B I O G R A P H Y

Biography

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R E V I E W S

JAZZIZ Magazine
San Francisco-based vocalist Lori Carsillo chose some of the Bay Area's best - and most under-appreciated - musicians for her moody debut CD, Bittersweet (Tru Blu Lu Records). Guitarist Dave Mac Nab and saxophonist Eric Crystal paint evocative new melodic arrangements for Carsillo's interpretations of Billie Holiday ("Left Alone") and Peggy Lee ("Some Cats Know"). Cellist Robin Bonnell adds classical nuances to Hoagy Carmichael's "Skylark," and Robby Virus' theremin gives "Where Flamingos Fly" an eerie presence. Composer Cole Porter probably never envisioned Carsillo's seductive delivery on his "Get Out of Town." Her vocals float above Michael Bluestein's Wurlitzer organ and Mac Nab's wah-wah pedal.

DownBeat Magazine
...savvy Bay Area ingenue, turns a deft phrase, sweetly reworks melodies and convincingly touches 10 standards. She likes mid-tempo sambas: "Old Country" revisits a young Nancy Wilson; a feathery "Skylark" is ennobled by Robin Bonnell's cello; and she sings "O Grande Amor" like an honorary carioca.

Scott Yanow
L.A. Jazz Scene
Based in the San Francisco Bay area, Lori Carsillo has a simple and direct delivery, a coolly sensuous voice, and an improvising style that is quite subtle. Her choice of notes is excellent, she swings at all tempos and the ten songs that she picked for her debut recording are all superior. For this set, Carsillo is joined by a variety of lesser-known but talented Bay Area musicians including guitarist Dave Mac Nab, keyboardist Michael Bluestein, cellist Robin Bonnell and Eric Crystal on tenor, with Robby Virus playing the spooky-sounding theremin on a couple numbers. Among the songs that the singer interprets are Nat Adderley's "The Old Country," "Where Flamingos Fly," Peggy Lee's "Some Cats Know" and Billie Holiday's "Left Alone" along with such standards as "Skylark," "Falling In Love With Love," "O Grande Amor" (sung in Portuguese) and "You'd Be So Nice To Come Home To." Although she studied for five years with the great Kitty Margolis, to Lori Carsillo's credit, she sounds nothing at all her like her teacher, developing a quiet and appealing style of her own. Her debut is highly recommended, and available from www.loricarsillo.com and www.amazon.com. One suspects that a lot more is going to be heard from Lori Carsillo in the future.

Michael Handler
Jazz West
This CD, and indeed this singer, has a smoky, sensuous feeling accentuated by the wonderful choices of ballads and love songs. The pain of love is evident in such tunes as "Left Alone" and "I Fall in Love Too Easily", while "Some Cats Know" and "Skylark" have a bit more bounce. The band is entirely supportive throughout the date, and adds to the late-night feel with Michael Bluestein's soulful Hammond B3 and Dave Mac Nab's silky guitar riffs. The addition of Robby Virus's theremin gives some tunes a "Twin Peaks" soundtrack feel, but it all seems to work well in the context of the song. Ms. Carsillo seems comfortable with the ballads as well the mid and up-tempo numbers, treating the material in an intimate and personal style. She swings and scats easily on "You'd Be So Nice to Come Home To", and acquits herself quite nicely in Portuguese on Jobim's "O Grande Amor". Other players include Eric Crystal on sax, Robin Bonnell on cello, and the inseparable pair of John Shifflett and bass and Jason Lewis, drums. The group sounds solid and has the "just right" instrumentation for every tune to make this an entirely listenable and enjoyable date.

D. Oscar Groomes
O's Place Jazz Newsletter
Lori's voice is silky smooth and warm. She makes all of the music relaxing and pleasant even with the dark melancholy tones of her selections. Songs like "Skylark" and "Some Cats Know" are top notch. Her interactions with the musicians particularly guitarist Dave MacNab and Eric Crystal on sax is strong. This is an inviting session.

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P H O T O S

large version: 811x1040 pixels, 2.42Mb

large version: 1040x811 pixels, 2.42Mb

large version: 1040x811 pixels, 2.42Mb

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S O U N D   S A M P L E S

Sound samples from Bittersweet

Get Out of Town
Cole Porter
Lori Carsillo - vocals
Dave Mac Nab - guitar
Michael Bluestein - Wurlitzer
John Shifflett - bass
Jason Lewis - drums

Where Flamingos Fly
M. Spoliansky/J. Kennedy
Lori Carsillo - vocals
Dave Mac Nab - guitar
Michael Bluestein - organ
John Shifflett - bass
Jason Lewis - drums
Robert Ach - theremin

Skylark
H. Carmichael/J. Mercer
Lori Carsillo - vocals
Dave Mac Nab - nylon string guitar
John Shifflett - bass
Jason Lewis - drums
Robin Bonnell - cello

Falling in Love with Love
R. Rodgers/L. Hart
Lori Carsillo - vocals
Dave Mac Nab - guitar
Michael Bluestein - piano
John Shifflett - bass
Jason Lewis - drums

For more information, please send an email to bittersweet@loricarsillo.com.