Articles by Nicholas F. Mondello
Terry Waldo: Treasury Volume 1
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Simply stated, and without hyperbole, Terry Waldo is an American musical treasure. He's also a treasure purveyor. A protégé of and mentored by Eubie Blake, Waldo is a player, composer, arranger, author, podcaster, theatrical director, and the noted oracle for ragtime and early American popular music. With Treasury Volume 1 (the first of a three-volume set), Waldo and his all-star Gotham City Band cover ten selections from the embryonic days of American jazz.Things kick this lively session off ...
Continue ReadingKing Pleasure: King Pleasure Sings the Freudian Slips Songbook
by Nicholas F. Mondello
In 1951 in Vienna, a graduate school psychology student and amateur harpist doing work on Freud literally stumbled upon a handful of torn-edged music manuscript papers of the legendary psychiatrist. Recognizing what could be a major historical discovery, the student carefully peeled the sheets individually and, looking around for cameras and other crime-watchers, made off with the slips of paper. After verifying the source by comparing the writing with Freud's sketches, she immediately brought the papers to one Clarence Beeks, ...
Continue ReadingAubrey Logan and Her Bigger Than Average Big Band: Aubrey Logan and Her Bigger Than Average Big Band
by Nicholas F. Mondello
With this recording, Austin, Texas-based award-winning vocalist, trombonist and composer, Aubrey Logan and her Bigger Than Average Band send up ten genre-crossing tracks. The effort ranges from iconic jazz and pop to original selections. Things get going with a cover of the Carole King hit, “I Feel the Earth Move." Logan digs into the melody with a bluesy approach before laying into the tune with her trombone. There is a fine piano ride following. The track is ...
Continue ReadingDiane Marino: Romance In The Dark
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Romance in the Dark, from highly-versatile vocalist-pianist-arranger Diane Marino and a team of Nashville's top studio players, offers 10 entertaining selections. Comprised of covers of well-known standards and classic soul material (with a handful-plus being remixed and remastered from the vocalist's previously released recordings), it is a thoroughly enjoyable and, yes, romantic effort. “Out of This World" opens the session in a lush exotic atmosphere. Originally recorded by Jo Stafford and nearly a jazz standard, Marino dives ...
Continue ReadingMelinda Rose Rodriguez and Frenchy Romero: I'm On My Way
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Longtime friends from their Miami days, vocalist Melinda Rose Rodriguez and pianist Frenchy Romero offer their debut collaboration, I'm on My Way. It is a ten-track collection of known fare, as well as original compositions from Rodriguez. The album is a festive musical playground for the two artists, both of whom will be performing in elite U.S. Army Bands in Washington, DC. Curtains rise with “Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," an easy-swinging appetizer with Rodriguez delivering ...
Continue ReadingKeith Fiala: Keith Fiala: The Quest
by Nicholas F. Mondello
The Quest from Austin-based trumpeter Keith Fiala presents twelve original tracks of varied textures, grooves and soundscapes. The album follows Fiala's well-received and charted New Beginnings (self-produced, 2024), which was released earlier this year. The Quest is deeper--more profound--and definitely an aurally stimulating “concept" presentation. “Always With Me" launches the session. A longer repetitive melody over a light hip-hop rhythm bed appears before Fiala's open horn solos. This is a laid-back track with an '80s vibe. It ...
Continue ReadingEric Jacobson: Heading Home
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Wisconsin trumpeter, composer-arranger, educator and author Eric Jacobson and his team deliver Heading Home, his third album as leader. Offering eight Jacobson originals played by Chicago heavyweights and a New Yorker guest, all Jacobson regulars, the album, a hard bop retrospective, is arguably--if not definitively--the trumpeter's finest outing to date. “Survival" opens in a speedball frenzy with trumpet and tenor, the classic hard bop front line configuration, stating the melody before saxophonist Geof Bradfield blisters off, soloing ...
Continue ReadingBarbara Reed: Lucky Still
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Lucky Still is a deeply moving track from the pen and vocal talents of L.A.-based singer, composer and author Barbara Reed. The presentation is lush with a crew of piano, rhythm, and strings drawn from first-call L.A. and Las Vegas musicians who accompany Reed. Originally from New England, Reed has been on the L.A. scene for decades, being quite active as a solo artist and primarily accompanying herself on piano. As an author, she's written a handful-plus of critically-acclaimed books ...
Continue ReadingBevan Manson featuring Tierney Sutton with The Hollywood Studio Orchestra: Talking to Trees
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Bevan Manson is an artist who has a creative duality. As a pianist, composer/arranger and educator, he's been successful in classical and jazz environments. With Talking to Trees, Manson provides an array of both originals and jazz standards, most with an arboreal tint, as the title indicates. The work is a validation that his pen, guiding the talents of vocalist Tierney Sutton and L.A.'s premium players, can make the familiar fascinating and the novel intriguing. Miles Davis' ...
Continue ReadingCathy Segal-Garcia: Social Anthems - Volume 2
by Nicholas F. Mondello
Los Angeles-based Renaissance woman Cathy Segal-Garcia is well-known as an innovator, trailblazer and an artist who sets her own artistic paths. As a vocalist, composer/arranger, broadcaster, educator and more, she has never shied away from risk. Social Anthems, Vol. 2 follows the first volume which also was a production with socially conscious themed material. With this effort she sends up eight tracks comprised of well-known selections and originals, all with that same orientation. “In Your Eyes" leaves ...
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