SOUND OFF
CD Reviews - Local Jazz
BY DEVIN GRANT
Special to The Post and Courier

Click here to go directly to Vintage Velvet's section of the article.

Vintage Velvet — "Vintage Velvet" — (Independent)

For a band that originally began as a way to entertain friends, Vintage Velvet has come a long way. Fronted by vocalist Regina Ruopoli, who some might remember sang for Sunday Punch in the '90s, this retro cover band has slowly but surely become a popular act for the higher class bars and restaurants in town, as well as corporate and arts events that cater to a sophisticated crowd. The remaining members, keyboardist Jeff Castle, guitarist Steve Coe, drummer Nick Jenkins and bassist Frank Ruopoli, give Regina's vocals the professional backing it deserves on the band's self-titled CD release.

The biggest compliment I will give this collection of music is not for its sound quality (which is great, by the way), but for the choice of songs included. When collections of vintage jazz and blues songs are recorded, there is often a tendency to record the same two dozen so-called standards.

There are a few of those here, including "Route 66," "My Favorite Things" and a nice version of "Fly Me to the Moon" with vocals by Castle. To clarify, there is nothing wrong with any of those songs, and they all sound great here, but elsewhere on the CD one can find treats such as "Softly, as in a Morning Sunrise," "He's Got Me Goin'," and "Comes Love."

For anyone wondering why nobody plays the good music of yesteryear anymore, or for those simply in a romantic or mellow mood, Vintage Velvet definitely delivers. (B+)

Download These: "Comes Love," "He's Got Me Goin'," "Fly Me to the Moon"

Devin Grant can be contacted at Chucktowncritic@yahoo.com