Album Notes

Melanie Mitrano’s brand of music is straight-up acoustic vocal jazz in a champagne glass – swinging, clean, cool and refined. These songs are intensely varied and deftly executed, fresh and unexpected, yet they sound like bold new additions to the American Songbook. With an emphasis on story-telling, her engaging lyrics draw audiences in, while her stellar band provides the solid and rhythmic grid she spins her tales upon. It’s all there: good old-fashioned swing, bossas, rhumbas, funk, pop ballads, hard-driving and gritty tunes in unusual meters. Mitrano uses whatever is takes to get her point across, and she does it with skill and style. Her band boasts an assortment of some of the finest New York jazz musicians around: Matt King on piano, Andy Eulau on bass, and Scott Neumann on drums. The band is rounded out with first-rate horn players Mike Lee (sax), Jim Cifelli (trumpet/flugelhorn), Nick Afflitto (trumpet) and Erick Storckman (trombone). They’re a tight unit and they mean business. Mostly, though, these musicians have a great time playing together, and making their listeners feel like old friends who are more than welcome to join the party. No tired standards allowed – this is new music that will keep you listening and wanting more.