A celebrated collection of eclectic original jazz compositions in "a musical celebration of family and friends" embracing a myriad of musical styles such as jazz-rock fusion, traditional be-bop, smooth jazz sounds, Latin rhythms, and contemporary grooves.

13 MP3 Songs in this album (73:39) !
Related styles: Jazz: Contemporary Jazz, Jazz: Mainstream Jazz, Featuring Guitar

People who are interested in George Harrison Lee Ritenour Wes Montgomery should consider this download.


Details:
Critical Comment for âMidlife Blessingsâ

âGuitarist John Maione could be a hidden secret of local jazzâ¦.his playing is no fat, no-foolinâ quality stuffâ¦.â *** -- Bob Karlovits, Tribune Review 12/18/99

âThis CD is so goodâ¦.all of these cuts are just terrificâ¦.this is a guy who knows and understands all the different styles of good contemporary musicâ¦.he has surrounded himself with some Pittsburgh musicians who are absolutely superbâ¦.John is a brilliant Pittsburgh artistâ¦.I couldnât recommend this CD more highlyâ¦.I am knocked outâ¦.John is one of the underground treasures weâve got in music here in Pittsburghâ¦.words escape me, and words are my businessâ¦.â --Jack Bogut, WJAS radio personality and author (on air comments)

âEverything John does is solid, tight, and consistentâ¦.the compositions and arrangements are some of the best I have heard in a long timeâ¦.every tune is meticulously written, arranged, performed, and recorded by highly competent musicians who truly appear to love what they are doingâ¦you can just feel the joy and love that went into this projectâ¦Festivale features John executing a solid, tasteful solo evoking a nice, rich jazz sound from his trusty Gibson 175â¦.Da Fish is funk at itâs finestâ¦.â
-- Charles Chapman, Berklee College of Music Professor of Guitar, nationally-known writer, reviewer, and author of numerous guitar instruction books, writing for the February 2002 issue of Just Jazz Guitar Magazine

âFavorite tracks include the funky jazz catch Da Fish, the fireside romantic slow-dancer Chescalove, and Cococayâ¦.Imzadi sounds almost Elizabethan, something inspired by a chilly castle on the verge of springâ¦.â -- David Sallinger, McKeesport Daily News 3/19/00

âWhat a happy, warm, loving CDâ¦.thank you for your gift of musicâ¦.each and every song on the CD makes me smileâ¦â
--Norman Roth, former assistant to Don Brockett and New York City writer and entrepreneur

âI love the CDâ¦.I play it with Johnny Costaâs and Joe Negriâs on my 3-CD playerâ¦canât do better than that!â¦.â
-- Barbara Cloud, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette free-lance writer (personal letter)

âAs one of your long-time admirersâ¦.Iâve enjoyed your CD, and am glad that you havenât lost your touch!â
-- Bob McCully, Ketchum Advertising Executive, Pittsburgh writer and performer

âWonderful recordingâ¦.great compositions and excellent sound qualityâ¦.â
--Linda White, Winchester Thurston Today staff writer

âLoved the CDâ¦.Karlovits was right! -- Bobby Cardillo, Pittsburgh jazz pianist and icon


The Compositions

1. Festivale (4:17) â written for an appearance at the Three Rivers Arts Festival; first rehearsed on the day my good friend and pianist, Nina, found out she was expecting her first son. A happy tune and one that has become a signature piece for me, even in my solo guitar appearances. (1984)

2. I Love Her Eyes (5:06) â for my lovely, loving supportive wife, Judy (1983)

3. Da Fish (7:42) â musical impressions of my 2 very young children enthusiastically and expertly swimming (like their mom) in the deep end of the pool while on vacation at the Sea World Sheraton in Ohio. Whatâs the big deal? â¦I never learned to swim, and stayed in the shallow end! (1985)

4. Chescalove (6:34) â for my beautiful and talented daughter, Francesca (1983)

5. Some Assembly Required (5:43) â an instantly recognizable term to all parents; dedicated to the sleepless Christmas Eve of Hans Soloâs Millenium Falcon and Barbieâs Dollhhouseâ¦with a nod to be-bop pioneer, Charlie Parker (1984)

6. Cococay (6:32) â an island paradise in the Bahamas visited by my wife and I for our 20th wedding anniversary, with warm thoughts of new friends made on the voyage (1998)

7. Midlife Blessing (3:32) â One night at our Bloomfield Sacred Arts Festival, my friend Phil DeLucia, an incredibly talented artist, and I, were âlamenting and celebratingâ our age and âplaceâ in our lives. After much discussion and due consideration he turned to me and said, âwhat crisis?...you should write a song called Midlife Blessing.â After many failed attempts in various compositional styles, and maybe influenced by music my guitar students had me listening to, it was written on February 13, 1999. Made especially sweet for me since my son, Gino, is the only other musician on the track, playing drums.

8. Joy and Attitude (5:48) â written for my sonâs 8th grade graduating class as a kind of âPomp and Circumstanceâ for the â90âs, âgrungeâ-flavored (1994)

9. Imzadi (7:19) â a Star Trek: The Next Generation Betazoid word meaning âbelovedâ; as Spock would say, âlive long and prosperâ (1993)

10. Little Buddy (5:28) â for son Gino, a truly unique individual and an adventure in parenthood (1983)

11. Second Half Blues (5:30) â written for one of the many softball teams Iâve had the privilege to coach over the years; thanks to my daughter, Chesca, and all the young people in Bloomfield, Morningside, and Oakland Catholic that Iâve coached, for a lifetime of great memories (1988)

12. The Lordâs Prayer (2:50) â a prayer offering for loved ones who have gone before us to their heavenly reward, especially for my dad, Louis Maione, who left us much too soon

13. Early Morning Trane (7:37) â Dan, Kenny, and I recorded this at the end of our sessions, as a âliveâ cut; with a nod to John Coltrane, my first jazz piece⦠a jazz peace (1982)

Total Playing Time -- 74:24

Produced by John G. Maione
All compositions by John G. Maione © 1983 â 1999.

Featuring:
John Maione â Gibson ES 175, Fender Strat, Steel string and nylon string acoustic guitars, mandolin, tambourine and shakers, a bit of bass and keyboards,
and vocals
Dan Muchoney â drums
Kenny Kovach â bass guitar
John Orsini â congas, tenor saxophone
Nina Milazzo-Mascio â piano, synthesizers
Scott Anderson â piano
Matt Ferrante â soprano and tenor saxophones
Gino Maione â drums on Midlife Blessing and Joy and Attitude
Rich Malkin â drums on I Love Her Eyes and Second Half Blues
Ralph Guzzi â trumpet
Mike Ziemski â bass guitar I Love Her Eyes and Second Half Blues
Kathaleen Kennedy-Cole â flute
Chuck Aber â special guest vocalist on The Lordâs Prayer

Recorded March â August, 1999
Recorded, engineered and mixed by Dave Bjornson @ Audiomation Studios, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Mastered and manufactured by DDAI Sound
Art Direction and CD design by Jack Bishop
Front and back panel photos by Rick Malkin, taken against my mom and dadâs house in Bloomfield, where I grew up
Additional photos by Rick Malkin, Judy and John Maione.

With heartfelt thanks toâ¦.
Dan, Kenny, Orsini, Nina, Jack, Scott, Dave, and âNashville Rickâ -- for your incredible talents, dedication, and generosity of time given to this project and my music...I could never thank you enough
My mom, Frances -- for your unconditional love and support, your selflessness and caring
My late father, Louis â for showing me by example what a husband and father should be
My relatives and friends â for being my true midlife blessings
All my guitar students over the years â I hope Iâve taught you as much as youâve taught me
Joe Negri â an extraordinary teacher, guitarist, mentor and friendâ¦I owe you so much, Mr. Negri
My 1972 Gibson ES 175 guitar â a trusted, reliable friend for all these years
John, Paul, George, Ringo, and the Sgt. Pepper album â after hearing this record at the end of my 8th grade school year, I knew I wanted to be a musician

This recording is dedicated to my son Gino, my daughter Francesca, and my amazing wife, Judyâ¦without you, my family, the music would stop, and there would be no music in my life. I love you. Dad

Correspondence:
John G. Maione 219 Pearl St. Pittsburgh, Pa. 15224 (412) 621-7609
jjmaione@aol.com or visit the website at www.johnmaione.com

(p) and © 2001 Lousons Music (ASCAP). All rights reserved. Unauthorized duplication is a violation of applicable laws.


These John Maione CDs are also available from Lousons Music and CD Baby:
Come To Me As Children (contemporary Christian) A Christmas Peace The Kind Of Gray Project (original contemporary jazz 2009)