among the vocalists Brian has accompanied are Lea DeLaria, Dena Derose, Norah Jones, Irene Reid, Diane Schuur, and Marlena Shaw.

Brian has much experience as an educator having been the artistic director of the Emory University jazz festival, faculty at the Adirondack music camp, and master class presenter at Western Michigan University and Laguardia High School in New York. He currently teaches at the Brooklyn High School of the Arts, the Brooklyn Conservatory, and the Swett Arts Academy in the Bronx.

Floody is a New York native. He and his wife reside in Park Slope, Brooklyn.

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