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Denise Donatelli: Find a Heart

By Edward Blanco
September 20, 2015
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Multi Grammy nominee vocalist Denise Donatelli, unveils another gem of an album with the much-anticipated Find A Heart, collaborating once again with producer/arranger, pianist

Geoffrey Keezer

keyboards
b.1970

" data-original-title="" title="">Geoffrey Keezer documenting a surprisingly new direction for the singer as she ventures into the non-standards area. The Great American Songbook will always be with us, here to stay forever as new re-interpretations of classics emerge every day. This project finds the vocalist and pianist exploring new territory as they take the music of modern pop and jazz masters like

Sting

bass, electric
b.1951

" data-original-title="" title="">Sting, David Crosby and

Russell Ferrante

keyboards
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Russell Ferrante among others, and ask the question, Isn't it time for new standards?

One thing clearly evident on this album is, the superb cast of players that make the instrumentation such a pleasure to hear which features an all-star personnel listing that includes Brazilian guitarist

Leonardo Amuedo

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Leonardo Amuedo, Cuban bassist

Carlitos del Puerto

bass, electric

" data-original-title="" title="">Carlitos del Puerto, drummer Marvin "Smitty" Smith and Canadian saxophonist

Christine Jensen

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Christine Jensen among them. The evolution of The Great American Songbook begins with the

Donald Fagen

piano and vocals
b.1948

" data-original-title="" title="">Donald Fagen composition "Big Noise, New York" featuring an opening blast from saxophonist great

Bob Sheppard

saxophone, tenor
b.1952

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Sheppard before the sparkling vocals of the leader take over on what is a burning beginning to a heck of an album.

The singer finds her softer side on Ferrante's beautiful love ballad, "Love and Paris Rain" with a little help from guitarist Amuedo then jumps into a lively tempo on Keezer's own "Spaced Out (En Babia)" before returning to a gentler mood on the absolutely gorgeous "Practical Arrangement" accompanied by the magic horn of

Chris Botti

trumpet
b.1962

" data-original-title="" title="">Chris Botti and the soft guitar work from Amuedo. Keezer's arrangement of the Crosby title track, turns this pop tune into a true jazz number with a touch of the Latin flavor.

Keezer and Donatelli draw on a small string section of cello and violas to convey the trials and tribulations of a "Troubled Child" and call on bassist del Puerto and percussionist

Walter Rodriguez

percussion

" data-original-title="" title="">Walter Rodriguez to weigh in with brisk haunting solos as the singer's crisp voice reaches and beckons the child with a little help of background vocalists Yutaka Yokokura, and

Julia Dollison

vocals
b.1972

" data-original-title="" title="">Julia Dollison.

Interestingly enough, while the mission of this venture is still, to offer different songs from more recent times as possible new standards for the future, Donatelli closes the album with heartfelt emotion paying humble respect to current standards with superior renditions of "Midnight Sun," and

Billy Strayhorn

piano
1915 - 1967

" data-original-title="" title="">Billy Strayhorn's "Day Dream." Find A Heart is simply put, an outstanding vocal recording that takes Denise Donatelli's performance to another level.

Learn more about our star rating system

Track Listing

Big Noise, New York; Love and Paris Rain; Spaced Out (En Babia); Practical Arrangement; Find a Heart: Not Like This; Eyes That Say I Love You; In This Moment; Troubled child; Midnight Sun; Day Dream.

Personnel

Denise Donatelli

vocals

Denise Donatelli: vocals; Geoffrey Keezer: piano, arranger; Leonardo Amuedo: guitar; Carlito Del Puerto: bass; Marvin "Smitty" Smith: drums; Walter Rodriquez: percussion; Chris Botti: trumpet; Bob Sheppard: tenor saxophone; Christine Jensen: soprano saxophone; Michael Thompson; guitar; Giovanna Clayton; cello; Alma Fernandez: viola; Matt funes: viola; Darrin McCann: viola; Yutaka Yokokura: background vocals; Sy Smith: background vocals; Julia Dollison: background vocals.

Album information

Title: Find a Heart | Year Released: 2015 | Record Label: Savant Records

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