Peter Cincotti On The Moon CD

Personnel: Peter Cincotti (vocals, piano); Peter Cincotti (keyboards); Gary Smulyan (baritone saxophone, trombone); Sam Yahel (Hammond b-3 organ); Barak Mori (bass instrument); Jeff Mironov (guitar); William Galison (harmonica); Brad Leali (alto saxophone, tenor saxophone); Scott Kreitzer (tenor saxophone); Barry Danielian (trumpet); Wycliffe Gordon (trombone); Mark McLean (drums, percussion); Kenny Washington (drums); Bashiri Johnson (percussion).
Audio Mixer: Dave O'Donnell .
Recording information: Right Track Studios, New York, NY; The Shire Studio, NY.
Photographers: Cynthia Cincotti; Neil Katz; Bruce Weber.
Arrangers: Peter Cincotti; Mark McLean.
Vocalist/pianist Peter Cincotti burst onto the jazz scene in 2003 as an 18-year-old wunderkind much in the same way that Harry Connick, Jr. positioned himself as an updated crooner with a debut album of enjoyable if predictable standards from various decades. Interestingly, Cincotti's follow-up, On the Moon, finds him exploring funk and soft rock balladry. Similar to his British contemporary Jamie Cullum, Cincotti seems intent here on mixing a radio-friendly melodic pop aesthetic with his jazz chops. In fact, the title track sounds a lot like Cullum's single "All at Sea," which is not to say that Cincotti is ripping anybody off. On the contrary, while there are touches of David Gates, Barry Manilow, and even Coldplay, it is hard to pinpoint any concrete influences for Cincotti's singer/songwriter style. While original songs are the focus this time around, there is also a bevy of inspired standard tunes. To these ends, he opens the album with a funky, hip-hop-influenced take on "St. Louis Blues," gives "Bali Ha'i" a bluesy Sting-influenced vibe, and turns "Up on the Roof" into a cinematic ballad. Adding to the lush atmosphere are full string arrangements and guest spots by such sought-after New York artists as keyboardist Sam Yahel, trombonist Wycliffe Gordon, and drummer Kenny Washington. ~ Matt Collar
As a teenage piano-and-vocal prodigy, Peter Cincotti was, predictably, subject to criticisms of being nothing more than a pale imitation of his influences. On his second full-length album, ON THE MOON, however, the New York City native exhibits the type of quiet confidence that normally takes decades to develop. Unlike many talented youngsters, Cincotti is neither rebel nor revivalist. Rather, he combines a bit of the bluesy New Orleans raunch of his mentor Harry Connick, Jr. with a distinctly Big Apple sophistication that's as much Brill Building as it is Blue Note. The result is something at once fresh and accessible, based in classic forms yet quite contemporary.
Phil Ramone's clean, dry production insures that the focus is always placed squarely on Cincotti's vocals, even on the title track and Gerry Goffin & Carole King's classic "Some Kind of Wonderful," both of which seem aimed directly at the Norah Jones-primed pop market. If the lyrics on Cincotti's originals aren't quite on par with those of Cole Porter and the other masters whose songs he tackles, his piano chops are first rate, as a jaunty and character-filled album-closing romp through "Cherokee" makes abundantly clear.JazzTimes (p.107) - "[I]ncreasingly assured and interesting....[I]t proves that Peter the pianist has as bright a future as Peter the singer."