Motif

Author: Burt Jagolinzer

  • Jazz Insights: Dick Lupino

    Jazz Insights: Dick Lupino

    Dick-Lupino-Promo-Photo_300pRhode Island’s Dick Lupino has done it all. He’s a talented veteran bassist, guitar player, torch-singer, business man and important local music agent.packed into one. Dick is known for leading group performances at weddings, parties and high society gatherings. A graduate of the New England Conservatory (Boston), he has played with symphony orchestras, jazz combos and big bands alike. His career includes stints with Issac Stern, Chuck Berry, Fifth Dimension, Steve Lawrence, Mike Renzi and Micky Rooney. He has lived and performed in Boston, New York, Las Vegas, New Orleans, the Dominican Republic and several European cities.
    Dick has taught music in the Central Falls school system for 13 years, teaching music to elementary and middle school students. His teaching efforts granted him an honorable retirement for his dedication there. Currently he leads regularly performing groups on Wednesday evenings at Sardella’s Restaurant (Newport) and Saturday afternoons at the Greenvale Vineyards (Portsmouth).
    Dick hires outstanding veteran performers to headline these weekly gig. Many of these individuals come from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Seattle, Washington. Dick’s latest CD, titled I’ll Be Home for Christmas and featuring the background piano of the spectacular Mike Renzi, is a winner.
    So, keep your eyes on these two locations, Sardells’s Restaurant and Greenvale Vineyards (and Dick Lupino’s website) for terrific ongoing musical entertainment.
  • Jazz Insights: Shawnn Monteiro

    Jazz Insights: Shawnn Monteiro

    MonteiroPromoCranston’s Shawnn Monteiro is one of the top female jazz singers in America. Her connections to the music world began with her late father, the renowned bassist Jimmy Woode, and late godfather, the gifted trumpet great Clark Terry. I agree with other critics that her voice is reminiscent of the magnificent talents of the great Carmen McRae, Sarah Vaughan and Nancy Wilson.

    Although she was actually discovered performing at a club in San Jose, California, she went on to pay her dues, so to speak, with spectacular stints all around New England. Her reputation quickly spread to New York City, where she performed numerous concerts and events throughout her lengthy career. Shawnn has sung with many of the world’s greatest jazz performers, and a long list of famous big bands. Shawnn regularly performs in Europe, often bringing along several local musicians on her tours. She performs at many local clubs in Southern New England.
    Rhode Island is blessed with her ongoing talent and her local performances are a real bargain for jazz enthusiasts. When not performing, she teaches and instructs at The Hartt School (University of Hartford) and Rhode Island College (Providence).

  • Jazz Insights: Michael Renzi

    One of the world’s greatest piano players comes from Rhode Island.

    Michael Renzi grew up in Cranston. His early local performance venues included a residency throughout the 1960s at the Kings and Queens Restaurant in nearby North Providence. Other gigs occurred throughout greater Providence.

    His amazing capture of the piano ivories caught the attention of the music lovers here in our state. Quickly he developed a following that, to this day, never stopped raving about his talent and skill.

    Lately Mike can be heard at Arias, on North Main Street, and other places around the state.

    Growing up, his young friends were playing ball games in the streets – while young Mike was totally committed to his piano practicing. It didn’t take long before his effort began to produce excellence.

    It became obvious that he needed to be in New York City to become recognized, so he made the move to the Big Apple. Several prominent musicians and orchestra leaders discovered his talent and he was on his way to future stardom. He became a regular accompanist for all kinds of events, individuals and societies throughout Manhattan.

    Along the way, the television popular children’s show “Sesame Street” hired him as musical director. He served them for many years, writing and adapting music for their shows. Mike earned eight Emmy Awards, and the statuettes grace his Florida winter home.

    Over his long professional career, he performed with many famous jazz players and a list of the biggest names in show business, including long stints with Mel Torme, Lena Horne, Jack Jones, Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra and Peggy Lee. Most recently he spent two years touring the world with the great Tony Bennett as part of the Tony Bennett Quartet.

    Mike is an arranger, composer, soloist, consummate rhythmist – and a walking encyclopedia of knowledge about jazz and the entertainment art form.

    He recently purchased a home in Middletown, Rhode Island, where he was supposed to be “retired,” but I believe this guy will never retire: He lives to play – and play he will.

    Burt Jagolinzer is a jazz critic and former performer. He is the author of Round Newport, a personal account of attending all 59 of the annual Newport Jazz Festivals ever held, the only person other than the founding producer of the festival who can make that claim.