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Love A To Z
A veteran of the jazz and cabaret scene which included performing with the Duke Ellington Legacy Band, write and perform in a show devoted to the Ellington legacy and later did the same with respect to the Frank Sinatra legacy. In the Los Angeles he began an association with the very fine Barbara Morrison. The present album has all original songs from Z Overall that relate to the many facets of love. Backing Divino here are Rich Eames on piano and keyboards; Adrian Rosen on bass; Michael Rosen on drums and harmonica; Doug Webb on saxophone; and Jonathan Dane on trumpet, cornet, and flugelhorn.
While I am not enamored with the songs, I do find plenty in charm with Divino's singing. His relaxed delivery, intonation, pitch, phrasing and the clarity of his enunciation have an engaging quality as does the backing band. Webb's tenor on the opening "Hey Life," while pianist Eames shines in his light accompaniment on the lament, "About Last Night," with Dane's lovely flugelhorn solo. There is the playful "Fun and Games," and his plaintive vocal on "Strangers Again" with Dane's fine muted trumpet. Other songs include the amusing, and buoyant "Flying Saucers," with Eames featured on keyboards, and another wistful song, "I Love You, Goodbye," the lovely reflective "I Remember" with Michael Rosen's atmospheric harmonica, and "Love Is a Place To Stay," with a light, Brazilian groove.
There is much to enjoy here in Divino's warm, relaxed singing and the solid, supportive backing Angelo Divino receives. The only fault I might point to are (what I find to be) uninspiring originals, that he so ably performs. He is a singer that I hope to hear from again.
I received a review copy from a publicist. This review appeared in the May-June 2018 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 378), although I made a few minor changes. Here is a video he made to accompany "Flying Saucers."
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