Marlene Ver Planck Celebrates Her New CD "Ballads...mostly"

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Marlene Ver Planck Celebrates her New CD "Ballads…mostly" Saturday, August 24th at Trumpet's Jazz Club (6 Depot Square, Montclair, NJ07042) with Barry Levitt-piano, Boots Maleson-bass, David Sillman-drums. New CD
"Ballads…mostly" ((Audiophile ACD-343).Street Date April 22, 2013. Marlene Ver Planck sings a story the way the rest of us wishes we could tell one: with polish and panache, convincing listeners that each and every lyric is her own. She has backed-up Frank Sinatra and Mel Tormé and has been out front of the Beneke, Miller and Dorsey orchestras,singing those stories like no one else. A long list of recordings documents her talent, many featuring the arrangements of her gifted late husband, Billy. Seven of his takes on Cy Coleman, some Harry Warren and Marlene's favorites from Ivan Lins, Paul Williams and Ronny White make up her new CD, Ballads...mostly (Audiophile). In Montclair she'll make "Witchcraft, " "I Only Have Eyes For You" and "The Rules Of The Road" her own, alongside pianist Barry Levitt, bassist Boots Maleson and drummer David Sillman. -Hot House August 2013

Live Review From Her Sold Out July 25th Appearance @ Kitano
From big bands to studio work, radio, television, clubs, and concerts Marlene Ver Planck has done it all, yet tonight it seems she must always have been a jazz baby. Ver Planck has the kind of skill with sliding octaves, hip takes, and scat that makes her voice a fourth instrument onstage. -Alix Cohen on Playing Around (read the full review HERE)

What The Press Is Saying about "Ballads...mostly",

"she remains an indomitable, if underappreciated, champ" Christopher Loudon, Jazz Times, Ausust, 2013

" the only time this isn't swinging is when it's smoking. Tasty stuff throughout." - Chris Spector, Editor and Publisher, Midwest Record Entertainment, May 3, 2013

"Marlene still retains the gorgeously fluid crystal-clear sound that has always been a distinctive hallmark of her timeless work." - Bruce Crowther, Jazz Mostly, May 18, 2013

Jazz Journal Int'l July 2013 "this album achieves the very peak of perfection." - Gerry Stonestreet, In Tune International, July 2013

" Dim the lights, glass of wine, feet up and drown in the sound of Marlene Verplanck's voice...Heaven!" - Thomas Coyle, Editor, Sinatra Magazine, Ireland

"this release is arguably her finest to date" Criticaljazz.com, May 1, 2013

"This is a real jazz album, with 15 tracks running about an hour's worth of wonderful music, much of which you are not likely to have heard over and over again...an album to savor." - Jack Goodstein, Blogcritics, June 1, 2013

"Marlene VerPlanck seems to get better with each new Audiophile recording...excellent breath control & singing, Marlene consistently comes up with the best repertoire that anyone can imagine." - Rob Fogle, CHRY Radio, "Some Experiences in Jazz, " Toronto, Ontario, May 23, 2013

"Ballads...mostly is a perfect blending of vocalist, musicians and material, one that you will want to hear over and over again." - Joe Lang, Jersey Jazz, June 2013 Issue

Marlene VerPlanck is constantly recognized for her crystal clear voice, choice of material, and superb musicians. This, her 22nd cd, is no exception. A former studio singer and the voice of hundreds of commercials, she has sung backup to everyone from Sinatra to Kiss. Her solo cd's include, George Shearing, Hank Jones, Tommy Flanagan, Dr. Billy Taylor, Marian McPartland and many others. She constantly works around the country and tours the UK every year the whole month of March. On, "Ballads...mostly", you will find her with a stellar group of instrumentalists. Pianist, and three time emmy award recipient for his work on Sesame Street, Mike Renzi, shines on eight tracks doing what he does best, accompanying a singer. Houston Person, has recorded seventy five of his own cd's, and one one of the most in demand tenor men in the business, joins Marlene on four gorgeous Harry Warren ballads. The warm, fluid sound combining post bop and Brazilian elements comes from the flugle horn of, grammy nominee, Claudio Roditi. Tedd Firth, a bright new star on the New York scene, shows amazing skills on the keyboard of seven more tracks; Jay Leonhart and Boots Maleson share the bass lines, and Ron Vincent displays his sensitive drum work.

TRACK LISTING

1. I WISH I KNEW, 3:45 (Harry Warren, Mack Gordon)
2. WITCHCRAFT, 3:40 (Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh)
3. MY DREAM IS YOURS, 5:00 (Harry Warren, Harry Blaine)
4. LOVE DANCE, 5:45 (Ivan Linz, Paul Williams)
5. I ONLY HAVE EYES FOR YOU, 4:45 (Harry Warren, Al Dubin)
6. IT AMAZES ME, 4:30 (Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh)
7. BABY DREAM YOUR DREAM, 2:50 (Cy Coleman, Dorothy Fields)
8. THERE WILL NEVER BE ANOTHER YOU, 4:32 (Harry Warren, Mack Gordon)
9. THE RULES OF THE ROAD 3:17 (Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh)
10. I'M GONNA LAUGH YOU RIGHT OUR OF MY LIFE 4:30 (Cy Coleman, Joseph A. McCarthy)
11. I WALK A LITTLE FASTER, 4:38 (Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh)
12. LISTEN TO THE PIANO MAN, 3:25 (Ronnie Whyte)
13. Why Try To Change Me Now, 4:33 (Cy Coleman, Joseph A. McCarthy)
14.YOU FASCINATE ME SO, 3:10 (Cy Coleman, Carolyn Leigh)
15.WHY WAS I THINKING OF SPRINGTIME, 4:10 (. Billy VerPlanck, Leon Nock)

Arrangements: J. Billy VerPlanck, Tracks 1, 6, 7, 9, 10, 11, 14

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