US composer and musician Paul D’ADAMO is a well established music teacher. When not teaching he also has his own jazz quartet. In 2010 he made his debut as a recording artist with the self-released album “Tell Me Something”.
Aided by a host of guest musicians, D’Adamo’s first venture into the world of recording artists is a multiple-genre affair, where the majority of songs are cover versions supplemented by some of his own material. His guest musicians a fairly well known lot for those in the know, and most of them have performed with artists that are household names worldwide. Which goes a long way to explain how smooth and professional this album sounds like I guess, alongside high quality production.
A nice item of smooth, playful and fun fusion kicks off the album straight away with D’Adamo’s own Tell Me Something, followed by a smooth and subtly jazz-tinged take of Collins’ Long Long Way To Go that also has a slight reggae touch to it unless I’m much mistaken. Miss You is one of D’Adamo’s creations, another smooth as silk creation, this time with a slightly jazz-flavored mainstream pop sound to it. Collins’ Doesn’t Anybody Stay Together Anymore continues in a similar vein, but with a fun-filled jazz and funk-tinged chorus section that elevates this one quite nicely. Entangled is a Genesis classic, and gently soars to great heights also in this version, easily the best track on this CD as far as I’m concerned.
Woman Like You is one of Paul’s songs, with a strong feeling of sun, summer and the Caribbean due to the steel piano used extensively and otherwise with a slight jazz touch to it. Please Don’t Ask is another Genesis original, in this version with subtly jazz-tinged piano as the lead instrument, supplemented by careful jazzy rhythms and melancholic violin. Like It Or Not comes from the same source, in this version a steady, radio friendly rock tune that sports a few nice bells and whistles in the arrangement department. Constant Change was written by Filipino artist Jose Mari Chen, a smooth pop tune that develops into a somewhat more sophisticated entity as it develops and sporting some nice, symphonic backdrops. Concluding this disc is Guide Vocal, a brief Genesis penned a capella performed in a suitably enticing manner.
Paul D’Adamo can most certainly be pleased with his debut album. Skilled musicians and strong production helps elevate this radio friendly blend of multiple genres to something more than merely smooth FM background music, at least for those who prefer to listen to music with some concentration. An album that should have a broad appeal amongst those with a taste for radio friendly music that doesn’t stick to a limited genre convention or other, and well worth checking out by those who can recognize themselves in such a description.
My rating: 80/100
