Amy Cervini
New York City, New York, United States
Music
Press
"Singer Amy Cervini’s work has been aimed at tearing down boundaries between old and new jazz styles, rock, pop, country and more—a reminder of Duke Ellington’s old axiom that there’s just two kinds of music, good and bad. Cervini demonstrably knows from good; head down to hear tunes from her new CD, Lovefool, and so will you."
- Time Out New York
"Her singing drew distinctions between rhythm and phrasing - that is, she can swing, but she also knows where a lyric should fall in the melody and how to turn a syllable." - Jon Garelick - The Boston Phoenix
"...we love the new record." - Boston Globe
Canadian-born jazz vocalist Amy Cervini shows her youthful innocence or experience in love and regret on this set of tunes that displays a balance of wisdom and naïveté. She possesses a strong, girlish, fluid, and distinctive voice, avoiding the hazard of overemphasizing lyrics or acting far too cute. Attractive, bordering on a temptress, and open to new possibilities, Cervini sings songs on this, her second album, that are set apart from the traditional American popular stage show style, using source material from a variety of pop and rock songwriters, retaining a playful yet winsome emotional content. There are also times when she fully adopts the barroom chanteuse image effectively without the sleaze or loungey, loose-gal trappings. Her trio, led by keyboardist Michael Cabe and complemented by bassist Mark Lau and brother/drummer Ernesto Cervini, navigates these original tunes faithfully with nary a hint of pompousness or forced servitude. The opening song penned by Blossom Dearie, "Bye Bye Country Boy," depicts the end of a warm rural fling -- sweet, memorable, and as nice as an amicable waltz can be, with help from guest tenor saxophonist Joel Frahm. Where title track -- borrowed from the Cardigans -- takes this convoluted sentiment internally as a tango with the quartet String Nucleus and the rounded bass clarinet of Marty Ehrlich, vocalist Cervini's take on the standard "Comes Love" waits with quiet anticipation in typical come-hither fashion. Nellie McKay's "I Wanna Get Married" concludes the group of committal/noncommittal songs, sporting bluesy lyrics referring to domesticated references of Leave It to Beaver, a golden retriever, a white house, and packing lunches for my Brady bunches. "Good Riddance" is a modification of the familiar tune done by Green Day, flooded in a cascading 7/8 piano waterfall spirit song; "Quand Je Marche" is an older-sounding French number from the songbook of Camille Dalmais, updated with accordion by Ernesto Cervini and the deft bass of Lau; and Amy's demure singing on Depeche Mode's "Enjoy the Silence" is contrasted by energetic handclaps and the grooving Fender Rhodes electric piano of Cabe. Furthering the diversity of this set is the African drumming cum funk and joy heard on rocker Jack Johnson's "Upside Down," with some carefree scat and "la la las"; Ehrlich's deep bass clarinet signifying the ominous mood of the Cervini siblings' original "Lonely Highway" in tandem with Lau; and the cheating-heart cowboy blues three-step of Willie Nelson's "Sad Songs and Waltzes." As attractive as her voice is, Amy Cervini avoids all self-indulgences that more experienced vocalists tend to use as crutches. There's an honest, self-assured, and honey-dripping presence clearly heard, one that should bode well on her future projects -- and this is a good entry point for sure. - All Music Guide
“Singer Amy Cervini proves to be a keeper…a new singer not to be ignored.” - Bob Karlovits - Pittsburgh Tribune Review
"...cool, assured delivery and a sensibility that demands finely honed, well conceived arrangements." - Ottawa Citizen
"Ex-pat Canadian sings terrific, gimmick-free jazz...poise, intelligence and an unforced honesty that made every song ring like it was her own." - Ottawa Citizen
Discography
Lovefool - Amy Cervini
Famous Blue - ACQ (Amy Cervini Quartet)
Monday Off - Monday Off
Photos
Bio
“Cervini neatly straddles the line between confessional balladeering and breezy swing.” – Time Out New York
Amy Cervini is a regular at New York clubs including Birdland, The 55 Bar, The Knitting Factory, The Jazz Standard, Cornelia Street Café and Joe’s Pub. She has also appeared at numerous clubs and concert halls around the world; from Toronto to Tel-Aviv.
“…freshly appealing voice…tasteful sounds suggest both youth and wisdom, a fairly miraculous tandem.” – The Toronto Star
Amy Cervini’s debut album Famous Blue – released in April 2007 – is an innovative and exciting album featuring songs from a wide array of pop, jazz and contemporary composers: Holiday by Weezer, Extraordinary Machine by Fiona Apple, Famous Blue Raincoat by Leonard Cohen, Jazz Standards No Moon at All and Don’t Fence Me In and a new song from composer Oded Lev-Ari. The ACQ features vocalist Amy Cervini, pianist Michael Cabe, bassist Mark Lau and drummer Ernesto Cervini. ACQ also features accordion playing by many of its members, clarinet by their multifaceted drummer and background vocals from the entire band. Their second CD, Lovefool, will be released on October 6, 2009.
“...a delightful musical surprise…She presents songs with enough heart to convince a listener of her sincerity and enough musical talent to make it worth listening.” – Pittsburgh Herald Tribune
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