Search - Monica Mancini :: Cinema Paradiso

Mancini spins delight in film tunes

11/09/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"People who fear that classic pop singers are going the way of the VHS tape should rejoice with the release of Monica Mancini's Cinema Paradiso. It's simply a gem of an album, a dreamy affair in which the vocalist, the arrangements and the songs are all of the highest caliber.Mancini, as her name suggests, has a great musical pedigree. Her dad was the legendary composer Henry Mancini; her mom, Ginny O'Connor, was a member of Mel Torme's Mel-Tones.Monica's not coasting on the family name, though: This is her third album, and easily the finest showcase she has had to date.As the title implies, Cinema Paradiso is devoted to songs that originated in films. Mancini has come up with a beguiling mixture of tunes, gathering both familiar standards and little-known beauties.The title tune, for example, comes from the acclaimed 1988 Italian film of the same name. Producer Gregg Field (Mancini's husband) added lyrics, and the result is a sublime song that sounds like an instant classic. Mancini's dark, shimmering vocals caress the melody, blending with the string-heavy orchestration. She's not prone to vain melodrama, instead using her gorgeous voice like an instrument that is part of the ensemble. That track sets a consistent mood for the album, one of hushed, haunting beauty. In that sense, the disc recalls the classic theme albums of Frank Sinatra in creating and sustaining a tone throughout. The songs span the years. There is a shaded Over the Rainbow that replaces Judy Garland's youthful insecurity with a sense of quiet optimism. At the other end of the musical generation gap comes A Love Before Time, the theme from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. The song's subject matter is one of eternal love, a topic that suits the disc perfectly. Mancini also treats her listeners to such classics as The Summer Knows, A Day in the Life of a Fool and The Shadow of Your Smile. All are superb. Baby Mine from Dumbo is sweetly rendered as a warm nighttime lullaby. Burt Bacharach's Alfie is altered from the familiar Dionne Warwick version, with Mancini taking the song at a languid pace that allows her to fully explore Hal David's wistful lyric.She approaches only one of her father's songs, the little-heard Soldier in the Rain. Judging from her lovely interpretation, it's a puzzle why the song never became a standard. The album has a connection to one film currently in theaters. Mancini's recording of the song Senza Fine, originally featured in 1965's The Flight of the Phoenix, can be heard in Ghost Ship. Sung in Italian, it easily outclasses the flick.For fans of film songs, Cinema Paradiso will be a delight. It's even better for lovers of sophisticated pop singing, who will want to present Mancini with bouquets of praise after hearing this wonderful album. By Randy Cordova, The Arizona Republic"

"The Summer Smiles, The Summer Knows"

Rebecca*rhapsodyinblue* | CA USA | 01/07/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

""When Monica Mancini set out to record this retrospective of songs from films, she clearly had her passions in order. Monica comes by her affinity for the medium honestly, having grown up in a house permeated with some of the best film music in history, from the pen of her incredibly prolific father, Henry. So it is no surprise that this collection has all the artistry, pathos, and musicality that it so deserves." ~ Dave Grusin, Liner Notes - 2002 ~



Dave Grusin, an expert arranger, conductor, pianist, film scorer himself has described this album so perfectly. The choice of material in this CD is impeccable with Monica Mancini's graceful interpretations and not to mention the flawlessly beautiful arrangements by Torrie Zito, John Calandrelli, Michael Lang, Patrick Williams, George Doering, Ray Ellis, Harvey Cohen and John Frizzell. There are twelve theme songs from various remarkable films in this recording and most of the tracks were backed up by an orchestra with the exception of a few.



The theme song from the movie "Summer of '42" penned by the creative husband-and-wife-team of Alan & Marilyn Bergman and composer Michel Legrand "The Summer Knows" is one of my top choices from this collection. Splendidly arranged by Michael Lang and Harvey Cohen on string section, she renders this timeless song so true to its essence and making it the most beautiful version, bar none!



Burt Bacharach and Hal David's "Alfie" (from the movie of the same title), is a moving song accompanied only by the sublime piano playing of Michael Lang. She has an exquisitely beautiful voice, the kind that still shines without the trimmings and backing up of an orchestra, (the kind that still glows even on A Cappella singing). Another affecting song and a favorite of mine is "Too Late Now," a Burton Lane and Alan Jay Lerner treasure and theme from the movie "Royal Wedding." The orchestral arrangement was done by Torrie Zito, a fine pianist/arranger/conductor who worked briefly with the legendary musical icon, Frank Sinatra. I loved the way he injected a classical touch on his arrangement, almost sounding like one of Claude Debussy's masterpieces. I would say that this is one of the best tracks. Ditto with another Torrie Zito arrangement, Johnny Mandel and Paul Webster's "The Shadow of Your Smile" from the movie "The Sandpiper." Ms. Mancini gave these classics the retire-the-trophy-treatments and made them her very own.



The lovely opener, Ennio Morricone and Gregg Field's "Cinema Paradiso," arranged by Jorge Calandrelli, is also one of the standouts. Another beauty is "I'll Never Say Goodbye" from the movie "The Promise" with piano accompaniment by Michael Lang. The finale "Over The Rainbow" from "The Wizard of Oz" is simply divine with orchestral arrangement by Ray Ellis.



This recording produced by Ms. Mancini's musician husband, Gregg Field, truly showed off not only the singer's vocal artistry, but her classy and elegant style of singing. Thank you Ms. Mancini for your wonderful gift of music. Music to enjoy forever!

"

Perfection!!!!

David A. Preiser | Tacoma, WA United States | 11/13/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Monica Mancini has done it again! She has released an album that is simply beautiful. Her version of the title track is STUNNING, Hearing the english lyric is great after listening to JOSH sing it in Italian for a year!!! "Too Late Now" & "I'll Never Say Goodbye" are as close to pefect as you can get. "Senza Fine" is a new classic, Glorious!!! I look forward to each new Monica Mancini album, Where has She been all these years???? A Fan Forever"