Album Notes

All tracks on this CD were produced, arranged, performed, recorded
and mixed by Diana Robinson.

Vocal tracks sung by Karen Morrissey, Diana Robinson and Joe Belcastro (see track listings below).

Joe Belcastro (1940-1985) was born in Shinnston, West Virginia, studied at West Virginia University and lived for a time in New York City. An outstanding pianist, Joe appeared on West Virginia Public Radio, won a State Department tour and performed with many outstanding jazz artists. He was also an extremely generous and insightful teacher.

Diana uses a Macintosh Dual G5 running Cubase SX recording software, a MOTU 896HD hard disk recorder, VST (Virtual Studio Technology) Plugins, Stylus RMX, Fxpansion's BFD Drum Kits, Miroslav Philharmonic VST, Spectrasonics Trilogy Bass VST, Waves Production Mastering Plugins, a Kurzweil K2600R and a Yamaha P120 keyboard controller.


Song Descriptons:

Whispering Winds
Music and Lyrics by Joe Belcastro; Vocal by Karen Morrissey

Joe wrote this tune sometime in the early 70s. He always
played it at a pretty fast clip. I love the unexpected turns
the harmony takes on the bridge. Karen Morrissey, a
wonderful singer I worked with years ago sings a version
of the tune I think Joe would have been happy with.


Periphery
Music by Joe Belcastro

This 5/4 tune shows Joe's amazing harmonic and
rhythmic songwriting ability. It's a fun tune to play
and I've arranged it here for flute, trombone, trumpet
and rhythm section.


Where My Love Was Born For You
Music by Joe Belcastro; Lyrics by Linda Phillips
Vocal by Diana Robinson

This is one of my favorite tunes. It has several clever
harmonic turns. Playing a guitar line on a keyboard
is a bit challenging but I liked the way the guitar sound
worked with the tune. I sing this one.


Phrenetic
Music by Joe Belcastro

Joe wrote this be-bop tune while he was a student at
West Virginia University. It's got some great Òout-thereÓ
harmonies. I stick pretty closely to Joe's original trio
arrangement on this recording.


I'm Not the Fool Anymore
Music and Lyrics by Joe Belcastro; Vocal by Diana Robinson

I sing Joe's beautiful 3/4 time tune. I think the harmonic
turns on the bridge really make this tune special.


Why Don't We Try Again
Music by Joe Belcastro; Lyrics by Diana Robinson
Vocal by Karen Morrissey

Joe wrote this ballad in 1977 and I wrote the lyrics while
driving from Shinnston, WV to Athens, Ohio after visiting
Joe and recording his playing and my jazz harmony lesson
on an old portable cassette recorder. The words just seemed
to flow out and match Joe's melody effortlessly. I never
recorded the tune but here Karen sings a great version and
I sing backup harmonies. I wish Joe could have heard it.


May
Music by Joe Belcastro

This sweet little tune captures much of Joe's optimism. I
recorded Joe playing a solo piano version of this back in May
1977. It was untitled at the time. I arranged here it with
lots of electric piano and accessory percussion.


The Silver Swan
Music by Orlando Gibbons (1583-1625); Lyrics by Christopher
Hattan; Adapted by Joe Belcastro; Vocal by Diana Robinson

Joe took the tenor line of this Orlando Gibbons madrigal,
re-harmonized it and added a beautiful 3/4 time signature,
making a remarkably updated and beautiful tune. I played
a trio of recorders (VSTs) to accompany my singing.


Zephyr (Nina)
Music by Joe Belcastro

I'm not sure why we started calling this tune Zehpyr
instead of its original title Nina. It is a great mix of Latin
and polychordal harmonies. I've struggled for years to play
this tune with the same laid-back, yet driving energy that
Joe had when he played it.


For Bill
Music by Joe Belcastro

Jazz trombonist Bill Watrous, visited Ohio University in
1977, and Joe wrote this beautiful ballad for him.
I play it here as a solo piano piece to highlight Joe's
beautiful harmonies and exquisite song structure.


Excursion
Music by Joe Belcastro

This wild little piece was written when Joe was a student
at West Virginia University. It is another example of Joe's
innovative harmonic and rhythmic style. I kept this in
a traditional jazz trio setting.


El Baile
Music by Joe Belcastro

Joe's 3/4 tunes are always a joy to play. This one has a very
interesting bridge which goes into 6/8. The harmonies and
melodic line are very unique and leave lots of room for
improvisation and invention over the basic tune structure.


Two People Love
Music and Lyric by Joe Belcastro; Vocal by Joe Belcastro

I used to record my lessons with Joe on a really cheap, portable cassette recorder. I always loved the way he sang this tune. It's another of his 3/4 tunes, this time with a few 2/4 bars in the style of Burt Bacharach (a musical hero Joe and I shared). I used some digital technology to strip out as much of the vocal as I could, then added piano, bass and drums to match Joe's tempo (which wavers a bit at times). Some of Joe's piano playing comes through so I've
tried to match the tuning as best I could. Technicalities aside, it's great to hear Joe singing a tune he had some success with while he lived in New York and which he sings so well.


Marilyn's Mood
Music by Joe Belcastro

Joe named this tune for his friend and percussionist Guy
Remonko's wife, Marilyn. It's another great AABA be-bop
tune with a great bridge. Guy recently sent me the chart.


December
Music by Joe Belcastro

I learned so much from Joe and his polychordal approach
to harmony. This tune is almost 90% polychords. I love the
suspended feel this give the tune, resolving briefly in the
bridge.



Thanks

Thanks to Guy Remonko, Joe's drummer and friend of many
years and teacher extraordinaire. Guy was the person who
first introduced me to Joe and encouraged our friendship.

Also, thanks to Joe's Aunt Rose (Belcastro) for all her help
sending photographs and reliving fond memories of Joe.

This CD is dedicated to the memory of Joseph Anthony
Belcastro (1940-1985).