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Barbara Fasano - Written In
The Stars (Human Child Records)
Will be released - October 24, 2006
Oh, geez.
These are the times I feel out of my league.
The sheet that comes from the publicist says the disc "...boasts a line-up
of all-star jazzmen, led
by...John Di Martino, known for his work with Grady Tate, Freddy Cole, Pat
Martino and the late Ray
Barreto."
I haven't heard of any of these guys. (Really, really sorry, fellas.)
Near as I can tell, Ms. Fasano is a hard-working, well-regarded cabaret
performer on both coasts who
sometimes touches down in fly-over country - but not lately in my neck of
the woods.
This is a great disc - and you'll want to catch every nuance. Ms. Fasano is
not only blessed with a fine
voice, but also with the smarts and ability to infuse a lot of emotion
into her performance. That's what makes standards like "One For My Baby" stick out from
the pack.
And Ms. Fasano's treatment certainly does! Tim Ouimette's trumpet (Okay,
I'll remember that name from now on) adds a lot to this one, too.
Did I say that these are all Harold Arlen tunes? Lyrics by Everyone from
Ira Gershwin to Johnny
Mercer, to Truman Capote. Some are well-known. Some less so. My tastes run
more toward the more familiar standards - "Let's Fall In Love," "Come Rain
Or Come Shine," and "My Shining Hour."
But the whole disc is good. I would have liked to hear one or two that
picked up the tempo a little.
I thought "As Long As I Live," a nicely-done duet with Eric Comstock, was
going to get there. It
almost did. John Hart on guitar adds much to that one. The whole disc is
nicely arranged by the
aforementioned Mr. Di Martino, who also plays piano.
So. Three new names to remember - John Hart and Tim Ouimette, along with
Mr. Di Martino.
Oops. Four. Barbara Fasano. Tough to forget. File under "talented and
smart."
I learn new stuff every day.
Very highly recommended.
  Three
and one-half microphones (out of four)
- Doug Boynton
(8/22/06) |
