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LI Sound: Alexa Ray Joel's 'Invisible' is strong intro

Alexa Ray Joel is ready to step into

Photo credit: Getty Images Photo | Alexa Ray Joel is ready to step into the spotlight with her new single, "Invisible."

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Alexa Ray Joel never wanted to simply be famous because of her superstar folks, so for the past few years she's been learning the ropes as a singer-songwriter.

With her new single, "Invisible," though, she seems ready to step into the spotlight. The piano-driven ballad, which she recently debuted on "The Wendy Williams Show," about a bad breakup, gives her a chance to show off her powerful, distinctive voice as well as her songwriting abilities.

To make the most of it, Joel teamed up with Tommy Byrnes, Billy Joel's longtime guitarist, to produce "Invisible," which will likely be on her upcoming album. The song, which she is giving away on her Web site, alexarayjoel.com, is so strong and moves in such a pop-leaning direction that Joel may find herself in the midst of the major-label frenzy that she has tried to avoid so far.

 

BROTHERS FIRST. For most drummers, it would have been a tough decision. But Seaford's Kris Mazzarisi says he didn't really give it a second thought.

Mazzarisi left Ryan Star's band last month, in between legs of the long-running, successful David Cook tour, to rejoin his brother, Matthew Bair, as his new band The Sequel began rehearsals for an upcoming string of shows.

Mazzarisi had been juggling both bands' schedules so that he could play on The Sequel album Bair was recording in Los Angeles on breaks from Star's tour. But when Star's tour got extended and label interest in The Sequel started requiring a full band, Mazzarisi had to pick.

"Being on tour with Ryan was great," says Mazzarisi, who made such a strong impression on Cook that the "American Idol" did a pretty good impersonation of Mazzarisi, complete with walk and LawnGuyland accent, that made the rounds on YouTube. "But when Matt called, I had to go work with him."

Contact The Long Island Sound at glenn.gamboa@newsday.com or add ndmus as a friend at MySpace or imeem.

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