Calabria Foti Prelude to a Kiss

Calabria Foti
Prelude to a Kiss
Moco Records

For her 4th CD release, vocalist/violinist Calabria Foti recorded with a large orchestra and legendary arrangers on the podium in an iconic Capital Records recording studio. "Prelude To A Kiss" is full of grand, sweeping, orchestrations from celebrated arrangers, including Johnny Mandel, Roger Kellaway, Jeremy Lubbock, Jorge Calandrelli, and Foti’s husband, Bob McChesney (also the producer on the album). There are also and small band swingers featuring a stellar ensemble of musical greats: Roger Kellaway, piano; Trey Henry, bass; Peter Erskine, drums; Larry Koonse, guitar; and Bob McChesney, trombone. Singer-guitarist John Pizzarelli guests on “It’s The Mood That I’m In.”

Ms. Foti says, "This album is so special to me because of all the elements: The mix of glorious standards with the original songs, recording in the studio where so many of my heroes have made history, a most audacious team of musicians, with my husband at the helm and my daughters in the booth as I was singing. I was so emotional! My heart was so full and is full to this day. I hope this music touches your heart and draws you closer to your loved ones."

The album is special in part because of Calabria Foti herself. She has a gorgeous voice along with her delivery with marvelous pitch and tone, along with her nuanced phrasing and flawless diction in singing each word. Matching her melodious voice is the immaculate backing, whether those selections with a full orchestra or with a small, swinging combo. This is evident from the beautiful opening title track where the sweet-sounding and the sensual romanticism of her singing is supported by Bob McChesney's lush arrangement. This selection also is one of two songs with a violin solo along with McChesney's lovely trombone solo. Guitarist Larry Koonse is featured on the bossa nova "I Had To Fall in Love With You," which was arranged by McChesney and Johnny Mandel. Koonse's acoustic guitar solo adds to the charm from Ms. Foti's vocal.

"On the Street Where You Live," is an excellent small group recording with Ms. Foti exchanging fours scatting with Peter Erskine. This is followed by a gorgeous vocal on "Waltz For Debby" with a lovely guitar solo from Koonse. Roger Kellaway wrote the wondrous arrangement for "When I Look In Your Eyes," providing a backdrop for the sensualness of her vocal and McChesney's solo. "Goodbye" is an original from Ms.Foti, not the Gordon Jenkins composition that served as Benny Goodman's theme. It is about leaving someone who she does not want to leave and heartfully sung. Another standout selection is the "Backyard Medley." It is a swinging small group mashup of "Back in Your Backyard," "Give Me the Simple Life," and "The Love Nest," which she arranged. In addition to her superb vocal, Kellaway takes a splendid solo here.

Calabria Foti calls this recording a celebration of "all of love, especially the warmth, tenderness, and feeling of belonging that comes from being with family and loved ones." It is a glorious celebration with her outstanding vocals and the impeccable backing provided. She does not record frequently, but each one of her recordings is a treasure.

I received a review copy from a publicist. Here is the EPK for this recording.

Calabria Foti In the Still of the Night

Calabria Foti
In the Still of the Night
MoCo Records

It has been almost a decade since Calabria Foti last had a recording under her name. A singer who has the likes of Johnny Mathis and Johnny Mandel boosting her, her album “A Lovely Way to Spend An Evening,” was a treasure of romanticism and sensuousness as she brought her own voice to the American songbook. The present release is certainly welcome and turns her voice to the wonderful works of Cole Porter. On this, she is backed by Michael Patterson, piano; Eddie Daniels, clarinet; Gene Bertoncini, guitar; Richard Locker, cello; Bob McChesney, trombone; Ike Sturm, bass; and Jared Schonig, drums in various combinations.

Like her last recording, Foti brings a mix of sensuousness and romanticism. The clarity in her delivery, her use of vocal dynamics, phrasing, pitch, and timing plus her voice’s own quality help make for some wonderful renditions of these classic American songs with the sublime, imaginative and understated backing. Bertoncini’s guitar and Daniels’ clarinet embellish the opening “Just One of Those Things,” Locker’s cello adds unusual coloring to her wistful performance of “Miss Otis Regrets,” while McChesney’s gruff trombone complements the slow tempo treatment of “Anything Goes” with her deliberate phasing matched by the uncluttered backing.

Patterson’s accompaniments are a significant additional factor underlying the sublime music here such as his solo accompaniment that opens “What Is This Thing Called Love” with Sturm’s firm bass and Schonig’s adroit use of brushes backing her wonderful handling of this ballad with Daniels providing a clarinet solo, and his obligatos on a relaxed “Night and Day,” add to its charm which also includes some unison vocalizing by Foti with Daniels, while the presence of cello and guitar contribute to the poignancy of the delivery of “Every Time We Say Goodbye.” “Its Alright With Me” is perhaps the liveliest of vocals here with a smoky, twisting clarinet solo. The romanticism she can bring to a lyric is most evident on “i.”

Her superb heartfelt rendition of the title track with Locker’s cello establishing the mood closes this superb, engrossing tribute to one of the 20th Century’s greatest songwriters. Hopefully, we will not have to wait almost a decade for Calabria Foti’s next recording.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the January-February 2018 Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 376).  She has a new release, "Prelude to a Kiss" which I will post a review of shortly. Here is a video of Calabria Foti backed by guitarist John Fox performing Duke Ellington's "In a Mellow Tone."