CD/LP/Track Review
Rick DellaRatta Trio: Live In Brazil And At The Blue Note
C. Michael Bailey
...wants to know if Gene Harris is playing "Summertime" in Heaven...At The Holiday Inn Lounge. All music is fundamentally good, it is just that some music is better. This collection falls under the “good” category. This is a 2 CD live set of pianist / vocalist Rick DellaRatta and his trio, consisting of René Hart on bass and the late Denis Charles on drums with additional support from guitarist Dustan Galas and Walt Szymanski on Trumpet. The performances lack the intimacy of a small venue and are slightly self-indulgent in their length. DellaRatta takes himself and his talent a bit too seriously. Michael Nastos of The All Music Guide describes DellaRatta’s...”nasal voice as a cross between Elton John and Michael Franks”. Add to that Sting, Billy Joel, and the wheeze of a late-period Chet Baker and the listener might have a clearer picture. DellaRatta’s keyboard work reminds me of the young Benny Green without the direction. The set highlight comes at the end, with “When Its Sleepy time Down South”, a bit too late to make this set 100% worthwhile. This is harmless lounge music. It will appeal to those listeners who like Kenny G, John Tesh, and Yanni.
Track Listing: (CD 1) Living Inside A Daydream; 7th Heaven; Autumn Leaves; Little Song; Take It Or Leave It. (CD 2) Say You
Personnel: Rick DellaRatta: Keyboards, Vocals; Ren
Record Label: Stella Records | Style: Straight-ahead/Mainstream
