Don’t be fooled by the quiet
facade. Pianist Gino Rosaria has an uncommon depth that stems from being a
native of culturally diverse Curaçao, possessing a master’s degree in classical
music performance and having a love of jazz. Each element helps shape the music
he composes, produces and plays as a first-call session musician and sideman.
Crafting his third album, “Still Waters Run Deep,” dropping July 12, is a
purposeful leap into the soul-jazz sea as a solo artist with something to say.
Collecting playlist adds and earning most added status on the Billboard chart,
the set’s first single, “Night Groove,” is a slick R&B ride with Rosaria’s
shimmering keys engaging in melodic banter with Marcus Anderson’s
saxophone.
In addition to Anderson, Rosaria’s collaborators on “Still
Waters Run Deep” include an array of chart-topping smooth/contemporary jazz
artists such as saxophonist Elan Trotman, drummer Eric Valentine, flautist
Althea Rene, multi-horn man and arranger David Mann, Roman Street’s acoustic
guitarist Noah Thompson, and electric guitarist Adam Hawley, who co-wrote and
co-produced “Night Groove” and the disc’s likely second single, “Sunday 3PM.”
Rosaria’s compositions were inspired by such collaborations, adventures with
his three-year-old son, Simon, and recognizing that it was time to make his own
unique musical statement.
“I knew it was time for me to step out as a solo artist.
I've been putting it off for a long time and playing with other artists. I have
some good material to release to the world. Because of my Caribbean and Latin
roots, I think I have something special to offer musically. I don't know how to
explain it except by showing it through my music. My time has come to step out
onto that stage, not as a sideman, but as Gino Rosaria, The Pianist,” said
Rosaria, who moved to the US from Curaçao in 2003 and resides in Pensacola,
Florida.
Rosaria considers himself to be reserved except when it
comes to expressing himself musically. “I have some very strong feelings and
passion deep down inside that I bring out through my music.”
“Still Waters Run Deep” pours nine jazz, R&B, fusion,
Latin and funk instrumentals and closes with the stunning and sparse piano and
jazz vocal “Unconditional” sung by Brynnevere, who penned the poetic lyrics for
the love song.
Days prior to the album’s street date, Rosaria will perform
the material at a record release concert on July 7 at Seville Quarter in
Pensacola, which will be recorded live with the aim of packaging it as a
CD/DVD. Also in Pensacola, Rosaria will lead his band on stage at Gulf Coast Summer
Fest: Jazz Edition on August 30.
Rosaria teamed with saxophonist Chris Godber for the 2012
holiday album, “Joy Peace Christmas.” The following year, he dropped “Some
Other Time.” Simon’s birth inspired the 2016 Groove Symphony project “Simon
Says” for which Rosaria served as bandleader, blending classical, jazz, Latin
and Caribbean nuances and satisfying his desire to write orchestral music that
could serve as film scores. As a sideman, he can be found in the company of
Hawley, Rene, flautist Kim Scott, violinist Karen Briggs and clarinetist Tim
Laughlin among others.
“Still Waters Run Deep” contains the following songs:
“Night Groove” featuring Marcus Johnson
“Island Life”
“Sunday 3PM” featuring Elan Trotman
“The Night is Still Young”
“Gentle Touch”
“Pool Party”
“Funkin’”
“Rush Hour”
“Unconditional (A Song For My Son)” featuring Brynnevere
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