PETER CINCOTTI
Peter Cincotti (Concord)
Reviewed by Shaun Dale

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The number of jazz musicians who have toured with Harry Connick, Jr., won an award at the Montreux Jazz Festival, played a residency at the Algonquin Hotel and recorded a stunning debut album with producer Phil Ramone by the age of 19 is exactly one. In fact, the number of jazz musicians who have done any of the above by the age of 19 is almost certainly one. That one is Peter Cincotti.

While his youth is an inescapable and impressive fact, the emphasis in assessing Cincotti has to be on the words 'jazz musician.' It's precisely his skill in that department that makes his age irrelevant just a few bars into the first track of his debut album. As producer Ramone puts it, "He's the freshest old soul to come along in ages." Cincotti plays the piano with a facility and sings with an air of conviction that lesser souls might take decades to master, and most never do, time notwithstanding.

Cincotti fronts a quartet that includes bassist David Finck, tenor saxophonist Scott Kreitzer and drummer Kenny Washington. Together they're a solid straight ahead outfit, with each player performing ably both as accompanists and in solo roles. Naturally, the bulk of the solos are reserved for Cincotti, and it's when he takes those turns that he really shines. While he's spent time studying his forbears, he has his own ideas to offer and presents consistently pleasing surprises at every opportunity.

There are three Cincotti original compositions on the album, with lyrics supplied by his mother, who proves to be quite a talent in her own right. They fit comfortably among the standard material he covers, and demonstrate yet another facet of his talents. This is as good a start as Peter Cincotti could hope for in the recording arena, and it gives me hope for many years of great jazz music to come.

Track List:

I Changed The Rules * Comes Love * Are You The One? * Sway * Miss Brown * Lovers, Secrets, Lies * Fool On The Hill/Nature Boy * Ain't Misbehavin' * Come Live Your Life With Me * Spinning Wheel * You Stepped Out Of A Dream * Rainbow Connection

© 2003 - Shaun Dale