Monica Mancini: The Dreams Of Johnny Mercer

Jim Santella

Senior Contributor since 1997

Jim Santella has been contributing CD reviews, concert reviews and DVD reviews to AAJ since 1997. His work has also appeared in Southland Blues, The L.A. Jazz Scene, and Cadence Magazine.

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Published: January 1, 2001

Her first album was a tribute to her father. Monica Mancini’ssecondalbum is a tribute to the music of another legend. Johnny Mercer left a strong impression on the singer as she was growing up in a musical family. Mancini’s parents met when they were both working with the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Mom was a singer and Dad was a composer. The apple falls close to the roots of the tree, and Monica Mancini’s natural talent serves to make this latest project work.

Popular music has a wide audience appeal. How can we forget classics such as “Skylark,” “On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe” and “Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive?” For her tribute to Johnny Mercer, Mancini has included seven songs composed by Barry Manilow. After the songwriter’s passing, Ginger Mercer, his wife, discovered unpublished lyrics among his possessions. Some of these were passed to Manilow. The collaborative result enhances Mancini’s pop album.

Guests Alvin Chea, Warren Luening, Dean Parks and Sal Lozano complement the singer’s charming interpretations. That all lyrics are included in the album’s liner notes serves to remind us of the intended emphasis. Each song has a story to tell. The mood changes from slow and dreamy to hot and spicy. Percussionists Munyungo Jackson, Michito Sanchez and Tiki Pasillas feed the fire on several tracks. While Mancini’s vocal approach remains impersonal and devoid of a distinguishing style, she’s surrounded herself with a stellar cast for this tribute that succeeds in highlighting the lyrics of a legendary songwriter.

Track Listing: Ac-Cent-Tchu-Ate the Positive; Something Tells Me; Skylark; The Weekend of a Private Secretary; With My Lover Beside Me; When October Goes; On the Atchison, Topeka and the Santa Fe; When the Meadow was Bloomin

Personnel: Monica Mancini- vocals; Randy Waldman- keyboards; David Torres, Michael Lang- piano; Chuck Berghofer, George Lopez- bass; Gregg Field- drums & percussion; Dean Parks- guitar; Ricardo

Record Label: Concord Music Group
Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream