JOSIE FALBO

KICKIN’ IT

Independent Label

Vocalist, Josie Falbo seemed to know, even as a child, that she was destined to become a singer and recording artist.  Her parents swore that she started singing at 19 months old. Her songs are vocalized in both Italian and English. In both high school and college, she started winning scholarships, performing solo at the Lyric Opera House and showing style and potential in both classical and pop music.  Years later, she is one of Chicago’s busiest singers, working with orchestras and smaller ensembles at clubs and in concert. Finally this beautiful bird nested comfortably in jazz.

Her recent album, “Kickin’ It” is Josie Falbo’s third recording as a band leader. Her musical career spans nearly fifty years, but she never felt the need to be a huge celebrity artist.

“I never really needed to be a big star.  I was working with excellent composers, singers, and musicians.  I loved what I was doing.  I was perfectly happy singing jingles. I didn’t have to travel and could spend time with my family,” Falbo explained in her press package.

The jazz singer opens her album with a swinging big band rendition of “I Get a Kick Out of You.”  She and the big band swing hard, energetically, and non-stop.  Josie makes the old standard her own, also introducing us to her scat singing. But it’s the second song that completely usurps my attention.  It’s the ballad called “Autumn Nocturne.” Josie introduces me to her warmth and smooth tone. She handles the dips and intervals in the melody fluidly and without sliding to the notes. It’s really quite impressive to hear a taste of Ella Fitzgerlad’s style added for good measure.  Also, the piano solo of Chris Sargent is stellar against the orchestra background beauty.

On “Flor de Lis” she sings the song once in Italian, featuring the guitar of Fareed Haque, then returning to sing the lyric in English. Her lovely, soulful arrangement of “Love Dance” reduces the players to a small ensemble. Falbo’s voice soars! Jeremy Kahn offers a breathtaking solo on piano. This is an album that features several different recording sessions and musicians, but the high quality of the performances is never diminished.

This is a vocalist that sings with so much emotion it is almost palatable. Her tasty little runs and delicious choices of repertoire fill me up.  Additionally, she is an amazing scat singer.  This is an album I will enjoy playing over and over again.

JOSIE FALBO MUSICIANS:  Josie Falbo, vocals; Jeremy Kahn, Marshall Vente, Steve Million & Chris Sargent, piano; Eric Hochberg, bass; Lawrence Kohut, bass & elec. bass; Scott Mason, elec. bass; Tom Hipskind & Bob Rummage, drums; Fareed Haque, Paul Mutzabaugh & Kraig McCreary, guitar; Bobby Everson, Luiz Ewerling, Geraldo de Olivera & Rich Trelease, percussion; Julie Spring, harp; Rich Trelease vibraphone. TRUMPETS: Carey Deadman (producer), Rob Parton, Dave Katz, Mark Olen, Kirk Garrison, Chad McCullough; TROMBONE: Dan Johnson (lead), Steve Duncan, Tim Coffman, Andy Baker & Tom Matta (bass trombone); John Blane, tuba; SAXOPHONES & WOODWINDS: Ken Partyka (lead alto), Dan Nicholson, alto; John Wojciechowski, Steve Eisen, Geoff Bradfield & Scott Burns, tenor; Ted Hogarth & Linda Van Dyke, baritone. Jim Gailloreto, flutes/clarinet/soprano & alto saxophone; F HORNS: Sharon Jones (principal), Mary Jo Neher, Phil Stanley, Matthew Oliphant. CRYSTALL STRING SECTION: Shawn Stengel, conductor; Michèle Lekas, concertmaster. VIOLINS: Sam Battista, Hermine Gagneé, Renée-Paule Gauthier,Vladmir Gebe, Yuriy Geyer, Lauren Lai, Jesus Linarez, Kjersti Nostbakken, Eric Pidluski, Janis Sakai, Emi Tanabe, & Azusa Tashiro. VIOLAS: Rebecca Swan (principal); Bethany Pereboom, Benton Wedge, jay Pkike, Susan Price. CELLO: Mark Lekas (principal), Kerena Fox. Arrangers: Carey Deadman, Marshall Vente & Chris Sargent.

Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil

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