AIR PARMA
Air Parma (Wing Ding Records)
Reviewed by DJ Johnson

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There's a palpable air of confidence in every second of Air Parma's debut, self-titled CD. Whether they're playing carefree power pop ("Place In The Sun," "Marigold Hill") or introspective mellow pop ("Meet Me Halfway," "Andale"), there's a stamp of high-grade musicianship and songwriting craftsmanship that can't be denied. A careful look at the names on the CD reveals a band with big-time pedigrees on the wall. Guitarist/vocalist George Marinelli was a founding member of Bruce Hornsby and the Range and has played in the bands of Bonnie Raitt, Shawn Colvin and Jackson Browne; bass/keyboard/vocalist Mark Prentice has logged time with Elvis Costello, Lyle Lovett, The Fairfield Four, and John Fogerty; and drummer/vocalist Vince Santoro is a veteran of Cicadas, and has worked with Roseanne Cash, Felix Cavaliere and Rodney Crowell. Strangely enough, heavy credentials like this often lead to unlistenable garbage. Not in this case. The easy-going flow of Air Parma feels just right, and Marinelli's voice (somewhere between Donald Fagen and Don Henley) fits the music like a glove. When they finally cut loose with all the bells and whistles of high level musicianship ("One Less Wounded Heart"), they manage to keep it "in" enough to hold the attention of even the casual listener. I think they're on to something here.

© 2000 - DJ Johnson