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Melissa Kassel, a consistently creative jazz singer, has released her latest recording, Moments. The colorful set consists of ten original songs co-written with Tom Zicarelli, which pays tribute to some of the most universal aspects of life, from finding love to the beauty of nature.
For this project, Melissa Kassel and Tom Zicarelli are joined by an all-star team of brilliant musicians—and long-time friends—that make up the Melissa Kassel and Tom Zicarelli Group.
Pianist Zicarelli began working with Melissa in the 1980s and has frequently collaborated with her, composing music that she writes lyrics for. Other members of the group include trumpeter Phil Grenadier (Freddie Hubbard, Ella Fitzgerald); bassist Bruce Gertz, Joe Lovano, John Scofield); and drummer Gary Fieldman, who is a significant fixture of the Boston jazz scene.
From the opening of the first song, “Lullabye,” it is clear that Melissa Kassel is a unique singer with her own sound, displaying a fresh musical personality and an adventurous style. The medium-tempo jazz waltz “Dancing,” which finds her harmonizing with Grenadier’s trumpet, is full of joy, as is the relatively straight-ahead “Spring Forth Joy” and “Breath.” Ms. Kassel is quietly emotional on “Adrift,” engages in some particularly explorative singing on “Sea Humanity,” and is passionate on the love ballad “Glow Of Your Love.” She expresses her love of life and nature on “Twilight” and “Morning Breeze” before the memorable program concludes with the brief title cut.
The release of Moments showcases the tight-knit musicality of the Kassel-Zicarelli ensemble—illuminating Melissa Kassel as one of Boston’s and New England’s top jazz singers as well as a skilled lyricist. It is a significant milestone in her career and one of the top jazz releases of 2024.
For this project, Melissa Kassel and Tom Zicarelli are joined by an all-star team of brilliant musicians—and long-time friends—that make up the Melissa Kassel and Tom Zicarelli Group.
Pianist Zicarelli began working with Melissa in the 1980s and has frequently collaborated with her, composing music that she writes lyrics for. Other members of the group include trumpeter Phil Grenadier (Freddie Hubbard, Ella Fitzgerald); bassist Bruce Gertz, Joe Lovano, John Scofield); and drummer Gary Fieldman, who is a significant fixture of the Boston jazz scene.
From the opening of the first song, “Lullabye,” it is clear that Melissa Kassel is a unique singer with her own sound, displaying a fresh musical personality and an adventurous style. The medium-tempo jazz waltz “Dancing,” which finds her harmonizing with Grenadier’s trumpet, is full of joy, as is the relatively straight-ahead “Spring Forth Joy” and “Breath.” Ms. Kassel is quietly emotional on “Adrift,” engages in some particularly explorative singing on “Sea Humanity,” and is passionate on the love ballad “Glow Of Your Love.” She expresses her love of life and nature on “Twilight” and “Morning Breeze” before the memorable program concludes with the brief title cut.
The release of Moments showcases the tight-knit musicality of the Kassel-Zicarelli ensemble—illuminating Melissa Kassel as one of Boston’s and New England’s top jazz singers as well as a skilled lyricist. It is a significant milestone in her career and one of the top jazz releases of 2024.
