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Roseanna Vitro: Tell Me The Truth

By C. Michael Bailey
August 20, 2018
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It is completely fitting that vocalist

Roseanna Vitro

vocals
b.1954

" data-original-title="" title="">Roseanna Vitro conceive of and release a recording devoted to the music of the American South. But, this is not just any thoughtlessly-assembled concept recording. Vitro is the master of intelligently programmed and produced thematic albums as evidenced by: Catching Some Rays: The Music of Ray Charles (Telarc, 1997); The Time of My Life: Roseanna Vitro Sings the Songs of Steve Allen (Seabreeze, 1999); Conviction: Thoughts of Bill Evans (A Records, 2001); The Delirium Blues Project: Serve or Suffer (Half Note Records, 2008); The Music of Randy Newman (Motema, 2011); and Clarity: Music of Clare Fischer (Random Act, 2014). At best, these are not subjects one would expect addressed on a jazz recording. That said, Vitro, and husband/producer Paul Wickliffe, have made a creative habit of envisioning and producing such unlikely, and well-executed projects.

A native of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Vitro is part of a rich local musical tradition that included

Johnny Cash

guitar and vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Johnny Cash,

Bob Dorough

vocals
1923 - 2018

" data-original-title="" title="">Bob Dorough, Glenn Campbell,

Al Green

vocals
b.1946

" data-original-title="" title="">Al Green,

Levon Helm

drums
1942 - 2012

" data-original-title="" title="">Levon Helm, among others. Her Southern bona fides are beyond question. But "Southern Music" describes a diffuse expanse of material. This is where Vitro is at her programming best. In all her similar projects, she resists the obvious. She proves this by kicking off Tell Me the Truth with

Allen Toussaint

piano and vocals
1938 - 2015

" data-original-title="" title="">Allen Toussaint's "On Your Way Down," a darkly-colored classic covered by Little Feat, Gov't Mule, and Phish, among many others. In Vitro's hands, this menacing, New Orleans Gris Gris is transformed into an upbeat, Latin-inflected tome on humility when especially gifted. Pianist

Mark Soskin

piano
b.1953

" data-original-title="" title="">Mark Soskin provides a sharp arrangement that features guitarist

Mitch Stein

guitar

" data-original-title="" title="">Mitch Stein in an assertive and distorted guitar solo and saxophonist

Tim Ries

saxophone

" data-original-title="" title="">Tim Ries waxing R&B on tenor.

While Patsy Cline's "Walkin' After Midnight" has been covered by other jazz vocalists (Patrice Jegou,

Livia Devereux

" data-original-title="" title="">Livia Devereux, Lawrence Lebo,

Tierney Sutton

vocals
b.1963

" data-original-title="" title="">Tierney Sutton;

Kari Gaffney

" data-original-title="" title="">Kari Gaffney), Vitro injects a breezy, strolling quality to the song. She sings with a soulful abandon steeped in the jazz tradition. Vitro shares duet singing duties with Al Chestnut on the Staple Singers' "Respect Yourself" and trio duties with

Kate McGarry

vocals

" data-original-title="" title="">Kate McGarry and

Cindy Scott

flute

" data-original-title="" title="">Cindy Scott (with one

Sara Caswell

violin

" data-original-title="" title="">Sara Caswell on violin) on Eli Yamin's "A Healing Song, all with festive results. Creedence Clearwater Revival's "Fortunate Son" in transmuted into a 21st Century jazz anthem. Vitro finds much common ground with

Mose Allison

piano and vocals
1927 - 2016

" data-original-title="" title="">Mose Allison on the latter's "Your Mind is on Vacation," at the same time turning the soul meter on Boz Scagg's "I'll Be Long Gone." Roseanna Vitro should be rightly heard as one of our leading jazz vocalists today. Her track record of smartly programmed recordings is ample evidence of this. Tell Me the Truth is a valuable addition to her continuing contribution to jazz vocals.

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Track Listing

On Your Way Down; Walkin�� After Midnight; Respect Yourself; Your Mind is on Vacation; I��ll Be Long Gone; Foolin�� Myself�� Tell Me The Truth; When Will I Be Loved; Fortunate Son; A Healing Song; I��ll Fly Away.

Personnel

Roseanna Vitro

vocals

Roseanna Vitro: vocals, arrangements; Mark Soskin: piano, group and horn arrangement; Dean Johnson: bass; Rudy Royston: drums; Mitch Stein: guitars; Tim Ries: saxophone; Nathan Eklund: trumpet; Al Chestnut: vocals (3); Sara Caswell: violin (10); Kate McGarry: vocals (10); Cindy Scott: vocals (10).

Album information

Title: Tell Me The Truth | Year Released: 2018 | Record Label: Skyline Records

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