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"For my money, there's nothing like a big band backing a good singer and that's
what we have in this sparkling album {Swingin'
With Legends} by the wife/husband team
of Angela DeNiro and Ron Aprea...There's not a bad cut on this album...Lionel
Hampton, young at 90, solos on his
Midnight Sun, and reprises the solo on
the last cut after his conversation with an adoring DeNiro. Frank Foster's tenor
is unmistakable on Avalon...Lew
Tabackin and DeNiro do a Cleo Laine/John Dankworth scatting, solo sax thing on
The Song is You...Possessing
great range, perfect pitch, good diction and backed with a big band chock full
of outstanding performers playing marvelous arrangements, DeNiro's CD will
enhance any collection.
DAVE NATHAN, Jazz critic,
Jazz News,
Winter '99 issue
"Swingin'
With Legends! One of the best albums to come along in many moons. The band
cooks, Angela has such control, diction, and passion in her delivery - the
guests - Lew, Popa Foss, and Hamp put the icing on the cake. The last track - a
nearly 3 minute conversation between Angela and Lionel - make this CD a MUST for
any collector... a collector's item. It proves so forcefully that music
transcends all boundaries - cultural, racial, age...it is the true common
denominator of the art world. No wonder 'harmony' is used so often in music. If
only the rest of the world would learn from it."
THOMAS L. PHILLIPS, JR., Radio Host, "Sound Of Jazz", Gettysburg, PA
"Together Angela DeNiro and Ron Aprea offer one of the rarest combinations of
creativity and musical talent around today. This double-edged package comes
laden with compositional, orchestrational, and improvisational vocal and
instrumental ability guaranteed to impress."
FRANK FOSTER...Arranger, Composer, Saxophonist, Band Leader
"The innovative artistry of Angela DeNiro,
those magic mallets of jazz legend Lionel Hampton, and outstanding arrangements
by Ron Aprea will put this album on the 'must have' list of every serious
collector of jazz recordings."
BILL FRISCH, Radio Host, "Make Believe Ballroom", WSHR, 91.9 FM, NY
"We
can't think of any greater gift than working together. There aren't many of us
that can do it in this business, Cleo and John, Steve and Eydie, and now Ron and
Angela. Ron's band is superb, every player first rate, every song a gem. Angela
swings high and low with ease, in and out of every Aprea musical situation. We
think you'll like this CD!"
MARLENE & BILLY VerPLANCK, Vocalist & Trombonist/Arranger
"Congratulations
for this fine CD. Sounds great!"
LEW TABACKIN,
Saxophonist, Flutist, Composer
"A Ballad for Matthew
made me cry - so powerful!...the ability to swing, communicate a text, sing in
tune and above all phrase with intelligence...you possess all of these traits so
beautifully. The band is swinging...with great playing and arrangements... I
particularly loved Travelin' Light
and
Ill Wind
but everything here is superb!"
ANDREA BAKER, Jazz Vocalist
"The
sounds of surprise are really here---Two for the price of one. The dynamics of
Angela DeNiro's superb voice plus the swinging arrangements of Ron Aprea. Hardly
a better CD on the jazz market today."
MARK CHAPMAN & BRUCE TATER,Radio Station KETR, Commerce, TX
"Angela DeNiro is one of the very best of the crop of girl singers in the USA
today. Ron Aprea's big band swings, and the arrangements are tailored to the
great singing artistry of Angela's vocal stylings. Both CD's are 'top drawer'.
They'll be played on my radio station with great regularity."
GEORGE LANDRY, Radio Station WACV, Montgomery, AL
"Angela DeNiro is
one of my favorites--she is a must on my show!"
BUDDY MORENO, Radio Station WSIE, St. Louis, MO
"Angela DeNiro's
Swingin' With Legends - This is dynamite. I put it on and couldn't take it off
until I'd heard every track. What a range and exceptional sounds coming from all
of it. I'm convinced she's able to sing anything. Ron Aprea just grows and grows
as an arranger. The addition of two of my favorite tenor players, Frank and Lew,
is pretty exciting. This was a great idea to bring in dear Hamp and salute the
wonderful tune Midnight Sun... This is already marked as one of my top CD
choices for 1998."
JERRY L. ATKINS, Radio Station KTXK, Texarcana, TX
"THE CD IS
ABSOLUTELY GREAT!!!"
RICHARD F. RUBINO, Radio Host, WOMR, Provincetown, MA
"Angela
DeNiro Swingin' With Legends...Angela doesn't need the legends - she's so strong
and confident herself. She reminds me of a very good horn player who has
complete command of the instrument...that's how she is with her voice, and the
band is very good too!"
JACK SIMPSON,Radio Host, Jazz on the Beach, Cocoa, Florida
"Angela
DeNiro...Swingin' With Legends does just that. Ron Aprea's big band is popping
and all the arrangements are first rate. Frank Foster's blistering version of
Avalon is the best I've heard on record. It hasn't yet failed to make the phone
light up. A highly produced CD."
PETER COPPOCH, Radio Host, WDCB, Chicago, Illinois
"I was very
impressed by Angela[DeNiro] and the Ron Aprea Orchestra...the band was tight,
the arrangement [Song Is You] was excellent; and Angela was
outstanding...Personally, I wish that young lady the best and (hope she) finds
her way to the top. She may be 'on her way' already."
BILL ANGEL, Radio Host, WADK AM, Newport, Rhode Island
"..the overall
driving, relaxed sound of Aprea's group, which often sounds like the Basie Band
of the Sixties, is very impressive. Angela DeNiro is a great singer who hits Ill
Wind and Travelin' Light with all the right reflections and also rides a
screaming treatment of The Song Is You expertly."
JEROME WILSON, Jazz
Critic, Cadence Magazine, Redwood, NY
"...[Angela
DeNiro...Swingin' With Legends]a CD of two of the greatest musicians on the
planet -- Ms. DeNiro and Ron Aprea..."
JAMES BRONSON JR., Record Producer, Touche Records, El Cerrito, CA
"Just a
line to tell you that I personally believe that the Angela DeNiro/Ron Aprea
Swingin' With Legends is the best album I have
aired since the Angela DeNiro/Ron Aprea album,
Just For the Fun Of It. I have played that particular ballad so often, listeners
think is is my theme song!"
LARRY ROUTT,
Program Director, WOBO, 88.7 FM, Cincinnati, Ohio
"...[Angela] has got the voice boy! You feel that big voice coming out of that
girl...her voice is great and her diction is perfect!
I'm so glad I was on that date with you [Angela] ..you are a great talent. I put
you in the class with Sarah Vaughan and Ella Fitzgerald...tell everybody look
out...my girl's comin'!"
LIONEL HAMPTON, Legendary Vibraphonist, Bandleader, Composer (excerpted from
conversation with Ron Aprea & Angela DeNiro)

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