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Location: United States

Tuesday, March 27, 2007





CREDITS

Fred Guarino – Fred is the owner of Tiki Recording Studios in Glen Cove, Long Island, New York. Besides being credited for co-production on both I’ll Leave You the Music and In & Out of Love, Fred added fabulous guitar touches to “You There”. He also played some guitar on the upbeat production of “Love Me For What I Am”, the treatment of which was actually HIS conception, and he takes the guitar lead on “A Woman Needs A Man”, from In & Out of Love. Fred can also be heard playing on a couple of selections on The Broken Cup, and Fred is credited for co-production of The Broken Cup, as well.

Fred has been a full-time recording engineer for twenty-eight (28) years. His credit list is long with literally thousands of album projects, radio/television commercials and documentaries, and educational, corporate sales and training programs.

Along with Palma, the artists Fred has worked with reads like a “Who’s-Who” in the recording business. To name just a few – Kenny Rogers, James Earl Jones, Brian Setzer, Alicia Keys, Odetta and Dr. John, Debbie Gibson, Peter Allen, Melanie, Debbie Reynolds & Donald O’Connor, Tiny Tim, Al Jareau, Freddie Scott, Pinetop Perkins, Kim Wilson ~ the list is endless.

A past Chairman of the Board of SPARS (Society of Professional Audio Recording Services- 2001), Fred is the founder and chief engineer of Tiki. He offers audio recording services to clients throughout the New York metro region. Fred was recently asked what's involved in making musicians comfortable and creative when they work in his studio.

"It's important that the technology of recording not interfere with what the musicians are here to do. I try to make sure I communicate with the artists in their language, not in the technical recording jargon. If musicians have to stretch to understand what I'm talking about, it distracts them from their own performances and communication with one another. You should be musically fluent, so you can communicate with the artists in their language. It is more effective to say, 'Let's start at the second chorus,' than it is to say, “Let’s do it again from 1 minute, 28 seconds into the take.”

Fred has worked on five Grammy nominated record projects in the Gospel, Blues and Folk categories – one of these won “Best Gospel Choir Record.” I find that to be pretty impressive. Fred is a member of NARAS (Grammies) as well as SPARS (noted above).

In this writer’s opinion, Fred is an extremely talented individual, and having gotten to know him personally over the past year, I can tell you he's also a genuinely great guy...plus, his client list is endless, and significant. Kudos, Fred, for outstanding work here, and for the “care” you’ve taken of Palm over the years.!

Tony Tedesco* has quite an excellent reputation in the New York area and is also known widely for his expertise and “taste” as a studio drummer and more. Tedesco is credited with performing on Broadway, as well as with many incredible jazz artists. Most notably (besides our own Palma, of course), Tony’s work with famed jazz great John Pizzarelli is worthy of note. Vocalist Pizzarelli has fashioned his jazz quartet after the King Cole Trio. Tedesco is also credited for his superb work with jazz vocalist Chris Connor, who has been recording in the New York area since the 1960’s. Tony is also credited for recording with the talented jazz vocalist Tony B (Babino). Tedesco plays with incredible “taste.” You’ll enjoy his additions to Palma’s tunes. As an aside, Tony has astounding expertise – he was actually asked to play on both I’ll Leave You The Music and In & Out of Love as the last element recorded on all the songs he did, which means he played, seemingly, “flawlessly” to what could be a deviating track, (in terms of speed). He has great timing and “feels” what he’s doing, I can tell.

*Tedesco is primary drummer throughout I’ll Leave You The Music and In & Out of Love (see notes on Ron Zito, below).

Ron Zito is best known as the exclusive drummer of singer Bobby Darin for four years. He was barely 20 when he began the gig with Darin. This was a connection, which certainly didn’t hinder his efforts to become a first-call session drummer. His recording credits reveal his wide range of abilities from the former bandleader, Woody Herman and Peggy Lee, to icons Cher, Roberta Flack, Barry Manilow and he played for many of the artists for the recording “A Rosie Christmas”, to include Billy Joel. Ron adds his amazing talent to In and Out of Love on the tunes “He’s There, She’s There”, “Free of You” and “Over The Ocean.”

Peter Anthony Stora who is a great friend of Palma’s, is responsible for playing the absolutely blazing trumpet solo and for adding guitar parts in the awesome tune “Nowhere To Go” on the I’ll Leave You The Music CD, as well as his additional rhythm guitar on “Everything To Me” and “No One Will Ever Love You”, augmenting the lead work here of John Gatto. Pete can also be heard with his amazing contribution to the song “We’ve got to Love Again”, from the In & Out of Love CD as well as the tune “I Want To Stay”. Peter has performed with many jazz players like Bobby Hackett, Moe Kaufman and others, he has worked with the bands of Woody Herman, Buddy Rich and Tito Puente; vocalists Palma Pascale, Billie Lowe, John Bennett, and great solid ‘oldies’ groups like the Mills Brothers, The Coasters, The Drifters and The Platters. Palma comments: (on Pete’s performance on her albums) “…You were awesome…your timing, your choices, your pitch, all in place, my friend...” Fred Guarino adds this: “…his energy and approach contributed immensely. The records wouldn’t have been the same without him…”

John (“The Cat”) Gatto is the guitarist/keyboardist for a Long Island, New York based group called “The Good Rats” who have performed all over the world, including Madison Square Garden, The Philadelphia Spectrum, The Nassau Coliseum, and the Hammersmith Odeon in England. They have released approximately 9 albums over the past 30 years. John has been reviewed as being a “ferocious” player, as well as a “bright and fast” solo player. (Gatto in Spanish means “Cat”). John adds his guitar magic to the tune “No One Will Ever Love You”, on the I’ll Leave You the Music CD, as well as “Too Little Love To Live On” and “Everything To Me”, from the In & Out of Love CD.

Jeff Ganz began performing professionally at age 14 as a guitarist/vocalist in the Hendrix/Clapton tradition. It was at age 20 that Jeff decided to master the bass, which is his instrument on In and Out of Love. He said he felt the bass “represented the ideal hybrid between harmony and rhythm, guitar and drums.” Interestingly, he later studied drums with Tony Tedesco. In addition to Palma, Jeff has also recorded with a wide variety of greats, some of which include Gerry Mulligan, Lou Reed, Tito Puente, Chuck Berry and Liza Minnelli. His credits include movie soundtracks, Broadway musicals and national television commercials. He’s done a fine job with his work on the three selections from In & Out Of Love; “He’s There, She’s There”, “Free of You” and “Over The Ocean.”

(NOTE: PALMA plays all of the other bass lines throughout BOTH CD’s via the keyboard).

ARKADY Kofman wails the saxophone on “You There”, from the In & Out of Love CD, as well as “Love Me for What I Am”, from the I’ll Leave You the Music CD. ARKADY has worked with such greats as Tony Bennett, Garth Brooks, and he has his own CD entitled The Other Side. On his website are photos of him with Phil Ramone, Dr. Ruth (funny), and his dog, Dinah! ARKADY is Russian-born – and his credits include Broadway shows like Chicago. At the present time, ARKADY is working on his next CD and is concentrating on booking live gigs with his band. In his spare time, ARKADY is writing poetry among other activities, and dedicates some of his poetry to his dog, Dinah!

Don McCabe plays some incredibly delicious saxophone solos which include “Your Love Is Like a Wave” and the romantic “So Much In Love.” Both selections are from I’ll Leave You The Music. His style is smooth and he shows great taste in his solo work. Don has been playing musical instruments since age 9. He began on Clarinet and switched to Tenor sax in High School ~ Alto and Soprano sax, Flute, Piano, Guitar, Percussion and vocals soon followed. He has had a passion to play music anytime, anywhere. He has played with bands from the genres of big-band, reggae, pop, R&B and fufnk! Don comments: “…how could I NOT want to play all the time with influences like Tom Scott, Michael Brecker, Lenny Picket and more? Music is in my blood and I never want a transfusion!” [Excellent quote, Don]! Don currently plays 5 nights/week with a local group on Long Island. He is married (to a musician), and they have two beautiful daughters.

Jay Berliner has Broadway show credits that include Hair, Chicago, A Chorus Line, and many more. Jay also has two CD’s of his own – “All Bananas Are Not Created Equal” and “Romantic Guitars.” In fact, Barnes and Noble show 92 titles (CD/DVD/Books) where Jay is credited. He has worked his magic through his expertise on guitar accompanying an impressive array of folks. Along with Palma, Jay has worked with Bette Middler, Harry Connick, Jr., Frank Sinatra, Peggy and Brenda Lee, Bernadette Peters, and, for all you jazz buffs, Ron Carter! Jay is credited for his “banjo” work on “A Rosie Christmas.” Jay lends his awesome talents on “He’s There, She’s There”, “Free of You”, and “Over The Ocean” from the In & Out of Love CD.

Nicky Marrero provides the exceptional Latin percussion backup on the wonderful “We’ve Got To Love Again” from the In & Out of Love CD. Nicky has an incredible sense of rhythm, and you can really “feel” his work on this tune.

Nick Russo, Jazz guitarist (and total technician), who plays weekly in Manhattan with the “older” players just because he loves to play and practice, provides the wonderful guitar on “When I See Him” from the In & Out of Love CD. The guitar work here is “gutsy” and absolutely expertly executed.

Angelo DiPippo is an absolutely brilliant talent who I am told still practices up to three hours every day! Angelo began studying the accordion at age 8. He has recorded and concretized with such artists as Harry Bellefonte, Peggy Lee, Connie Francis, Randy Newman, Palma Pascale and many, many others. He has also been credited with many Broadway productions, as well. He can be heard on several tracks on the In & Out of Love CD, both as instrumentalist and co-arranger. Angelo and Palma co-arranged the songs “He’s There, She’s There”, “Free of You”, and “Over The Ocean”. (This trilogy was used in a modern performance piece by the Joffrey Ballet, and later by the Morgan/Scott Ballet in Bryant Park, NYC where Palma sang and danced on stage as well).

Angelo plays his beautiful accordion on the track “The Mirror Cracked” and contributes an astounding synthesized Piccolo solo and accompaniment for the track “Over the Ocean.” You don’t want to miss this one, believe me.

A funny “aside” – When Palma and Angelo meet, they greet each other in this fashion: “Hello, genius” ~ the other responds, “No, YOU’RE the genius”….. And this banter continues until they finally laugh…. welcome to the world of the recording artist!!! Thanks for letting us in on that funny, Palm.

Kevin Keys has been the MC and lead singer for Body Heat Entertainment in New York City since 1981. Body Heat specializes in providing entertainment, especially for weddings and receptions. Kevin has recorded with such artists as the Isley Brothers and Regina Belle. Marvin Gaye described him as “A Teddy Bear with a honey-dipped voice that sweetens the heart.” Kevin joins Palma on “Your Love Is Like A Wave”, and “A Woman Needs A Man”.