John Ambrosini SONGS FOR YOU
JOHN AMBROSINI
SONGS FOR YOU
Independent Label
John Ambrosini, piano/vocals/keyboards/background vocals/arrangements/all piano solos; David Phelps, acoustic & electric guitars; Zachary Swansen, acoustic bass; Matt Miller, drums; Steve Finkelstein, percussion; Rich Lamb, keyboards. Randy Brecker, trumpet; Ada Rovatti & Joel Frahm, tenor saxophone; David Binney, alto saxophone; William Galison, harmonica; Brian King, vibraphone; Rich Lamb, string & synthesizers. BACKGROUND SINGERS: John Ambrosini, Amanda Bloom, Christine Ambrosini.
John Ambrosini is a jazz pianist and pop inspired singer, composer, and bandleader based on the East Coast. On his current album release, Ambrosini has arranged every song. He opens singing a tune written by Rickie Lee Jones called “The Horses.” William Galison adds a tasty harmonica part to the arrangement. This song and the one that follows, lean into the Pop/rock era vocally, however the instrumental solos are all jazz. Ambrosini improvises on piano, while David Binney adds jazz to the arrangement on his alto saxophone. Binney is featured on “The Horses” and the next tune that is an Ambrosini original called “Maybe I’m Crazy.”
The composition, “Midnight Rider” is a song that reminds me of the artist Sting in the way Ambrosini as arranged it. I am swept away by the wonderful tenor saxophone playing of Ada Rovatti. At the
end of this song, near the fade, Ambrosini gives total freedom to his band. They become mass improvisers, clearly embracing jazz.
John Ambrosini has a distinctive vocal style and he sings while playing piano. He’s not a jazz singer, but Ambrosini’s a solid singer with a soulful sound that wraps competent arms around pop music, folk, and even rock. His voice, like his arranging talents, embraces all genres. I enjoyed listening to Ambrosini’s take on “Rocket Man.” I have to respect anyone who tackles Elton John music. He followed this up by offering a bluesy rendition of the Donald Fagan tune “Pretzel Logic.”
John Ambrosini’s voice is comfortable and inviting. He knows how to tell a story with his vocals and invites us into his musical world by coloring his pop arrangements with jazz instrumentation and improvised embellishments.
Reviewed by Dee Dee McNeil
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