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“I
just want to sing. I just want to entertain. The bliss I feel
when I am nailing a big band tune… the wonderful vibe I get back
from the audience... I cannot describe. This sound an extension of me. THIS IS WHAT I DO.”
WELL SAID. AND WE HEAR IT IN EVERY NOTE.
“I got a very late start with the Great American Songbook. I
have had to work really hard to catch up. And it has been a joy.
It astounds me how it remained unrealized in my life for so many
years. I cannot imagine singing any other genre of music. The
gratification I get from this experience astounds me.”
Quite amazing what can be accomplished in just a few short
years. With unrelenting focus on the genre, John-Eric Booth
has performed internationally, writes and hosts the weekly
one-hour musical radio program “Swinging Songbook” (more on
that later), and frequently jetting out to Hollywood to
perform with Pat Longo and his Hollywood Big Band when the
opportunity arises. “It's such a
rush being backed by 16 swingin' players.”
The new album “Alive & Swinging!” clearly illustrates the
versatility of John-Eric Booth as a singer and performer… with
solid influences by many of the greats: Frank Sinatra, Dean
Martin, Bobby Darin, Nat King Cole… and Booth also mentions
Perry Como, Mel Torme, Sammy Davis, Jr., Steve Lawrence and
Johnny Hartman as inspirations, just to name a few. The result
of this melting pot is just pure swing… pure vocal passion...
total personality… total love for the music.
“I am without a doubt influenced by Sinatra from a precision
aspect. I constantly aspire to reach that level of precision as
a singer, but at the same time Dean Martin influences me as a
‘personality’ and entertainer. I love the “fun” that he brought
to the venue. He was interested IN his audience… he wasn’t
wrapped up in BEING interesting. Know what I mean? I find that
very appealing, and that best suits ME as a person… my fans seem
to like that too!”
But what about the album?
The
songs on “Alive & Swinging!” run the gamut. 15 TRACKS! From the
old-school-crooning opener “I Love You”… then on to Booth’s
appreciation of the fairer sex on the songs “Wives and Lovers”
and “Girl Talk” (which delivers a taste of Booth’s soulful side)
and the solidly swinging “They’ll Be Some Changes Made”, “More”,
“Mack The Knife” and the album closer “You’re Nobody Till
Somebody Loves You”. Throw in the joyful lament of “I Got Plenty
Of Nothin”, then finding fortune within “Pennies From Heaven”,
the dusty travels on “Road To Mandalay”, the raw jazz of “When
Your Lover Has Gone” and the finger-snapper “Steppin’ Out With
My Baby” and you’ve got an album that is indeed enjoyed and sung
along with from beginning to end!
"I am REALLY happy with the sound on this project. Damien
Montalto did such an amazing job mixing, engineering and
mastering it. He is truly a great talent and has an excellent
ear. The musicians absolutely shined and the album has a nice
BIG sound to it."
A Radio Show?
With a bit of a background here and there as a DJ and
occasionally doing voiceover projects and production, Booth has
bottled these talents into creating and hosting the 1-hour radio
program “Swinging Songbook” heard around the world, allowing
Booth to shine with artist commentary and injecting a touch of
comedy into the hour as well. The show also allows me to
extend my humorous side out to my listeners and fans as well.
It’s an hour of upbeat standards by classic artists, and new
artists as well. A handful of us young performers embrace this
music very passionately and we happily work hard to keep it
alive. I was determined to create a vehicle that would include
new performers on the show. Its one hour of pure swinging fun!”
"Do I play my own songs? Of course I do! Promoting myself was
all part of my evil plan."
“Swing and standards music are with me all day long. It’s not
just what I do onstage… it’s a LIFESTYLE.”
Keep the music, the fun, the voice, the personality and the
positive energy coming J-E-B! |