CALABRIA FOTI: A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening

Calabria Foti

A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening

© 2007 MoCo Records (807207051220) (format: CD-R)

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A lush collection of romantic ballads and uptempo vocal jazz. Calabria is endorsed by Johnny Mathis, Chris Botti, Dave Koz and more. Legendary composer, Johnny Mandel says, "This is one of the best records I've ever heard."

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Singer Calabria Foti debuts A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening on MoCo Records

Sultry song stylist, Calabria Foti releases her critically-acclaimed new CD,
A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening produced by trombone virtuoso, Bob McChesney for the MoCo Records label (23-002). On the 10-song set, Foti explores an evening of romance from beginning to end, with a rich collection of lush ballads, edgy jazz, and uptempo swing. Ms. Foti’s amazing vocal talent shines on each cut, as does the brilliant playing and string arranging of producer McChesney. The disc features a great ensemble of backup players, including Foti’s longtime collaborators, Matt Harris on piano, Trey Henry on bass, Dick Weller, drums, Larry Koonse, nylon string guitar, Rob Lockart, tenor sax and Luis Conte, percussion. A gorgeous string orchestra accompanies the singer on several tracks.

Music industry icons have gushed over Foti’s sensuous vocals, her uncanny ability to bring out the ‘bare essence’ of every lyric, and to scat like a demon. Legendary crooner, Johnny Mathis, said this about A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening: “One of my greatest pleasures in life is listening to a beautiful voice. This recording of Calabria Foti’s voice is some of the most beautiful and artistic music I have ever heard. Her heart and mind are on display in every well-chosen song. It is a treasure….what a joy!” Songwriter Johnny Mandel says, “Calabria has all the technique and musicality you could want, and she has the ability to tell a story and touch your heart . . . one of the best CDs I’ve ever heard.”
Trumpeter Chris Botti says, “Calabria is a gifted artist who puts her signature on each of these great standards”. Smooth jazz saxophonist, Dave Koz, says,
“Calabria’s voice is gorgeous, the tracks with orchestra are stunning, the feel of the record is fantastic!”

In addition to her talents as a vocalist, Calabria Foti is also an accomplished violinist who performs an elegant solo on her entrancing version of Gershwin’s “Do It Again”. Says Ms. Foti, “I wanted to make a romantic jazz album that people could put on when they cuddled up with someone special, a record that would “put them in the mood.” Mission accomplished! Destined to be a Classic, the CD is packaged with beautiful artwork and a large pull-out poster of the artist - a must-have for any fan of vocals and jazz. For more information on Calabria Foti and to hear song samples, visit www.CalabriaFoti.com or www.FotiCD.com, and enjoy!

reviews

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  • A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening
    author: Mike Pearse

    Without doubt this is the finest vocal album I have ever heard.

  • author: Russell E Fanaken

    The alacrity with which she responds to every nuance of each song and every arrangement, speaks volumes about her sheer musicianship. She is quintessentially 'a musician's singer' but the pursuit of her identity; her voice through the 'Great American Songbook' is the hook that makes Calabria so accessible to her audience. Ms Foti does not acquiesce or aspire to be - she is !! undoubtedly unique - 'a one off' - not since Nancy Wilson has there been a Female Jazz Artist that so captures the heart and mind of the listener.

  • Fantastic singer
    author: Edward Goodstein

    I can't add much to the other reviews except to say that this album is terrific. Great vocals & cool arrangements that combine pop and exploratory jazz approaches that remain logical/accessible in the best sense-- not stale and not strange. Also nice medleys & some rarely done material mixed in. And beautiful way her voice does interesting stuff-- fine phrasing that I think is even an improvement over her first. (And that one is very good too). Really glad to discover her!!

  • She Brings Glamour With A Touch of Nostalgia Into Each Song
    author: Rebecca B. Preciado

    “The title ‘A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening’ perfectly describes this incredible CD from Calabria Foti. It is one of the best records I have ever heard. Calabria is truly a marvelous singer in every way. She has all the technique and musicality you could want, and has the ability to tell a story and touch your heart. Everything about this production sounds just like what I would want it if it were my own. I’m jealous! The string arrangements by Bob McChesney are exquisite, as are his trombone solos. I’m sure you will enjoy this CD as much as I do.” ~ Johnny Mandel ~ I couldn’t agree more with Johnny Mandel! And coming from a brilliant and talented arranger/composer/conductor himself, he perfectly said all the good things about this sophomore CD of Calabria Foti, “A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening.” She’s one of the most talented and versatile artists who ever graced the world of jazz for she’s not only a great singer, but also an arranger, songwriter and violinist as well. You can hear her violin solo on “Do It Again.” With a set of ten timeless and gorgeous standards from the big names of Tin Pan Alley, the likes of George Gershwin, Jimmy McHugh, Cole Porter, Jule Styne, Harold Adamson, among others, Ms. Foti with her impressive vocal art brings glamour with a touch of nostalgia into each song making this CD so listener-friendly and worthy to be in every jazz lover’s music collection. Most of the charts were flawlessly co-arranged by Ms. Foti with her husband, trombonist/arranger Bob McChesney, who also plays a notable solo on “A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening,” an all-time favorite of mine. She is backed by some of the finest musicians/soloists in the jazz scene – Larry Koonse (guitar), Matt Harris (piano), Trey Henry (bass), Rob Lockhart (tenor sax), Dick Weller (drums), Luis Conte (percussion) and a string section composed of 26 musicians who are all skilled in violin, cello and viola. My favorites? Not a single song, but the entire CD. There isn’t any uninspiring track from this set -- they’re all winners, but she’s truly at her utmost best in “The Touch of Your Lips’ where she scats impressively. “A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening?” Quality time with your special someone: a cozy, candlelight, home-cooked dinner complete with your favorite wine and dessert ... and make this CD a part of it and create some wonderful memories to cherish forever. Recommended? Most definitely! … to every music lover who greatly appreciate gorgeous vocal jazz recordings.

  • A lovely way to spend and evening
    author: Rudy Mondragon

    This is truly one of the best recording to come along in a long time. I have been a jazz fan for a long time and this recording while it is not complely a jazz recording, restores my faith that this wonderful art form is not lost.

  • A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening
    author: Marilyn Greenslade

    Calabria has a beautiful voice and a distinctively professional style. The back up is exceptional. I also bought her previous CD "When A Woman Loves A Man" (from CD Baby) and think it is excellent too

  • A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening
    author: Raymond KellerMD

    A new artist for me; one of the best solo female vocals in a long time; excellent accompanying musicians and arrangements. Where has she been hiding? Would love to see her in a jazz club venue.

  • A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening
    author: york

    Absolutely great. Like that the excellent accompanying musicians are given a broad paint brush.

  • A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening
    author: Jeff Hogenmiller

    Calabria has a wonderful voice, a bit "sultry" and mellow, which adds to her music presentation and interpretation. She, at times, could be "confused" with Ella Fitzgerald--she does a great job on "the standards", what will her next album and when produced?

  • I'm in Love
    author: Martin Gear

    Not since Julie London has any vocalist had a voice that carressed the microphone like Ms Foti. As vocal stylist I would certainly rank her with Ertha Kitt and Julie London, and I look forward to many more albums form her. If you haven't discovered "A Lovely Way to Spend an Evening" for yourself, I suggest you do so, late at night, with someone you love.

  • SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL
    author: JOHN

    A fabulous collection of standards. Beautiful voice. A classic.

  • BEAUTIFUL
    author: JEAN

    Great standards, moving voice.

  • A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening
    author: Richard Hague

    Calabria Foti A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening (2007 MoCo Records) Reviewed by Richard D. Hague Calabria Foti hits one out of the park with A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening. In the same rich, sublime tradition of her past efforts, Foti has selected ten lush and timeless tunes that make for the perfect crossover CD for both the Jazz and Easy Listening markets. As we first chewed past the shrink wrap, we were- based on Foti’s earlier performances- prepared to be delighted. As we could have predicted, A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening delivers. They threw some bucks at this one. One side of the 8-panel insert is a picture of the delectable and toothsome Mizz F. On the other, liner notes written by Herself, giving us insight as to why she selected the songs and- as important- credits to those musicians that contributed to the tracks. The charts were arranged by Calabria Foti, Matt Harris, Bob McChesney and bassist Trey Henry. Miss Foti, a First Call string player in Los Angeles, brought an instrumentalist's sensitivity to the music in a way that shows respect for the lyrics. The charts, in other words, enhance the story. As the principal arranger, she could tailor them to compliment her impeccable phrasing; her unique reading of the tunes. Particularly noteworthy to this reviewer: Love Me As Though There Were No Tomorrow. A tune by Harold Adamson and Jimmy McHugh that inexplicably never reached Standards stature is presented as a light bossa nova. Larry Koonse's guitar featured. Nicely sets the tone for the CD. The chart doesn't so much end as it evanesces like an early morning sea fog after the sunrise. The Touch Of Your Lips. Swinging, soto voce toe-tapper, this Ray Noble opus gives Calabria some room to get some inventive, subdued scatting over the comp by Matt Harris (p), Larry Koonse (g), Trey Henry (b) and Dick Weller (d). Trey Henry's brilliant solo could stand alone. Do It Again. The way God and maybe George Gershwin meant it to be presented. Slow. Languorous. Sexy. Warning to trombonists: McChesney's extended solo may cause severe self-doubt and episodic bouts of black despair. I Wanna Be Loved. Just Matt Harris' electric piano and Calabria. The first eight bars, a heart-wrenching a capella, is Goosebump City. She presents the seldom-heard and lovely verse after the first chorus. This reading evokes a Three O’clock in the morning picture of the two of them after most everyone's gone home. The bartender washing the last of his glasses. Somebody sweeping up. And just the two of them are laying down the final tune of the night, but we get the feeling that it's been one of those magical sets in which they could willingly go on making music forever. A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening pulls the stops out. Gorgeous string charts and trombone solo by Bob McChesney. Exquisite ensemble work from the section. Wisely letting the story unfold, Calabria presents the verse before the chorus. This is one of those tunes that begs one to wonder if, at the moment after it was finished, Harold Adamson and Jimmy McHugh didn't look at one another, smiling, and say, "This is going to be a Standard. Guaranteed." Calabria Foti's offering is, on the one hand, a welcome return to a time when class and elegance were celebrated, if not required. On the other, one hopes that this CD might reawaken and restore the concept that, as musicians, our function is to present and enhance the inherent beauty of the music as conceived by the composers and lyricists. A Lovely Way To Spend An Evening is a welcome departure from the modal, atonal, and formless wails and squeaks that some mistakenly, I believe, call jazz. You'll not hear the electric bass and drums presented as solo instruments. You'll not hear 47 identical major sixth arpeggios in a row on the soprano sax. You will, however, hear 10 standards; torchy, romantic, compelling, and as welcome and as familiar as your favorite slippers. Foti, McChesney et al have collaborated on a collection that will enhance and enrich your music library. They've done so with respect, taste, exquisite musicianship, and even reverence for the beauty of the words and music. A true synergism, the whole is indeed greater than the sum of the parts. In preparing this review, I tracked it with a couple of pals; Las Vegas musicians and jazzers that, like me, remember FDR and the sounds of the times. Halfway through When Lights Are Low, one of them turned and said, "This just may be the best CD out there right now..." I agreed with him and I'm betting that you will, too. Richard D. Hague Las Vegas

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