Peter Cincotti

[klewman]

31303

[clandy44]

"Grate" young talent, eh? Nice that Cincotti's hound tooth flack followed us here. We'll always know what this fine young man is doing. Grate.

[shawn·m]

Klewman, your only other post pushes another Concord release. Is there anything you care to tell us?

[Rocket #9]

Originally posted by klewman
Peter Cincotti’s self-titled debut is a wonderful album, filled with a charming elegance that seamlessly blends Peter’s background in jazz and classical piano with a fresh new soul.

Whose soul is he using? Where does he get fresh ones? I'm having the damnedest time getting a replacement and prospective donors are getting spooked by the signing-in-blood thing.

Thanks for the spam. If you ever make a real post I'll try not to tease.

[Muskrat Ramble]

I think Klewman needs to get a clue. Posting gushing press releases under an assumed name in all the jazz forums isn't cool. It's certainly not a good way to conduct a PR campaign.

Chaney, brilliant :) Provided my first good laugh of the day.

[bubber]

Problem is that if all companies promoted all new jazz and jazzrelated albums on this board, we would be flooded by ten thousands of threads annually, and personally I would'nt like that.

Some sites out there list new records, updating weekly, and that's the place to go to give info to the market.

[clandy44]

Where was Klewman when PC really needed a helping hand?


Recordings
Jazz's Teen Bopper
19-Year-Old Peter Cincotti: More Callow Than Calloway
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By Terry Teachout
Special to The Washington Post
Wednesday, March 19, 2003; Page C05


Youth will be served -- on a platter. Cabaret phenom Peter Cincotti, who made his debut last month at New York's prestigious Algonquin Hotel, has now released his first CD, titled, modestly enough, "Peter Cincotti." It includes six beefcake photos of the very pretty artist, who posed for the back cover clad in an undershirt. Did I mention that he's 19 years old? I guess that makes it vealcake.

Under normal circumstances, this review would have stopped right there. But Cincotti is recording for a serious jazz label, and he's accompanied by David Finck on bass and Kenny Washington on drums, two of jazz's top sidemen. All this means somebody is taking him seriously, even if only his manager, Mary Ann Topper, the super-shrewd promoter who helped make Diana Krall a superstar. So instead of pitching "Peter Cincotti" into the nearest wastebasket, I popped it into my CD player, curious as to what a 19-year-old cabaret phenom might sound like. And the answer, not surprisingly, is that he sounds like a talented 19-year-old who might -- repeat, might -- develop into an interesting singer-pianist, given enough time to grow into his oversize shoes.

Let's start with the voice. It's a Harry Connick-like high baritone, attractively light and warm in timbre, but also immature and technically dodgy. Every time Cincotti hits a raw, inadequately supported high note, you can hear the sound of puberty in the rearview mirror, and if he doesn't learn how to smooth out his top, he's going to lose it.

As for what he does with those promising pipes, the first word that comes to mind is "naive." Listen to the way he bangs out the repeated quarter-notes of the opening track, the self-penned "I Changed the Rules": "Don't keep on as-king where I've been." It sounds like a marching band clomping down the street. Yes, he phrases with greater subtlety elsewhere on the album, but you can't trust him to swing all the way through an entire tune. (His piano playing is considerably more finished, though too derivative of his models, Erroll Garner in particular.)

What about Cincotti's choice of material? Well, the three songs he co-wrote with his mom should have been left on the cutting-room floor, and someone should have told him that "Rainbow Connection" and "Spinning Wheel" are not good choices for a debut album. (Maybe he's trying to invent a new genre, kiddie cabaret.) On the other hand, I liked his slow, deliberate interpretation of "Sway," a tango that Dean Martin put on the charts a half-century ago. It's the freshest thing on "Peter Cincotti," and the one track I would have passed for release had I been the producer instead of Phil Ramone.

But, then, what do I know? I'm just a critic with an ingrained suspicion of slickly packaged singers marketed for short-term success. Cincotti is obviously talented, and just as obviously is going to make a few waves, the same way Jane Monheit has -- and for the same reasons. As for whether he'll still be packing them in at the Algonquin five years from now, well, we'll see, won't we? I just hope he doesn't stumble over the four saddest words in the music business: too much, too soon.


© 2003 The Washington Post Company

[Aggie87]

The Rainbow Connection??? :rolleyes:

http://www.sarahbrighteyes.com/lorie49/images/kermit.jpg

[Rocket #9]

Oh, good. The original spam post and pissy response to our ridicule have apparently been deleted. So much for "klewman" being a real poster who should be treated with kid gloves when he gives an honest recommendation.

Again, thanks for the spam. Again, if you start posting non-spam (vegetarian?) messages, I'll be happy to read them.

[Anyella29]

It seems like the world has a fascination with young artists...

So then the record company slickly markets the young artist, meanwhile the young artist gets all kinds of pressure to be something complex and important...when they're not even cooked yet.

I dunno.
The same reason I don't think Jane is "all that" is the same reason I don't think Peter's "all that" either. They're green. (hahah does this explain the kermit song?) Why can't they be left alone to hone their craft and THEN be marketed when they've ripened to deliciousness? There are plenty of 30 year old jazz singers, ready to drink now.

Thing is...
Peter Cincotti knows he's young. He knows he owes his education to the people who came before them. I don't think you can blame him for being who he is.

I just wonder why our media/record labels/promoters/etc. are so obsessed with youth & talent and why they feel the need to constantly shove it down our throats.

Like that chick who paints those paintings. And Charlotte Church.

Ew. Skeeves me.

[Muskrat Ramble]

I just wonder why our media/record labels/promoters/etc. are so obsessed with youth & talent and why they feel the need to constantly shove it down our throats.

It sells--a lot. Vide Britney Spears and her ilk.

[PDEE]

Read a recent interview with Tony Bennett, he was asked why he recorded with K.D. Lang.. his response was heavy into the " young Arists do get to pay their dues. He, (and Rosemary Clooney ) spent 5 or more years in clubs etc. before even getting a record deal, by the time they did, they had established some technical
( vocal ) awareness that stood them in good stead. The Kids today.............

I agree it's not Peter C's fault. The record company thinks they can make big bucks.. so they over promote.. use the Star up, cast it out and look for another one..
Norah might have ben a surprise but she's certainly going to get heavily promoted. Maybe thy're too young to take it, but hell, you can't blame them for enjoying their moment.. one or two might develop the staying power.

Personally I'm not big on either of these, or Krall for that matter, but the excessive hype, and the BB spamming tends to make me less inclined to listen to these people with anything more than mild curiosity as to what the phenom is about.

[Anyella29]

Originally posted by Muskrat Ramble


It sells--a lot. Vide Britney Spears and her ilk.

Hm, but the Britney thing doesn't bother me in the slightest, because in the pop world she's doing/being marketed exactly as she should be. It's targeted to a VERY specific audience who expect Britney to be sexy and who really don't hold her up on the basis of her talent. And to twelve year olds, Yeah, Britney's the most talented chick on the planet! And to 30 year old men who think she's hot...yeah, who gives a rip if she's talented, when she's hot?

But see, jazz listeners are a different breed. We DO hold people up on the basis of their talent, and we DO expect a lot out of new talent because ain't no smooth talkin' white kid from Cincinatti (or wherever) gonna come in and try to show up Nat Cole or Shirley Horn (two of Peter Cincotti's idols). Cincotti's music better hold up...and hold up WELL....next to either of those two artists.

Shit! Cincotti's music better hold up well next to Diana Krall! People can say what they want about Diana, but she's a talented, tasty, sexy singer and piano player, whether you think she's been over-hyped or not. Her work holds up next to Nat Cole and Shirley Horn, two of her self-professed influences. And Diana is 40, yet people consider her young.

All I'm sayin' is...if you want to appeal to me, a young jazz listener, then give me a MAN whose voice is rich and smooth like butter. I can listen to my 10 year old nephew sing anytime.

Marketing perspectives that would appeal to me: jazz musicians are the true outsiders/punks, they're artists, there's a strong tradition of paying dues, it's an insiders' music, it's all American, it's humorous, it's soulful, it's rich, it's sexy, it's cool, it's agro....it's all these things and more. Want to keep jazz alive? Market THAT stuff, not some 12 year old who can diddle around the keyboard and rip off Frank Sinatra. Who cares.

Jazz doesn't need a Britney Spears.

[jazzypaul]

Jazz doesn't need a Britney Spears, but it could use a Radiohead, two Missy Elliots, a Rage Against the Machine and maybe, just maybe an Eminem. Peter seems like a genuinely charming guy. And his piano playing isn't bad. But he's releasing a vocal record. For those challenging his material, remember, it's what he grew up with and is familiar with, and only an asshole would rather hear a bad version of a standard over a fresh take on a tune with personal insight. But that is neither here nor there. What it comes down to is that record labels have gotten away from playing to the ARTISTS strengths. Peter is a good Erroll Garner styled pianist. So let him PLAY, not sing. Everyone who has read my posts know that I am a big proponent of the proper marketing of jazz. Peter Cincotti -- the album -- is not the proper marketing of jazz. It is a piano player trying to sing, posing in a way that suggests that he's trying to moisten the panties of 15 year old girls everywhere. Sorry, Peter, and sorry, Concord, but that's what Justin "I just wanna love you baby" Timberlake comes in. Those artists that I mentioned up top are pop artists who have pushed their artform forward. We need a Radiohead to tweak our music, we need a Missy Elliot or two to give this music some attitude again, we need a Rage Against The Machine to give us another Freedom Now -- We Insist! and we need another Eminem to blow us away rhythmically whilst pushing our buttons. We don't need a Justin Timberlake -- he's below us. And so is Peter Cincotti.

[Anyella29]

Originally posted by jazzypaul
We don't need a Justin Timberlake -- he's below us. And so is Peter Cincotti.

Bang!
Jazzypaul, can I dry hump you?
:-)

[Indestructible!]

Originally posted by Anyella29


Bang!
Jazzypaul, can I dry hump you?
:-)

Hey Angela,

Is that all they let you get away with in Salt Lake City? Jazzypaul is looking for a rebel, damn it... not some dry humper! :p

All in good fun!

Cheers,

Shane

[Atom]

If you go back and really read JazzyPaul's posts, he'll take a dry hump to end his dry spell quicker than Joe Morris' guitar runs.

Jazz is a cruel lonely path and there ain't many chicks willing to walk the walk.

Oh yeah, Peter Cincotti? Never heard his stuff.

[Anyella29]

Originally posted by Atom
Jazz is a cruel lonely path and there ain't many chicks willing to walk the walk.
Well then, talk to the hand, boys, cause I invented the walk!!

Hahahaha!!!
:p

[jazzypaul]

Is that talk to the hand in the sense of using the hand to alleviate the ills of being a lonely jazz musician?