| CD-Review: Lucky To Be Me | by Leon Kerkstra | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Almost eight years after his debut album 'Beautiful Dancer', GERARD CARELLI returns with a new swinging album LUCKY TO BE ME. Aside from having his own jazz/cabaret orchestra, Carelli primarily performed as trombone player the last decade. While listening the album, Carelli turns out to be a smooth singer as well. His warm voice somehow reminds me of Harry Connick Junior. Pianist JOHN ODDO provides pleasant accompaniment and firmly arranged all songs. Throughout the album, which consists of one original and a collection of jazz standards, the cooperation between Carrelli and Oddo is evident. I like Carelli's composition WELL WORTH WAITING FOR. It has a nice structure and it's performed with style, especialy the clarinet solo and accompaniment of Dan Block comes out very fresh. It's good to hear a jazz clarinettist who for once does not immediately put a dixieland stamp on each tune. Other highlights includes a beautiful version of HOW ARE THINGS IN GLOCCA MORRA and Cole Porter's SO IN LOVE. Although this album is crossing borders on the cabaret and jazz scene, the jazz element remains prominent. Carelli's allround skills have been marked, an album to enjoy.
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||