KiTCHEN MuSIC: 40's Romance Meets Sensuous Grooves
Roberto Mighty's debut album, "KiTCHEN MuSIC," includes rhythmic versions of standard romantic songs from the 40's and 50's over sensuous grooves, featuring his jazzy singing, funky acoustic guitar playing, legendary saxophonist Walter Beasley -- plus Roberto's original recipes on his official website.
"When I was a kid, these are the kinds of tunes my Mother sang and whistled while she was cooking in the kitchen," says Roberto. "I love these old standards, and it's a kick to update them with hip arrangements and rhythmic grooves. Now I sing these songs while cooking for my daughter, and she's learning them too."
Fans of Michael Bublé, Cassandra Wilson, George Benson, Dianne Reeves, Harry Connick, Jr., Earl Klugh, Rod Stewart, Flora Purim, Nnena Freelon and other modern artists who sing standards will already be familiar with the songs on KiTCHEN MuSIC.
Roberto's breakout single, "Misty," takes Erroll Garner's pop masterpiece and gives it a fun, upbeat, bouncing groove. Tony Bennet's "Fly Me To The Moon" is remade with a doo-wop vocal intro, a horn section and a club dance beat; "Night and Day" is stylistically re-imagined with driving hip-hop drums and a unique three-part vocal sound; "Autumn Leaves" gets an uptempo, danceable treatment featuring an eight voice gospel-style chorus and tight horn arrangements; "My Ship" takes Ira Gershwin (Lyrics) and Kurt Weill's (Music) 1941 hit, overlays Roberto's intimate voice, adds jazzy guitar chords, and throbs to a sexy, modern drum track. Other top cuts from KiTCHEN MuSIC include Miles Davis' hit "Here's That Rainy Day," the lovelorn desperation of Frank Sinatra's "In The Wee Small Hours of The Morning," a live studio version of "All The Things You Are" with solo guitar accompaniment; Hoagy Carmichael's classic "Skylark," and perennial jazz favorite "My One And Only Love."
Says Roberto: "I love the romance, lyricism and sophistication of the Great American Songbook. Compositions by artists like Cole Porter and Ira Gershwin set a standard that has yet to be surpassed. KiTCHEN MuSIC takes these songs and sets them to today's hip, sensuous grooves. I try to make my singing intimate and seductive, and my nylon-string guitar is my duet partner."
Roberto Mighty currently lives in the Boston area, but he grew up in Anchorage, Alaska and Queens, New York. "I was raised in a household full of music, separated by which floor folks were on. On the second floor, my brother Pancho was playing music by CTI jazz artists like George Benson and Grover Washington. My brother Pedro was playing straight ahead bebop by John Coltrane, Eric Dolphy and Rhassan Roland Kirk. On the first floor, my Mom and Dad were playing songs by Ella Fitzgerald, Dinah Washington and Tony Bennet. In my basement hideaway, I was playing Jimi Hendrix, Eric Clapton, Santana and Led Zeppelin."
Added to all this was whatever band was appearing on the Ed Sullivan Show. "That's where I saw José Feliciano, The Beatles, Nat King Cole and Elvis Presley, to name a few." His musical ear was further enriched by his Panamanian-American heritage, which combines influences from Carribean music, like The Mighty Sparrow, as well as Latin Jazz and Salsa influences by artists like Eddie Palmieri and Mongo Santamaria.
Roberto's favorite lyric: "Maybe I should have saved/those leftover dreams/funny, but here's that rainy day."
Answer to most asked question: "Yes, that's my real name."
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