TONY MESSINA ALBUM REVIEW 2012 “PURE IMAGINATION” LOS ANGELES JAZZ SCENE HEART RECORDS www.tonymessina.com A modern-day crooner, Tony Messina updates the great American Songbook and modernizes the middle-of-the-road classic pop tradition. His voice is warm, haunting and expressive, doing justice to the words that he interprets. On Pure Imagination, his sixth recording, Tony is joined by the core trio of pianist Father John D’Amico (who takes many concise solos), bassist Kenny Davis and drummer Gregory McDonald. The trio is a versatile and sympathetic unit that works quite well with the singer and gives him swinging support. Tony contributes eight originals in addition to reviving five offbeat standards, so Pure Imagination is full of both new material and rarities. Quite a few of the songs find Tony exploring the many sides of romance, particularly such numbers as the heartfelt love song “You Make It So Easy,” “Island In The Sun,” “Most Beautiful Girl,” the good-natured “Just Your Friend,” the yearning “Need Your Love,” “I Don’t Have A Clue” and the celebratory “I Have Love.” Other highlights include “Pure Imagination” (which is given a lightly swinging and dreamy treatment), Horace Silver’s “Song For My Father,” which is turned into a tribute to Brazil and bossa-nova music, and “I’m A Jazzman.” The latter gives Tony an opportunity to salute jazz and to scat a bit. Also featured are a rare vocal revival of “Feel Like Makin’ Love,” Joni Mitchell’s “Both Sides Now” and the calypsoish “Umba Zumba Happy Days.” The performances, which clock in between 2:50 and 4:06, are brief enough to gain airplay but are lengthy enough to tell its story. Throughout the set, Tony Messina (who is also responsible for the arrangements) is heard in top form, making Pure Imagination a joy for fans of the singer. Scott Yanow, author of ten books including The Jazz Singers, Trumpet Kings, Swing, Jazz On Record 1917-76 and Jazz On Film Go to TonyMessina.com for more information on “Pure Imagination” Tony Messina, a native Philadelphian, is a jazz/pop, singer/songwriter and actor who's appeared in concerts from coast to coast and internationally at jazz festivals, theatres and nightclubs. Tony's amassed "sold-out" performances everywhere he's performed; recently at The Psalm Salon in Philadelphia, The Iridium Jazz Club, Kitano, and The Metropolitan Room in New York City, the Nantucket Theater Workshop in Nantucket, MA, The Cuillo Center for the Arts in Palm Beach, FL, The Invisible Theatre in Tucson, AZ, and at The Beverly Hilton Hotel, Beverly Hills, CA. Peter Leavy of Cabaret Scenes Magazine noted, "The Metropolitan Room audience reveled in Messina's velvety-voiced emulation...an easy-going entertainer, comfortable with his audience, possessor of an admirable voice and a crowd-pleaser." After presenting his one man show in Florida, the Palm Beach Post's Thom Smith reported that "Tony was Superb." Maya Johnson from Palm Beach Today shared that "Tony is Warm, Funny and Irresistible" and Dick Robinson of WXEL Radio and Television stated "Tony is Mesmerizing. He Touches Your Heart." A few years ago, Tony was invited to sing for Tony Bennett who was being honored by the Sons of Italy Organization. Messina caught the attention of Larry King and President Clinton who was in attendance. Tony sang at the Oslo Jazz Festival, as well as the New Orleans, Nantucket and Kansas City Jazz Festivals. He also performed for the American Ambassador to Norway. Tony's musical project was an original tribute to George Gershwin, Cole Porter and Johnny Mercer along with some of his original compositions, honoring some of the greatest composers of all time. Tony has performed with such entertainment luminaries as Stan Kenton, Lionel Hampton, Louie Bellson, David Letterman, Johnny Carson, Joan Rivers, Rodney Dangerfield, Merv Griffin, George Carlin, Sarah Jessica Parker, Harrison Ford, Mel Brooks and had worked for the "Chairman of the Board" himself, who was a major fan! After setting New York on fire, Tony moved to Hollywood where he sharpened his acting skills for the big screen and television. He acted on "The Young and The Restless," "General Hospital" and in the Mel Brooks' films, "Life Stinks" and "History of the World Part 1." His most recent soon to be released film is “The Silver Lining Playbook” starring Bradley Cooper and Robert De Niro. This year, 2012, Tony was given a small part in Harrison Ford's 2013 release "Paranoia." Tony has released five albums up to this point and time not including, “Pure Imagination” which was just released this year. Eight of the songs on “Pure Imagination” are written by Tony. Tony has wowed listeners and reviewers alike. Labeled by Variety as "Dangerous, may be habit forming," while The New York Post regarded Tony as, "Excellent, not to miss." The San Francisco Chronicle claims "Tony owns the audience with each cascade of musical magic." Harrison Ford considers Tony to be "a great talent." Joan Rivers ranks Messina as "the most romantic singer. "Ben Stiller said, "A marvelous singer with an ebullient sense of swing!" Frank Sinatra proclaimed that "Tony is Dazzling." If you want to see Tony’s latest interview, “30 Minutes with Tony Messina,” go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gPqsXTeuGf4&feature=g-all-s Additional ways to connect with Tony via Social Networks… http://www.facebook.com/tony.messinaa http://www.myspace.com/tonymessinagroup http://twitter.com/#!/Tony_Messina http://www.youtube.com/user/tony2messina/videos