I Cover the Waterfront - Giacomo Gates, Green, Johnny [1]
Baby, You Should Know It - Giacomo Gates, Dorough, Bob
Jeannine - Giacomo Gates, Brown Jr., Oscar
You Go to My Head - Giacomo Gates, Coots, J. Fred
Fly Right (Epistrophy) - Giacomo Gates, Clarke, Kenny
How I Wish (Ask Me Now) - Giacomo Gates, Hendricks, Jon
A Night in Tunisia - Giacomo Gates, Gillespie, Dizzy
Male jazz vocalist sings well-known jazz tunes, including blues & ballads in the tradition of Eddie Jefferson - it's hard swinging & very accessible, in a trio setting with trumpet.
Male jazz vocalist sings well-known jazz tunes, including blues & ballads in the tradition of Eddie Jefferson - it's hard swinging & very accessible, in a trio setting with trumpet.
Andy Bey Meets Eddie Jefferson - - Great stuff ! ! !
Eddie Landsberg | Tokyo, Japan | 12/14/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"From the opening track, Giacomo is in command be it as a lyricist, vocalist, or stylistic interpeter of bebop and standard Jazz.A great session with Jim Rotundi on trumpet, Ben Riley on Drums, Daid Hazeltime on piano and Peter Washington on bass, Gates stands as a performer with a distinct voice that stands out in tone, articulation and style.Though many of the tracks have a laid back feel, Gates swings especially hard on Spinnin' (which he wrote the lyrics to) and demonstrates a very interesting style of scat that is definitely his own (he seems to howl at times when he's deep in the groove.) He also delivers an impresive rendition of Eddie Jefferson and Duke Pearson's Jeanine (a personal favorite of mine, the song having appeared on the album that turned me to Jazz when I was 12, Eddie Jefferson's THE MAIN MAN). His original lyrics to Fly Rite (title song of the album) also work well. "A Night In Tunisia" also offers another great taste of Eddie Jefferson, with his own unique flair and very contrasting moods. In fact, as I write this I'm listening to that track and I am chuckling out loud listening to his musical wit and vocal aerobics.Nice liner notes, incidentally by 'BGO's Michael Bourne."
Flyin' Right
Watching her gardening | Sedona, AZ United States | 10/21/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Catching Giacomo Gates live at the Sedona Jazz on the Rocks Jazz Festival was a treat for sure. From swinging a ballad, to scatting to Vocalese, he does it all and seemingly without effort. The Sunday brunch audience was hip and sophistocated and wound up on their feet,cheering, as Gates moved from number to number. Rather than read this and wonder, give his latest CD a spin. You'll be amazed at his smokey nightclub baritone tightly integrated with a great backup group. Don't play it in your car, however. No use trying to climb a telephone pole while swinging down the highway."
What A Pleasure
Watching her gardening | 07/22/2000
(5 out of 5 stars)
"My husband and I had the distinct privilege of seeing Giacomo Gates in concert. We sat in the second row. He is very entertaining and fun, and what a presence on stage. We bought his CD at the concert and have enjoyed it immensely. Our favorites are "Jeannine" and "Night in Tunisia". We look forward to more releases from him."
Jazz standards made fresh
Watching her gardening | 03/22/1999
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Giacomo Gates, employing Mark Murphy vocal techniques, has made a great album..... some original vocalese, some straight jazz singing, and a fresh vocal approach to the great jazz standards. A vocal artist. Highly recommended. Tom Jenz"
If you love singers who swing, you'll love Giacomo Gates
Watching her gardening | 01/29/1999
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a fun CD! Gates has surrounded himself with a hot, swinging rhythm section and he has a ball working through bebop and songbook standards in the vocalese tradition of Eddie Jefferson. He's a lot more fun than Andy Bey or Kevin Mahogany, and more authentic than Kurt Elling. Spread the word, I am!"