Over the past decade, American Paul Marinaro has become one of the most in-demand jazz singers in Chicago. He performs regularly there, as well as in NYC. Originally from Buffalo, Paul released his debut album "Without a Song" in 2013.
On this new CD, featuring arrangements of old songs, he swings the hell out of it. Its title 'Not Quite Yet' comes from 'No Plan' an obscure song by David Bowie. This is not only a reflection on the Corona pandemic, but also on personal health problems.
The album opens with "Born To Be Blue," a first single with a swinging arrangement of Mel Tormé's song, followed by Jobim's dreamy bossa nova "Someone To Light Up My Life.
Hope radiates from a slow version of 'Make Me Rainbows,' and on Bowie's '5:15 The Angels Have Gone,' the second single off, comes a sense of isolation and discord. The ballad 'Remind Me' tells of someone hesitating to venture into something.
'No One Ever Tells You' is a bluesy big band song, then on 'Invitation' he expects a chance at romance again. Then consider a fantasy with 'The Island' and continue with the standard 'Taking a Chance on Love'.
The exuberant "On a Wonderful Day Like Today" is followed by "That's All. And 'Searching (É Luxo Só)' brings samba to the apple, followed by Stephen Sondheim's 'I Remember.' 'No Plan' closes with the aforementioned Bowie song.
So it has become a personal collection of songs about life and love, which Paul has been singing for the past few years. Maybe something for you?
Website
Tom Mariano
Tracks:
1. Born To Be Blue
2. Someone To Light Up My Life
3. Make Me Rainbows
4. 5:15 The Angels Have Gone
5. Remind Me
6. No One Ever Tells You
7. Invitation
8. The Island
9. Taking a Chance on Love
10. On a Wonderful Day Like Today
11. That's All
12. Searching (É Luxo Só)
13. I Remember
14. No Plan
Credits:
Tom Vaitsas, piano
Mike Allemana, guitar
John Tate, bass
George Fludas, drums
Marques Carroll, trumpet
Raphael Crawford, trombone
Chris Madsen, tenor saxophone
Greg Ward, alto saxophone
Rajiv Halim, clarinet
Jim Gailloreto, flute
Alyssa Allgood, backup vocals
Sarah Marie Young, backup vocals
KAIA String Quartet:
Victoria Moreira, violin
Naomi Culp, violin
Amanda Grimm, viola
Hope DeCelle, cello