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.

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.