Monica Mancini: Cinema Paradiso (2002)

By

JIM SANTELLA,

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: November 4, 2002

The cinema has given us many memorable ballads. Monica Mancini has selected chestnuts that represent a cross-section of film songs: each of them a timeless beauty that we’ll always remember. It’s music for our generation. Mancini interprets them with the wallpaper of a string orchestra in support that allows the passion in her delivery to remain at center stage. Each song is performed slow and mellow, as a lullaby suitable for filmdom’s reflective moments. The cinematic scores represented include Black Orpheus, The Promise, The Sandpiper, Dumbo, Soldier In The Rain and Royal Wedding. There are vast differences from one work to another, which the musical arrangements relate. The theme from Alfie, for instance, wades knee-deep in nostalgia, while the selection from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon moves to the contemporary, world beat of a different drummer. From her work on the film score to Ghost Ship, Mancini interprets “Senza Fine” in Italian with distinctive cultural timbres from the orchestra. Mike Lang, Ramon Stagnaro and George Doering contribute stirring instrumental interludes that complement this fine vocalist. Monica Mancini employs her natural talents wisely to remind us why we place certain film scores on the table as classic works, while others are soon forgotten.

Track Listing: Cinema Paradiso (Remember); A Day in the Life of a Fool; The Summer Knows; A Love Before Time; Solder in the Rain; Alfie; Too Late Now; The Shadow of Your Smile; Baby Mine; Senza Fine; I

Personnel: Monica Mancini- vocals; Assa Drori- violin, concertmaster; Ray Kobler, David Stenske, Ron Folsom, Belinda Broughton, Hana Krejkova, Irina Voloshina, Jim Stark, Jennifer Walton, Carolyn Osborn, Karen Jones, Joel Derouin, Liane Mautner- violin; Rolando Kato, Kazi Pitelka, Harry Shirinin, Andrew Picken- viola; Armen Ksajikian, Tim Landauer, John Krovoza- cello; Chuck Berghofer, Mike Valerio- bass; Barbara Northcutt, Earl Dumler, Aaron Hill- woodwinds; Julie Allis-Berghofer- harp; Mike Lang- piano; Tom Ranier- keyboards; Ramon Stagnaro, George Doering- guitar; Gregg Field- drums, percussion.

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