Tootsie Tunes is a collection of 14 original, new, stride jazz piano tunes with a touch of rag. Influenced by the genius of such artists as Fats Waller, James P. Johnson and Willie "The Lion" Smith, pianist/composer Richard Freitas has put his own twist on this swinging, happy, and totally irresistible music of the 1920's and 1930's.Richard's professional career in music began as a pianist/arranger in bands and studios in and around New York City. He has performed with such great artists as Tony Bennett, Rosemary Clooney, Cab Calloway, Nell Carter, Little Anthony and the Imperials and The Drifters, to name a few.
Richard has written and produced music for PBS (Sesame Street, Mr. Rogers, Square One TV), NBC (Saturday Night Live, Rosie O'Donnell, Passions), as well as for CBS, ABC, Nickelodeon, Disney, Sony, Johnson & Johnson, Random House and many other clients.
His body of work, numbering well over 1000 pieces, is broadcast in some 60 countries and has garnered 3 Emmy nominations, a Grammy nomination and 7 International Telly Awards.
Richard and his wife, producer/director Gerri Brioso, share their musical career with a big, fuzzy, goofy, sweetheart of a dog named Tootsie, while splitting their time between New York City and Connecticut.
NEWS"Would 'Ya" from Tootsie Tunes is featured in the just released major film, "American Pastime". Distributed worldwide by Warner Bros.
, the story centers around the internment of Japanese Americans during World War 2. The film was released in theatres on May 11 and on DVD on May 22. "Would 'Ya" was rerecorded with a small jazz combo featuring Stan Vansant on clarinet and Richard Freitas on piano.
Tootsie Tunes took 2nd place as best solo piano album at the JPF International Music Awards held on November 4th,2006. 600 albums were nominated out of a total of 25,500 entries. Richard performed "Try 'n Catch Me" from the album to a very enthusiastic audience at the awards ceremony in the Galaxy Music Theatre, Santa Ana, Ca.
READ WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ABOUT TOOTSIE TUNES:"Richard Freitas composes happy music and the way he swings it on his new CD, "Tootsie Tunes", makes it charming and rather irresistible.
The tunes are catchy with melodies that are easily followed and titles that seem to fit. The recorded sound is crisp and clear, the piano is a Steinway grand and the face of the CD itself is cleverly designed to mimic a 45 rpm extended play record." ...
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