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Frank Marocco delivers creative improvisation and first-rate music on an
unlikely Instrument. His fascinating performance thoroughly affirms the fact
that its not the Instrument that makes the music, it's the imagination and
creativity of the person who is playing it.
-Don Heckman: Los Angeles Times
Music review
In the world of accordion performance, Frank Marocco is a giant.
Not only for his mastery of the instrument itself, but for his
highly developed musicality. In any style, on the concert stage
or in the recording studio,
his playing is technically brilliant and musically superb.
Frank
is the most recorded accordionist in America (and, possibly,
the world), having played on a vast number of movie soundtracks,
television scores, commercial jingles and record albums, in the
studios of Hollywood
and beyond. He has recorded for and/or worked with artists ranging
from Brian Wilson, Pink Floyd and Madonna to Luciano Pavarotti,
conductor Maxim Shostakovich
and composer John Williams.
He was nominated eight years in a
row for the Most Valuable Player Award by the National Academy
of Recording Arts and Sciences
(N.A.R.A.S) and received that award twice. Frank is also
a consummate jazz artist and a gifted composer with several
of his own albums to his credit. He has played his
music for audiences all over the world. Enjoy this eclectic
collection.
-Al DiMarco
"Appassionato" is a departure from any of my previous recordings. It is more of an eclectic collection of music from various cultures.
It has everything from
an Italian pop ballad to a Cuban jazz salsa original.
This CD features the accordion in a variety of settings, most
with an ethnic world music feel, much jazz improvisation,
and many original songs
with different rhythmic grooves.
There are two
Brazilian tunes: "Cavaquinho" (a bright Choro) and "Fogo
No Baile", the latter featuring the Hammond B3 work of Ron Feuer,
who playfully trades solos with me. I am also playing the bass
line on this duet.
One of the
more unusual cuts is the opening 7/4 ballad with a Latin pop
feel. Joe DiBlasi's guitar and Justo Almario's soprano sax make
this an exciting opener. This is
followed by an original of mine- "Samba Italiano", an
up tempo samba with Justo Almario's soaring solo on flute. "Soave", a
European style jazz waltz (another original), features a great guitar solo
from
Larry Koonse. "Abril
en Cuba" is a Cuban jazz version of an original line I wrote based on
the chord changes to a familiar standard. Great solos by Donald
Vega (piano) and
Justo Almario (flute) on this track.
"Autumn in Rome", a pretty ballad played as
a 6/4 bossa was enhanced by Jon Kurnick's beautiful guitar solo and a nice
ensemble section
consisting of accordion,
vibes and guitar. "Oblivion", the classic piece by the great Argentinean
composer Astor Piazzolla, is given a different treatment by opening
up the B section and soloing over the chord changes. A beautiful
gut string guitar solo
by Joe DiBlasi and the accordion solo over the 2nd accordion
rhythm track give this often-recorded classic a fresh twist.
My Italian flavored original, "Bella Chitarra", features the
guitar of Jon Kurnick and a piano solo by Mark Levang, the person
who really believed in my music and was greatly responsible for making
this CD happen. Mark did most
of the arranging, all of the orchestrating and the excellent
synth and piano work on the CD. In addition to his musicianship,
Mark, along with studio engineer
Paul Tavenner, captured great sounds from all the instruments,
especially the accordion, which is one of the most difficult
to record.
One of my favorites is the pop ballad "Ballad for Anne", a
love song I wrote several years ago to my wife Anne, my soul
mate, and mother of our three
daughters. Brian Scanlon's pretty alto sax is heard on this track.
He also plays the hot soprano solo on "Cavaquinho".
The surprise track
on this CD is a song written and sung (in English) by Bruce Atkinson.
The Italian translation was written
and sung by Tony Galla.
This is
the only track on which the accordion is not the featured instrument.
Mark's arrangement for "Aspettami" is a "tour de force." Using
his acoustic piano with The Hollywood Strings and just a touch
of accordion, he produced
the perfect background for this beautiful vocal.
-Frank Marocco
Recorded at the following:
Big City Recording, Granada Hills, Calif. USA. Engineer - Paul
Tavenner - June 5th, 2002.
Green Room Studio, Van Nuys, Calif. USA. Engineer - Mark Green - July
12th, 2002.
J&R Studio, Van Nuys, Calif. Engineer - Ron Feuer Jr… Track 9…(Fogo
No Baile).
Instument: Petosa AM-1100 Frank Marocco model & Giulietti classic 127
Musicians:
Frank Marocco: Accordion
Mark Levang: Keyboards
Bruce Atkinson: Bass & Vocal
Steve Distanislao: Drums
Jon Kurnick: Guitar & Mandolin
Luis Conte: Percussion
Justo Almario: Flute & Soprano Sax
| Additional: |
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| Brian Scanlon: alto,soprano sax |
track 6 & 11 |
| Joe DiBlasi: guitar |
track 1 & 7 |
| Larry Koonse: guitar |
track 3 |
| Dave Marotta: bass |
track 1 |
| Rene Camacho:bass |
track 4 |
| Lorca Hart: drums |
track 4 |
| Kevin Ricard: percussion |
track 4 |
| Donald Vega: piano |
track 4 |
| Ron Feuer: organ.(Hammond B3) |
track 9 |
| Tony Galla: vocal |
track 10 |
| Hollywood Strings |
track 10 |
Arrangements: Mark Levang, Frank Marocco Orchestrations: Mark
Levang
Produced by: Mark Levang, Frank Marocco
Cover Photo: Ed Morgan
Song List: (Click on  to hear sample tracks)
You can order individual tracks for just 99cents each.
High Quality mp3 download - click on Add To Cart
| 1. Anonimo Veneziano |  |
| 2. Samba Italiano | |
| 3. Soave | |
| 4. Abril en Cuba | |
| 5. Autumn in Rome | |
| 6. Ballad for Anne | |
| 7. Oblivion | |
| 8. Bella Chitarra | |
| 9. Fogo No Baile | |
| 10. Aspettami (Wait For Me) | |
| 11. Cavaquinho | |
Check out these other CD's by Frank Marocco
|
| Be-bop Buffet - NEW RELEASE - October, 2006 - Frank went all the way to Italy (after being in Germany to record 'Just Friends') in the Spring of 2006 and recorded this great new "Accordion Jazz Duo" featuring Simone Zanchini of Italy. You must hear this album to believe it... |
| Just Friends - NEW RELEASE - August, 2006 - Frank went all the way to Germany in the Spring of 2006 and recorded this great new "Frank Marocco Group" CD featuring 12 terrific tracks including: Just Friends, Ti Voglio Bene, Frankly Speaking, Oblivion, Samba De Orfeu, Spring is Here, Caravan, and more... |
| Back In Time - NEW RELEASE - February, 2006 - Frank goes solo on this album playing and interpreting these classic standards like only the incomparable Frank Marocco can do. Jazz aficionados and fans of Frank will not want to miss having this album in their collection. |
| Appassionato - Frank Marocco delivers creative improvisation and first-rate music on an unlikely Instrument. His fascinating performance thoroughly affirms the fact that its not the Instrument that makes the music, it's the imagination and creativity of the person who is playing it. |
| Ballad For Anne - If Frank's musical picture hasn't been clear to you as of this point, it will be now as his unique harmonic setting provided the backdrop for his melodic venturing. Easily embracing the gentle written melody on one hand, he shows his visionary concepts on the other... |
| Evergreens - Most of these songs are from the "Golden Age of Music," the 30's and 40's. It was the era that produced many of the great standards or "Evergreens," coinciding with the rise in popularity of the accordion, that music and the instrument were extremely compatible. |
| A Nite In Marocco - This started out to be a solo acoustic Accordion album much like Frank's last "Evergreens" album. However, Frank's good friend Ron Feuer, a great jazz piano player, talked about using Hammond Organ and accordion together.
|
| Turn Out The Stars - This CD features some of the Jazz artists Frank has played live and/or recorded with on a recent tour of Europe. Also included are two solo acoustic medleys. Turn out the Stars you will hear something probably never heard before: Two unusual Jazz Instruments, acoustic Accordion and Concertina. |
| Beyond The Sea - This NEW Release features the Solo Continental Accordion of Frank Marocco. All of Franks previous recordings have been jazz records and Frank is probably most known in the Accordion world as a jazz artist. However... |
| Freedom Flight - Includes NINE Original Frank Marocco Compositions. Recorded at Studio Tube, Rances - CH by Marc Champod, on June 19 - 20, 1995. Accordion: Frank Marocco Vibes: Philippe Cornaz Double-Bass: Ivor Malherbe Drums: Marcel Papaux |
| Brazilian Waltz - Frank Marocco, with his keen jazz instincts and virtuostic facility, has given new life to the accordion. Nowhere in his unique style is there any evidence of that heavily breathing squeeze box that can detract so from good musical phrasing... |
| Made In Germany - Included on this CD is all you could ever wish for, perfect timing combined with melodic feeling and harmonic versatility performed with improvised fantasy and virtuoso ease. |
| Like Frank Marocco - This is a new CD Release of Frank's very first cassette tape and has been digitally re-mastered. Carrying the solo work in addition to Frank in the set are young British vibist Victor Feldman and guitar veteran Al Hendrickson... |
| Frank Marocco Live - Recorded live at a Jazz Concert presented by Frank Marocco at a Chicago Accordion Club gathering in the late 1990's. Frank was joined by Chicago area jazz musicians... |
| An Evening In Italy - Tony Galla: "With great pleasure I am proud to feature the world renowned Accordionist FRANK MAROCCO and the incredible voice of MANDIE PINTO." |
| From My Heart To You - This CD Release by Tony Galla features Frank Marocco on Accordion providing his magic touch to the wonderful tunes included on this album. |
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