Ronny Whyte Whyte Witchcraft: Songs of Cy Coleman

Ronny Whyte
Whyte Witchcraft: Songs of Cy Coleman
Audiophile Records

In his liner notes to "Whyte Witchcraft," singer Ronny Whyte writes about his long relationship with the legendary songwriter, and Tony Award-winner, Cy Coleman. This relationship went well beyond merely singing many of Coleman's songs. This album, his eleventh for Audiophile, has him backed by the Cecilia Coleman Big Band, or Eddie Monteiro on accordion and vocalese and Tony Tedesco on drums. On two selections Whyte plays piano and sings with Boots Maleson on bass and David Silliman on drums.

With a career extending six decades, one should not be surprised if there are some notes Ronny Whyte cannot quite reach. He compensates with phrasing and timing. The backing helps showcases his gift for delivering lyrics whether with a big band backing him on "Too Good To Talk About," or when supported by Monteiro's accordion and vocalese on "The Best Is Yet To Come." Monteiro's horn-like, wordless vocalese, also provides an interesting contrast to the delivery of the words. On "Too Good To Talk About," Daniel Glaude contributes a notable alto sax. Monteiro's accordion has a pianistic quality on "I'm Watching You."

Justin Wood contributes a beautiful flute solo on the lovely ballad "Sometimes When You're Lonely," wonderfully sung with a luscious big band backing. Another performance with the big band is "Why Try To Change Me Now," with Whyte's reflective vocal supported by the handsome arrangement. Then there is the hard-swinging big band behind Whyte's Sinatra-sounding vocal on "Don't Ask a Lady." With Monteiro sounding like he is playing a Hammond B3 and an electric piano, Whyte delivers a spirited rendition of "Witchcraft." Also, the duo is heard backing Whyte on the light-hearted "Sweet Talk."

In his liner notes, Whyte relates the story of attending a birthday party for Lynn Richards' at Cy Coleman's home and sang some songs. He requested Cy if he would play piano for him, which he had never done before, and sang "I Got Your Number" with Coleman playing. Here backed by Monteiro and Tedesco, Whyte delivers this song from the show "Little Me." On "You Fascinate Me," Whyte accompanies himself with his trio. He is an adept pianist and self-accompanist on this appealing performance. The swing of "Alright I Love You." Elijah Shiffer takes a meaty tenor sax solo behind the animated vocal by Whyte, that closes this delightful vocal jazz recording.

I received a review copy from a publicist. Here is Ronny Whyte performing with Barry Harris on piano.

Ronny Whyte Shades of Whyte

Ronny Whyte
Shades of Whyte
Audiophile Records

Perhaps there is nothing extraordinary of the latest release by singer-pianist Ronny Whyte, which is not to deny definite pleasures to listening to this recording of renditions mostly from the Great American Songbook. A veteran, he recently turned 80, has been a fixture on the New York scene performing in many of the city’s intimate supper clubs, night clubs and superior hotel lounges. Besides arranging the songs, he co-wrote 5 of the 16 selections on this release. Backing him are bassist Boots Maleson, guitarist Sean Harksness, Lou Caputo on tenor sax & Flute, Mauricio De Souza on drums, and Alex Nguyen on trumpet with Dave Stillman on drums on one track.

Whyte recently turned 80 and there are a few spots where his intonation may be a tad off, but that is a minor issue. It is delightful to hear his straight-forward treatment of "This Song is You" (with a bit of scatting), "Nina Never Knew," and "Linger Awhile," as well as his bossa nova original "It's Time For Love," and a Bossa Nova medley of "A Little Samba" & "So Danco Samba." He is a romantic as displayed on his own 'I Love The Way You Dance," and the ballad "Blame It on The Movies." Caputo is outstanding throughout on either tenor sax or flute such as on the sober ballad, "Some Of My Best Friends Are The Blues." Nguyen's trumpet also marvelously compliments Whyte like on "For Heaven's Sake." "I'm Old fashioned" is a splendid performance without horns that allows Whyte to showcase his deft piano playing along with brief solos from Maleson and Stillman.

A swinging "Dancing in the Dark," with choice solos from Caputo, Maleson and Harksness closes this delightful vocal jazz CD.

I received my review copy from a publicist. This review originally appeared in the September-October Jazz & Blues Report (Issue 374). Here is Ronny Whyte in performance from 2007.