Monday, May 19, 2025
The local seven-member band Musically Inclined will experience a full-circle moment on May 18, when the group is scheduled to perform where it all began — at the Baldwin Public Library.
But this time, the band will give a live performance instead of doing it virtually.
At the world was still adjusting to the constraints of the Covid-19 pandemic, the library held a virtual concert series. A simple library listing advertising the series was enough to spark inspiration in Ronnie Roddy Jr., of Baldwin, who began gathering friends from the neighborhood and classmates from Nassau Community College to take part.
“From that moment, I was like, you know, I think we should do more with this,” he recalled.
The seven-member group features musicians from across Long Island. Roddy Jr. of Baldwin plays keyboard and piano, while Matt Mener of Massapequa performs on tenor and soprano saxophones. Mike Smith of Massapequa Park plays guitar, and Joe Gallagher, also of Baldwin, plays bass. Gregory J. Tyson of Williston Park handles both baritone and tenor saxophones. Nsikak Ekong of Hempstead plays trombone, and Kevin Jackson of Freeport brings energy on alto saxophone and steel pan.
Roddy was introduced to the keyboard at age 5, when his grandmother had bought one for his sister, but it ended up capturing his attention instead.
“It came out to be that I was the one that liked it the most,” he said with a chuckle.
Still, it took time before he fully committed to taking lessons. He moved between several music schools — starting with the Oceanside Music Center, then programs in Freeport — before finding a home at the New World Music Center in Baldwin, where he was introduced to a range of piano teachers and styles.
A 2017 graduate of Baldwin High School, Roddy went on to study Music Performance at Nassau Community College and Music Therapy at Molloy University. Looking back, he’s noticed steady growth in Baldwin’s music program since his time as a student.
“I could tell there’s been a lot of growth, especially during my senior year,” he said. “Even though it’s a small community, I feel like there’s a really good sound here.”
Roddy explained that his own musical foundation is rooted primarily in gospel and jazz, while Gallagher brings a rock influence as a drummer. Mener leans heavily into jazz, and Jackson, also a jazz musician, adds a Caribbean flavor through his experience playing soca music.
Together, the six-member band described their sound as a blend of multiple genres. Over the years, it has evolved into a mix of gospel, R&B, jazz and funk. If Roddy had to give it a name, he’d call it “jazz fusion — with a little bit of extra.”
Musically Inclined has performed at local parks, community festivals and school events — building a following not just through their talent, but also through their presence in the spaces that matter most to their neighbors.
The band’s upcoming performance at the Baldwin Public Library on May 18 will indeed be a full-circle moment, returning in person to the place that hosted their very first performance as a group, albeit virtually. Roddy said the group hopes to use the opportunity to inspire young people in their community to explore music if they feel drawn to it.
“I hope that through our music, we inspire young jazz musicians and artists to develop their own sound and craft,” he said. “If you’re passionate about it, pursue it — through school, through practice — and don’t be afraid to identify yourself as a musician.”
