CD release "Oh’ Lady Be Good" launches Monthly Jazz Series at The Triad
Linda Amiel Burns, Theater Scene; Jan 11, 2007
Three extraordinary musicians, Jerry Bruno, Bucky Pizzarelli and Michele Ramo, were celebrating the release of their new CD “Oh’ Lady Be Good” and it was a privilege to be in the audience to hear such fine arrangements and music. The flyer said that the concert would be “Celebrating the American Songbook music of the 20’s, 30’s & 40’s followed by an open ‘all-musicians-welcomed Jam Session’ and capped off with a Birthday Cake for Bucky and Jerry!” Bucky’s birthday is January 9 and Jerry Bruno on January 10 and although they both might be in their 80s - these musicians are ageless when they perform.
This “Opening Night CD Release Concert” was not the usual Jazz Trio of piano, bass and drums and that is what made it so special. Michele Ramo played the violin (he is also a fine guitarist); Jerry Bruno was on bass (he began his career with Louis Prima) and Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar. Bucky has had an amazing career, played for and with all the greats and is known as one of the masters of the seven-string rhythm guitar. The sounds these extraordinary musicians created were incredible and each player made their instruments sing. Ramo is a violin virtuoso and played many of the lead-ins to the songs. I didn’t know that the violin could make so many different sounds and be able to blend in with Pizzarelli’s excellent guitar playing and Bruno’s skillful bass. However, you could tell that they all had a special rapport and had been playing together for a long time.
Of course, they used some of the selections from their album, but added other tunes. The talented Trio began with ”Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me” and then into the title song, “Oh, Lady Be Good” by The Gershwins. It was a fabulous beginning and the grateful audience couldn’t stop applauding. Then, they decided to just have fun and jam and each took turns showing their great musical talents. The next song was “Everything I Have Is Yours,” with music by the great Burton Lane and it was announced that Lynn Lane, his widow was in the audience. Some of the other selections were a toe-tapping rendition of Ellington’s “Black Satin Doll” followed by Hoagy Carmichael’s “Stardust” – a beautiful standard enhanced by the violin carrying the melody line to the bass and guitar accompaniment.
It is fun to keep the audience guessing and Ramo played an unfamiliar solo that led into the strains of “Sweet Georgia Brown” followed by the classic “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.” They closed the show with a rousing “Honeysuckle Rose” beginning with just the bass and guitar and then adding the violin. Each musician took turns soloing, but Bucky with his sweet smile and impish grin, gave the show a big finish with his astonishing showmanship and vigorous final strumming. The audience gave this spectacular Trio a well-deserved standing ovation.
A large candle-filled cake with a photo of the CD cover on it, was brought to the stage and served to the guests while the room was being set up for the Jam Session to follow. I don’t know how Scott can top this evening, but if the rest of the shows are of this quality, then this will be a very popular Series indeed. For The Triad schedule, visit: www.TriadNYC.com.
The CD is on MoonBoat Records and produced by Michele Ramo and his wife, vocalist Heidi Hepler and available at: www.RamoJazzViolin.com or www.8StringGuitar.com or www.RamoMusic.com
This “Opening Night CD Release Concert” was not the usual Jazz Trio of piano, bass and drums and that is what made it so special. Michele Ramo played the violin (he is also a fine guitarist); Jerry Bruno was on bass (he began his career with Louis Prima) and Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar. Bucky has had an amazing career, played for and with all the greats and is known as one of the masters of the seven-string rhythm guitar. The sounds these extraordinary musicians created were incredible and each player made their instruments sing. Ramo is a violin virtuoso and played many of the lead-ins to the songs. I didn’t know that the violin could make so many different sounds and be able to blend in with Pizzarelli’s excellent guitar playing and Bruno’s skillful bass. However, you could tell that they all had a special rapport and had been playing together for a long time.
Of course, they used some of the selections from their album, but added other tunes. The talented Trio began with ”Do Nothing Till You Hear From Me” and then into the title song, “Oh, Lady Be Good” by The Gershwins. It was a fabulous beginning and the grateful audience couldn’t stop applauding. Then, they decided to just have fun and jam and each took turns showing their great musical talents. The next song was “Everything I Have Is Yours,” with music by the great Burton Lane and it was announced that Lynn Lane, his widow was in the audience. Some of the other selections were a toe-tapping rendition of Ellington’s “Black Satin Doll” followed by Hoagy Carmichael’s “Stardust” – a beautiful standard enhanced by the violin carrying the melody line to the bass and guitar accompaniment.
It is fun to keep the audience guessing and Ramo played an unfamiliar solo that led into the strains of “Sweet Georgia Brown” followed by the classic “Don’t Get Around Much Anymore.” They closed the show with a rousing “Honeysuckle Rose” beginning with just the bass and guitar and then adding the violin. Each musician took turns soloing, but Bucky with his sweet smile and impish grin, gave the show a big finish with his astonishing showmanship and vigorous final strumming. The audience gave this spectacular Trio a well-deserved standing ovation.
A large candle-filled cake with a photo of the CD cover on it, was brought to the stage and served to the guests while the room was being set up for the Jam Session to follow. I don’t know how Scott can top this evening, but if the rest of the shows are of this quality, then this will be a very popular Series indeed. For The Triad schedule, visit: www.TriadNYC.com.
The CD is on MoonBoat Records and produced by Michele Ramo and his wife, vocalist Heidi Hepler and available at: www.RamoJazzViolin.com or www.8StringGuitar.com or www.RamoMusic.com