Vinnie Riccitelli Octet For the Record

Vinnie Riccitelli Octet
For the Record
Self-produced

With a musical performing career stretching from 1941 to 2018, Vinnie Riccitelli led a highly successful freelance career for decades. He did have an album in 1956, "Unique Jazz, Jazz From Westchester," that had eight originals he penned and played by an octet that included tenor saxophonist Carmen Leggio, trombonist Eddie Bert, and trumpeter Joe Shepley. Since then, he freelanced, including being part of Bobby Rosengarden's East Coast Orchestra for the Jerry Lewis Telethon. He was a sideman for such legends as Barbara Streisand, Frank Sinatra, Tony Bennett, Bobby Darin, Lena Horne, and many more. He also was affiliated with some of New York's swing big bands, including Lew Anderson's All American Big Band, which enjoyed a lengthy residence at Birdland. Riccitelli appeared on multiple recordings of this band as the first chair alto sax.

Retiring from playing, he rediscovered his love of piano and became inspired to revisit some of his unrecorded compositions and arrangements. "For the Record," released some sixty-plus years after his first album, features those songs and arrangements, and was recorded between November 2019 and January 2020. Riccitelli, while no longer playing, was present for all the recording sessions. This most recent project again provided him the chance to work with and reward some of his longtime friends, including a former student of his from the late 1940s, tenor saxophonist Joe Stelluti, alongside his talented son Chris, on baritone sax, and Joe's brother Lou on bass. Others on this album include Leo Ursini or Nathan Childers on alto saxophone, Glenn Drewes on trumpet and flugelhorn, Bruce Bonvissuto on trombone, Eddie Monteiro on piano, and accordion, and Tony Tedesco on drums. Four of the seventeen tracks were composed by Riccitelli, and he wrote arrangements for all but one track, which was Tommy Newsom's arrangement for "Maids of Cadiz." Before moving to California to be part of Johnny Carson's Tonight Show Orchestra, Newsom played in Riccitelli's octet.

Aside from Riccitelli's for originals, the compositions include some classic jazz standards and songs from the American songbook. These include "I'm Old Fashioned," "If You Could See Me Now," "Stompin' at the Savoy," "Star Eyes," "Mr. Lucky," "Maids of Cadiz," "Along Came Betty," "Darn the Dream" "Dolphin Dance, "Jordu," and "Round Midnight." The octet swings and displays a clean, measured tone in a manner that suggests a fusion of bebop and West Coast cool. This sound is heard on "Riccitelli's "Minor Seven Heaven," which showcases Joe Stelluti's tenor saxophone. Another fascinating original "Blues Dominant" is another feature for Stelluti as well as trombonist Bonvissuto.

It should be noted that the performances are relatively short, ranging from 3 to 5 minutes. Stelluti is also prominent on "I'm Old Fashioned," which has a couple of solo choruses from pianist Monteiro. There is a gorgeous arrangement for Tadd Dameron's "If You Could See Me Now," with memorable solos from Drewes and Chris Stelluti. Chris Stelluti's robust baritone sax is also featured on the hip interpretation of "Serenata." The arrangement of "Stompin' at the Savoy" is a feature for bassist Lou Stelluti with the horns framing his playing. "Star Eyes" has shifting rhythms, tempos, and moods, along with some fiery trumpet from Drewes. Tommy Newsom's arrangement for "Maid of Cadiz" provides for a mesmerizing interplay by the horns before Bonvissuto's brassy solo.

On "Mr. Lucky," Monteiro plays accordion with an organ-like flavor. Drewes' haunting trumpet evokes Clifford Brown on a rendition of Benny Golson's "Along Came Betty." Bonvissuto's reflective trombone is showcased on "Darn That Dream," an arrangement originally written to showcase Eddie Bert. Riccitelli's arrangements of Duke Jordan's "Jordu" and then Thelonious Monk's "Round Midnight" also merit mention using half-time and double-time on the Monk classic, adding spice with the horns providing atmosphere behind Drewes soaring trumpet.

This album is a splendid recording that allows Vinnie Riccitelli and his well-crafted, handsome arrangements to shine. Add the excellent ensemble sound and terrific, focused solos, and one has a jewel of a jazz recording.

I received my review copy from a publicist.