Take Five with Vocalist Greg Farnese

Greg Farnese is a modern-day throwback vocalist, a crooner, if you will. He reignites the treasured and timeless classics from the Great American Songbook and blends them with his unique interpretations of his modern-day favorites. A South Jersey native, Greg began his career in acting and moved to Hollywood, California, where he worked in theater, television and films. Missing his roots, he ultimately moved back to the East Coast, where he started his own production company producing content for television, commercials, web content and documentaries. It was here in New Jersey that his love of jazz and his vocal abilities took root and he began singing professionally. His soulful tone and inspired phrasing, as well as his reputation as a consummate performer, have produced a wide fan base of musicians and music lovers.

In 2026, Greg released Oh No, I'm In Love Again (Imani / 88 Keys Productions, 2026) produced by three-time Grammy-nominated Orrin Evans, who also performs on the album. The album blends original material with familiar popular songs reimagined through fresh jazz arrangements. Greg Farnese is proud to have shared the bandstand with renowned jazz artists such as John Colianni, Tom Lawton, Orrin Evans, Billy Stritch, John J. DiMartino, Rick Germanson, Jeff Franzel, Aaron Graves, Dave Hartl, Luke Carlos O'Reilly, Dean Schneider, Chris Simonini, Jim Holton, Tom Adams, Larry McKenna, Lee Smith, Mike Boone, Andy Lalasis, Madison Rast, Paul Bollenback, Sonny Troy, Victor North, John David Simon, Gene Perla, Wayne Henderson, Grant MacAvoy, Leon Jordan, Sr., Duane Eubanks, Byron Landham, Tim Warfield and Behn Gillece.

Greg's popularity has allowed him the opportunity to delight fans in several venues. He currently plays in some of the most celebrated clubs and restaurants on the East Coast, including The Hard Rock Casino (AC), Winnie's Jazz Club (NYC), The Ivy Room (NYC), Swing 46 (NYC), Chelsea Table & Stage (NYC), South Jazz Club, Chris' Jazz Café, South Jazz Kitchen, Milkboy, Parx Casino, Cellar Dog (PHL) as well as noted festivals such as the Exit 0 Jazz Festival in Cape May, NJ.

His fans and fellow musicians continue to inspire him and enhance his passion and love for jazz.

All About Jazz: What instrument do you play?

Greg Farnese: I'm a vocalist and songwriter.

AAJ: Who are your teachers, mentors and influences?

GF: John Colianni (mentor); Leon Jordan, Sr.; John Nicholas Peters (voice coach/teacher).

AAJ: When did you know you wanted to be a musician?

GF: My earliest memories are wrapped in the gentle hum of melody, listening to my Dad sing as music filled every corner of our home. Even as a small child, those simple songs felt less like background noise and more like a calling, pulling at something deep inside me.

AAJ: How would you describe your sound and your approach to making music?

GF: I would describe my sound as a modern-day throwback vocalist. I attempt to bridge the gap between classic era-defining swing and contemporary music.

AAJ: If you could assemble your dream band, who would be in it?

GF: Duke Ellington, Ron Carter, John Coltrane, Miles Davis, Lionel Hampton, and Art Blakey.

AAJ: What's your best or worst road story?

GF: Not so much a road tour event but one of the most embarrassing. I sang a complete concert with a huge hole in my pants, a crotch hole. I was wearing black pants and white underwear. I sat on a stool for the ballads. I can't imagine why no one was laughing, but I sure did when I noticed once I got off the stage. Nothing like performing live!

AAJ: What is your favorite venue and why?

GF: Chelsea Table & Stage, Birdland, Cellar Dog Philadelphia, South Jazz Kitchen, Philadelphia, Hard Rock Casino, Atlantic City.

AAJ: What is your favorite recording in your discography and why?

GF: Oh No, I'm In Love Again because of the producer Orrin Evans, horn arrangements by Elliot Bild and the fact that a few of my original songs are on this album. It's the album I'm most proud of.

AAJ: What do you hope listeners take away from your music?

GF: My hope is that when the listeners hear a familiar song that I'm interpreting, that they hear it from a fresh new perspective.

AAJ: What's something people might be surprised to learn about you?

GF: That my father, Aldo Farnese, was a local celebrity in Philadelphia as a host of two children's television shows he created. They were called "Dickory Doc" and "Adam Android." You can Google these shows and read more about my father.

AAJ: What was the first jazz album you bought?

GF: Chet Baker Embraceable You (Pacific Jazz, 1995)

AAJ: What music are you listening to now?

GF: Jamie Cullum Interlude (Island, 2014); Laufey A Matter of Time (Vingolf, 2025); Gregory Porter Nat King Cole & Me (Blue Note, 2017); Sonny Rollins Without a Song: The 9/11 Concert (Milestone, 2005); Mark Murphy A Beautiful Friendship: Remembering Shirley Horn (Gearbox, 2013).

AAJ: What are your desert island picks?

GF: Stevie Wonder Songs in the Key of Life (Tamla, 1976); Frank Sinatra Songs for Young Lovers (Capitol, 1954); Prince Purple Rain (Warner Bros., 1984); Led Zeppelin Physical Graffiti (Swan Song, 1975).

AAJ: How would you describe the state of jazz today?

GF: I think the state of jazz today is fantastic! Jazz is appreciated by so many countries around the world. I was recently in Japan, and the music community there admires and adores the music. Today, so many platforms let young listeners access the jazz greats of our time!

AAJ: What would you like to see more of in today's jazz world?

GF: I would like to see more exposure for young jazz artists, and there are plenty out there, getting the same worldwide recognition as many pop artists.

AAJ: What do you listen for when you listen to music?

GF: Melody, lyrics, and to see if my body, especially my foot, is tapping! Also, will I want to listen to this song more than once? If the answer is "yes," I get extremely excited!!

AAJ: What have you learned about music that took you a long time to understand?

GF: One of the lessons I learned about music is that it's not just about how well or poorly I'm playing. It's mostly about the effect the music is having on the listener. Music is about lifting spirits and souls, not so much about "Man, I could have hit that note so much better."

AAJ: What makes you want to play with someone again?

GF: I love making music with good people who possess incredible character. Being a musical genius is special; don't get me wrong, but if you're a negative, nasty person, I'd rather not see you again on the bandstand.

AAJ: Is there something about being a working musician that audiences rarely see or understand?

GF: The amount of time and work that goes into preparing for a performance is something that goes unnoticed. Musicians are humans who have life issues and things going on in their lives that we can't bring onto the bandstand.

AAJ: What is your greatest fear when you perform?

GF: My biggest fear is that I will open my mouth to sing a tune, and nothing comes out! I have nightmares about that.

AAJ: What is your favorite song to whistle or sing in the shower?

GF: I whistle in the shower all the time, and the songs I whistle are constantly changing. Right now, the song I'm whistling a lot is "September In The Rain."

AAJ: What song would you like played at your funeral?

GF: Shirley Horn's version of "Here's To Life"

AAJ: What do you do by day?

GF: I work as a television camera operator for NBC Sports Philadelphia covering the Phillies, Flyers and Sixers.

AAJ: If you weren't a jazz musician, what would you be?

GF: I always thought of being a teacher, but not sure what subject.

AAJ: If you could go back in time and relive one experience, what would it be?

GF: I had a great time during high school, playing sports, making new friends, and going to parties.

AAJ: What's the song or piece of music you wish you could hear again for the first time?

GF: Alan Bergman & Marilyn Bergman, Michel Legrand's "What Are You Doing the Rest of Your Life?"

AAJ: What's next for you?

GF: I just released an album Oh No, I'm In Love Again on Imani Records, produced by three-time Grammy-nominated Orrin Evans. The album has been received remarkably well. I will be appearing at the Exit 0 Jazz Festival in Cape May on October 23rd as well as various jazz clubs with world-class musicians!

AAJ: If I could permanently swap one of my physical senses for the ability to vividly experience another person's nostalgia for ten minutes every day, whose memory would I choose to tap into first and which sense would I give up?

GF: I would give up the sense of touch to tap into the nostalgia of Albert Einstein!