Road Not Taken

About the Artist
Lou Lanza is a Philadelphia native who thrives on the cultural and musical heritage of that city. Lou has music in his genes - an opera singer grandfather, a classical violinist father, and a pianist, organist & music teaching mother. His jazz influence came from another of his relatives, Vince Trombetta, a saxophonist & arranger who served as musical director of The Mike Douglas Show. Lou’s music teachers include Jimmy Bruno and Larry McKenna. His live performances in Philadelphia, New York, and Atlantic City have earned him the admiration of many industry professionals including Bootsie Barnes, Henry Mancini, & Tony Bennett. Some of Lou’s CDs include: the road not taken (C.A.B. Records), corner pocket (J-Bird Records), Shadows and Echoes (Challenge Records), and opening Doors, A Jazz Tribute to The Doors and An Intimate Portrait in Blue (to be released next spring). Lou has appeared in a series jazz related of spots on BET, will be listed among the top 500! jazz vocalists of all time in The Jazz Singers by critic/author Scott Yanow (to be published by Backbeat Books in 2005), and was voted among the top five male jazz vocalists of 2003 in the Brazil Press Tribune.

Product Description
Review by Alex Henderson Lou Lanza showed promise on his debut album, The Road Not Taken, which tended to be generally more restrained than his sophomore effort, Corner Pocket. Although "Oh, Lady Be Good!" proved that the Philadelphian had no problem swinging in a horn-like fashion at a brisk tempo, Lanza's romantic side dominated the little-known CD. Lanza showed how strong a ballad singer he could be on appealing versions of "Midnight Sun," "My Funny Valentine" and "My Ship," and his talents as a composer were illustrated by romantic originals ranging from the introspective ballad "The Darkness Within" to the poignant "Lilliana" and the bossa nova "I Wish I Knew." Lanza's solid Philly support includes guitarist Jimmy Bruno and saxman Larry McKenna, who was one of the city's top tenor men but had enjoyed little national exposure. Although the more risk-taking Corner Pocket would be a better introduction to Lanza's talents, The Road Not Taken is pleasing and enjoyable.

Road Not Taken,Lou Lanza,Original Cast,Vocal

Jazz Music: