Lisa Casalino
Tampa, Florida, United States | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | SELF
Music
Press
LISA CASALINO/Introducing: What Carl Jefferson was to Concord, Matt Domber is to Florida jazz, even if this isn’t an Arbors release. Hell, it does have the tent poles of the Arbors sound all over it, with Harry Allen added for good measure. Casalino has become the proverbial big fish in the smallish pond as it seems she gotten herself into everything locally jazz over the last 15 years in the Tampa area. The pomo twinkle in her eye and voice tell you she’s certainly a jazz singer, but she doesn’t bring any of the diva or clip joint thrush vibe to the proceedings. This is a girl that likes a good time and knows how to share it. Mixing some originals with the standards, her long over due debut recording is a nice mixed bag where everything is served well done. Yep, one seriously fun, tasty treat is on tap here from start to finish.
Chris Spector - Midwest Record Review - www.midwestrecord.com
- Midwest Record Review
LISA CASALINO/Introducing: What Carl Jefferson was to Concord, Matt Domber is to Florida jazz, even if this isn’t an Arbors release. Hell, it does have the tent poles of the Arbors sound all over it, with Harry Allen added for good measure. Casalino has become the proverbial big fish in the smallish pond as it seems she gotten herself into everything locally jazz over the last 15 years in the Tampa area. The pomo twinkle in her eye and voice tell you she’s certainly a jazz singer, but she doesn’t bring any of the diva or clip joint thrush vibe to the proceedings. This is a girl that likes a good time and knows how to share it. Mixing some originals with the standards, her long over due debut recording is a nice mixed bag where everything is served well done. Yep, one seriously fun, tasty treat is on tap here from start to finish.
Chris Spector - Midwest Record Review - www.midwestrecord.com
- Midwest Record Review
Lisa Casalino – Introducing Lisa Casalino
Released – August, 2011
The old joke is “…don’t quit the day job,” yet that’s what Lisa Casalino did, a couple of times – telling a hometown TV station that her career as a vocalist took off as a Central Florida real estate career wound down.
Not hard to see why Ms. Casalino stays busy – a winsome smile and plenty of energy gets this disc off and running with the Gershwins’ “S’ Wonderful.” Nine standards are included, but the real gems are three original tunes penned by Ms. Casalino and guitarist Nate Najar, who also arranges and produces.
“The Good Stuff” is one of those originals, which stands up nicely with these classics, and for my money, should have kicked off the disc. The other two original tunes are “Break A Leg,” and “This And That.” Both are clever, and clearly Ms. Casalino and Mr. Najar know how to write a hook – sometimes a lost art among songwriters.
I’m also fond of a pair of ballads – A very moody version of Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile,” and a languid version of Johnny Mercer’s “On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe” is also a nice change of pace.
This is a first release after 15 years of Florida club dates for Ms. Casalino; a “real record,” she says – recorded at the famed NOLA studios in New York. Ms. Casalino’s voice is so pure, and so spot-on in tune, I feel guilty for saying I’d like to hear a touch less vibrato. But that’s me.
Good bunch of guys backing on this - Mr. Najar is joined in the studio by Harry Allen on tenor saxophone, Jon-Erik Kellso on trumpet, pianist Rossano Sportiello, Kelly Friesen on bass, and percussionist Chuck Redd.
This is top-shelf stuff, worthy of a place in your collection, not just for the new look at some standard material – but also for the three originals. Nice to see a story about a leap of faith that pays off.
This disc is highly recommended.
Doug Boynton - www.girlsingers.org - Girls Singer
Lisa Casalino – Introducing Lisa Casalino
Released – August, 2011
The old joke is “…don’t quit the day job,” yet that’s what Lisa Casalino did, a couple of times – telling a hometown TV station that her career as a vocalist took off as a Central Florida real estate career wound down.
Not hard to see why Ms. Casalino stays busy – a winsome smile and plenty of energy gets this disc off and running with the Gershwins’ “S’ Wonderful.” Nine standards are included, but the real gems are three original tunes penned by Ms. Casalino and guitarist Nate Najar, who also arranges and produces.
“The Good Stuff” is one of those originals, which stands up nicely with these classics, and for my money, should have kicked off the disc. The other two original tunes are “Break A Leg,” and “This And That.” Both are clever, and clearly Ms. Casalino and Mr. Najar know how to write a hook – sometimes a lost art among songwriters.
I’m also fond of a pair of ballads – A very moody version of Charlie Chaplin’s “Smile,” and a languid version of Johnny Mercer’s “On The Atchison, Topeka And The Santa Fe” is also a nice change of pace.
This is a first release after 15 years of Florida club dates for Ms. Casalino; a “real record,” she says – recorded at the famed NOLA studios in New York. Ms. Casalino’s voice is so pure, and so spot-on in tune, I feel guilty for saying I’d like to hear a touch less vibrato. But that’s me.
Good bunch of guys backing on this - Mr. Najar is joined in the studio by Harry Allen on tenor saxophone, Jon-Erik Kellso on trumpet, pianist Rossano Sportiello, Kelly Friesen on bass, and percussionist Chuck Redd.
This is top-shelf stuff, worthy of a place in your collection, not just for the new look at some standard material – but also for the three originals. Nice to see a story about a leap of faith that pays off.
This disc is highly recommended.
Doug Boynton - www.girlsingers.org - Girls Singer
Discography
Christmas Is Still Christmas, (Single) 2012
Introducing Lisa Casalino (LP) 2011
Photos
Bio
Originally from Long Island, New York, and a graduate of the Crane School of Music, the dulcet sounds of Lisa Casalinos voice have been serenading Tampa Bay for nearly two decades. It was music education that brought Lisa down to Tampa from New York as she was hired to be the Choral Music Director for a brand new high school. Miss Casalino opened that school and taught for eight years before she decided to become a full time musician. With beauty, charisma, stage presence and talent, Lisa is the darling Songbird of Tampa and one of the most highly sought after Jazz Vocalists performing over 224 times in 2013 alone. Lisa's versatility to sing in many genres makes her the perfect match for any atmosphere, however it's her Jazz and Standards repertoire that have people coming back to see her time and again. Whether performing at jazz festivals, major charity events, or countless hotspots around the city, Lisa is the it girl and has all the characteristics of what a national and international singing sensation is!
Lisa Casalinos second album Im Old Fashioned will be released May 2014. This record consists of six original tunes co-written by Lisa Casalino and international jazz guitarist Nate Najar along with four jazz standards we all know and love. Miss Casalinos melodies are reminiscent of Gershwin and her lyrics of Cole Porter. Witty, fun and diverse in styles, this record is one you will listen to over and over again. Lisas debut CD Introducing Lisa Casalino has had worldwide appeal on Jazz Stations, Satellite TV and Radio. It was a great springboard for multiple television performances on Daytime Tampa, Studio 10 Tampa and 6 in the Mix Miami. Three original tunes written, nine favorite standards with unique arrangements and top-notch jazz musicians recording at Nola Studios in NYC were a winning combination.
Since the release of Lisas first album she has graced the stages of The Clearwater Jazz Holiday in which Lisa opened for Chicago, Festa Italiana in Tampa opening for Joey Dee and Ybor City Jazz Festival to name a few. Lisa Casalino performed a one woman American Songbook show in front of over 8,000 fans at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, FL on July 4, 2011before the fire-works celebration. Miss Casalino has shared her talents on the stages of 54 Below, Etcetera Etcetera, and Birdland in NYC in 2013 as well as shared the stage with Mary J Blige and David Foster in a Christmas Concert for HSN. Top notch jazz musicians Nate Najar, Harry Allen, Kenny Drew Jr., Chuck Redd, Jon-Erik Kellso, Rossano Sportiello, Jeff Rupert and John Lamb, who played with Duke Ellington in his band, have recorded on Lisas records creating a sound unique and fresh, yet staying true to the classic renditions of the standards. Lisa Casalino is truly a woman who is an incredible example for grace, charm and professionalism
Casalino has become the proverbial big fish in the smallish pond, as it seems she gotten herself into everything locally jazz over the last 15 years in the Tampa area. The Pomo twinkle in her eye and voice tell you shes certainly a jazz singer, but she doesnt bring any of the diva or clip joint thrush vibe to the proceedings. This is a girl that likes a good time and knows how to share it. Mixing some originals with the standards, her long over due debut recording is a nice mixed bag where everything is served well done. Yep, one seriously fun, tasty treat is on tap here from start to finish. Chris Spector - Midwest Record Review
For more information and tour dates please see www.lisacasalino.com
Band Members
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