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| Elijah Rock releases EP “SWOON” produced by Songwriting Hall of Famer Steve Dorff Elijah Rock, a superior singer with a deep baritone voice and a love for the Great American Songbook, is releasing his new four-song EP Swoon. As a jazz-inspired vocalist, he previously had strong success with his first two albums: Gershwin for My Soul and Matters of The Heart. On Swoon, Elijah Rock's warm voice and swinging style are matched with some of Nashville's top musicians, but it is not a country album. Instead, the Nashville players give Rock's renditions of four beloved standards the feel of Western swing. Produced and arranged by Steve Dorff, Swoon has the singer accompanied by pianist Jimmy Nichols, bassist Joe Chemay, drummer Steve Brewster, steel guitarist Mike Johnson, and guitarist Andy Reiss. Two songs add Jenne Fleenor on fiddle and the background singing of Kim Keyes and Tania Hancheroff while the great jazz tenor-saxophonist Joel Frahm guests on "The Way You Look Tonight." Swoon begins with the Fats Waller hit "I'm Gonna Sit Right Down And Write Myself A Letter." Elijah Rock's joyful vocal, the tasteful use of Mike Johnson's steel guitar, and the subtle and soothing utilization of the background singers set the standard for the set. The singer's treatment of "The Way You Look Tonight" is reminiscent of Frank Sinatra's in the way that he sounds comfortably swinging, relaxed, and natural, as if he were thinking aloud during his exuberant vocal. The philosophical "If I Ruled The World, " originally from the British musical Pickwick, was introduced to American listeners by Tony Bennett in 1965. Elijah Rock gives the ballad a thoughtful and heartwarming treatment. Swoon concludes on a particularly happy note with the 1929 hit "I Can't Give You Anything But Love." Between the vocal choruses there is a tradeoff between steel guitar, guitar and piano. Elijah Rock's final chorus will have every listener smiling. Elijah Rock has already had a career full of highpoints and memorable moments while giving one the impression that he is just getting started. Born in Cleveland, he gained early experience as a classically trained soprano as a boy before maturing into a warm baritone singer. Among his accomplishments since then have been developing into a notable tap dancer, hosting his digital entertainment program The Elijah Rock Variety Show, appearing on Showtime's TV series Masters Of Sex, writing the men's handbook The Fine Art Of Romance, winning the NAACP Theater Award for Best Male Equity performer in Breath And Imagination: The Story Of Roland Hayes, and gaining acclaim (along with an Ovation Award Nomination) for portraying Cab Calloway in the musical revue I Only Have Eyes For You. As a vocalist, Rock is a storyteller dedicated to reviving and uplifting classics from the Great American Songbook while also contributing some of his own timeless originals. Gershwin For My Soul and the consistently romantic Matters of The Heart were important first steps in his solo singing career. His latest accomplishment, Swoon, features him taking four classics and making them his own. Scott Yanow, jazz historian and author of 12 books including Life Through The Eyes Of A Jazz journalist PERSONELL Arranged and Produced by Steve Dorff Jimmy Nichols - Piano Joe Chemay - Bass Steve Brewster - Drums Mike Johnson - Steel Guitar Andy Reiss - Electric/Acoustic Guitar Kim Keyes - Background Singer Tania Hancheroff - Background Singer Jenee Fleenor- Fiddle : CURB STUDIOS - NASHVILLE, TN Craig White - First Engineer Dave Bates - Second Engineer Elijah Rock and Hall of Fame Songwriter Steve Dorff discuss new recording project in Nashville! write your comments about the article :: © 2023 Jazz News :: home page |