Paul Marinaro: Not Quite Yet

The cover of the album is vaguely noir, with the urban greenish cast of tungsten film. A sole figure leans slightly against a building, downcast, staring into his soul, and waiting out a lit cigarette when it was still hip to smoke. The guy is Frank Sinatra and the album was In The Wee Small Hours. The year is 1955. It is difficult to believe that Chicago-based vocalist Paul Marinaro has even been born, but clearly, Sinatra will make an impression on him. Who can blame him, or any other Italian-American male vocalist? Still, Sinatra never recorded "Remind Me," an older tune by Jerome Kern here, although the lyrics might lead you to believe otherwise. There are moments when Marinaro's phrasing somehow recalls Sinatra, but without the jaunty "I dare you" tone that Sinatra could easily summon up. Marinaro projects vulnerability, which Sinatra could do as well, even if it was, at some level, an elaborate charade deployed to accomplish some ulterior romantic objective..

The cover of Marinaro's "Not Quite Yet" takes one there as well. The singer, collar open, undone tie and a heavy five o'clock shadow, is spot lit, leaning on a piano (or a bar), looking into the middle distance, as if ruefully reciting the lyrics to "No One Ever Tells You" to himself. It is a wee small hours cover, sans cigarette, of course. Sinatra did record "No One Ever Tells You," although at briefer length and with considerably more irony. And with his inevitable secret weapon, a big band to die for. Marinaro's backing band is pretty good, but Sinatra never worked with anyone other than the best.

Make no mistake, this is not just another Sinatra wannabe, much less an imitator. Marinaro's choice of material is quite different, ranging from "Invitation" to David Bowie. Nat King Cole is an obvious influence as well. Marinaro is quite a good singer. He has an attractive voice, but in his prime, Sinatra had a great one, not to mention the life experience to make any lyrics instantly credible, not to say, autobiographical. Reading Marinaro's biography, one knows he's had plenty of his own to handle including intimations of mortality. That may color what he covers, although why "Taking a Chance on Love" goes on for over seven minutes is a mystery. Marinaro does indeed favor marathon versions of tunes when a listener would prefer 2:53 and out. Still, "On A Wonderful Day Like Today" does not drag, and a better balance of up-tempo tunes may have made for a more interesting performance. Marinaro's arranger, Mike Allemana may try to do a little too much, like the string accompaniment on "That's All." Yes, Nat Cole had strings, but they never got in the way, and Gordon Jenkins was no slouch.

A very good outing, but it will take some studied editing of his arrangements for Marinaro to make a great one. Not quite yet.