MP3 PJ Parker - Dreams Are Meant For Two
Creative interpretations of 12 selctions from within and without the Great American Songbook, plus three originals.
15 MP3 Songs in this album (66:05) !
Related styles: JAZZ: Jazz Vocals, BLUES: Blues Vocals
People who are interested in Sarah Vaughan should consider this download.
Details:
PJ Parker’s third release, “Dreams Are Meant For Two,” is an emotional collection of original and classic standards, including her own title track, plus “Black Coffee,” “Moonglow,” “Angel Eyes,” her own “So What Do You Say?” and “Love’s A Logistical Thing,” plus nine others.
“Dreams Are Meant For Two,” as a melody, remained virtually undiscovered for over 50 years until two weeks prior to this recording. According to PJ, “I was somehow drawn to a lone manuscript, nestled amongst my Dad’s beloved sheet music, carefully stored in his piano bench. He had signed it, labeled it ‘PIANO’ and composed it entirely in pencil. There were no lyrics.” She brought it to her pianist, Vinnie Ruggieri. After an emotional rendering of this lovely melody, they both agreed that if PJ could write lyrics, the song should be included in this recording. She did so, somehow sensing that her father had written the melody for her mother, before they were married, which indeed turned out to be true.
“The lyrics seemed to write themselves – a simple love song written by a man who had finally found the love of his life.” And when PJ and Vinnie recorded it, just piano and voice, the last song of the session, it was in the wee small hour of June 17, the anniversary of the wedding of Thomas and Gloria Parker. In their honor and celebration the collection is entitled, “Dreams Are Meant For Two.”
Parts of the original manuscript page have been reproduced on the actual compact disc and background tray.
Featured with PJ on “Dreams Are Meant For Two” are the stellar musicians Vinnie Ruggieri on piano; Earl Sauls on bass, Tim Horner on drums, Coleman Mellett on guitar and Joel Frahm on tenor and soprano saxophone.
A native New Yorker, PJ Parker has been performing live since she was five years old. After graduating from New York University, PJ toured with various show bands throughout the US and Caribbean. She has performed in concerts, dinner theater, summer stock, regional theater and musical revues, and has also been the featured vocalist with orchestras and bands from Atlantic City to New York City.
As a jazz vocalist, PJ has performed with such artists as Jerry Bruno, Roy Cumming, Steve Gilmore, Harry Leahy, Keith MacDonald, Gary Mazzaroppi, Geary Moore, Rich Reiter and Radam Schwartz. She has also been the featured vocalist for opening act bands for John Pizzarelli and Harry Connick Jr., and appeared in the annual Philadelphia Variety Club Telethon with Ben Vereen and Maureen McGovern.
PJ’s first CD, “Intimate,” features her unique renditions of selections from the Great American Songbook and her “It’s Christmas” CD debuted her own “Not Beneath the Tree” amid a mix of traditional and contemporary Christmas songs.
Both CDs received airplay on radio stations across the country.
Reviewers throughout the U.S. and Europe have embraced PJ. Scott Yanow of L.A. Jazz Scene writes, “PJ has a very musical voice and her singing is full of honest emotions and subtle improvising.” Larry Taylor of https://www.tradebit.com writes, “… (PJ) is in command, slowly drawing the listener in with an attitude of majestic surrender.” Andrea Canter of https://www.tradebit.com said PJ Parker “rises above the sea of promising vocalists as a true jazz singer who warrants serious attention … PJ makes every note and phrase a personal experiment.” Michel Bedin of Jazz Hot, Paris, France, writes, “ ‘Intimate’ is a beautiful example of real jazz in the United States.” And Carol Swanson of https://www.tradebit.com said PJ “brings considerable craft and color to each word and tone, making it a pleasure to absorb the emotional highs and lows.”