Like Nat Cole, it's art so close to perfection that it seems almost artless. I've heard many new singers, and no one has touched me as deeply as this guy. He's got it all.
Mood Ellington is a lavishly ambitious collection from acclaimed vocalist Paul Marinaro, presenting twenty-five of Duke Ellington's finest vocal compositions, vividly reimagined by thirteen of the world's most celebrated arrangers—including Alan Broadbent, John Clayton, Bill Cunliffe, Chuck Israels, and Chuck Owen—and performed by his Chicago quartet along with horns and a lush string section. Praised for his masterful phrasing, rich tone, and deep emotional connection to a lyric, Marinaro inhabits Ellington's masterpieces with wit and elegance, resulting in a sweeping 21st-century celebration of Ellington's timeless artistry. While flowing as one cohesive whole, the themes of rhapsodizing on love ("I'm Just a Lucky So & So"), somber reflection ("Mood Indigo"), and tunes suggesting a little more of real life ("Don't Get Around Much Anymore"), divide the songs into three distinct thematic story arcs.
"One of the most beautiful vocal instruments in the business today." Chicago Tribune
Click here to listen to the album
Performers:
Paul Marinaro - vocals
Tom Vaitsas - piano
Mike Allemana - guitar
John Tate - bass
Neil Hemphill - drums
Rich Moore - alto sax, clarinet, flute
John Wojciechowski - tenor & soprano sax, flute
Ted Hogarth - baritone sax, bass clarinet
Eric Jacobson - trumpet, flugelhorn
Raphael Crawford - trombone
VIOLINS:
Lisa Fako (Concert Master), Eleanor Bartsch, Stephen Boe, Chuck Bontrager, Christina Buciu, Kathleen Carter, Karl Davies, Wendy Evans, Elizabeth Huffman, Carmen Kassinger, Kathryn Siegel, Jeff Yang
ARRANGERS:
Mike Allemana, Alan Broadbent, John Clayton, Ryan Cohan, Bill Cunliffe, Carey Deadman, Mike Downes, Jim Gailloreto, Tom Garling, Chuck Israels, John Kornegay, Tom Matta, Chuck Owen
Production Info:
Produced by Paul Marinaro & Jim Gailloreto
Executive Producer: Lois Cory
Musical Assistants: Mike Allemana, John Kornegay
Recorded & mixed by Mat Lejeune
at Chicago Recording Company, Chicago, IL
Recorded on Aug, Nov, Dec 2022
Mixed at Chicago Recording Co, Chicago, IL
& Lost Boy Sound, Chicago, IL
Mastered by Dave McNair at Dave McNair Mastering
All photos by Frank Orrico
Cover design & layout by John Bishop
