Andrew Melzer

NORM AMADIO AND FRIENDS - Norm Amadio, piano; Rosemary Galloway, bass; Terry Clarke, drums; Guido Basso, trumpet & flugelhorn; Phil Dwyer, saxophone; Reg Schwager, electric & acoustic guitars; Mat Pataki, percussion; Marc Jordan, Jackie Richardson & Tommy Ambrose, vocals; Pandamonium Strings. (Panda Digital)
Veteran jazz pianist Norm Amadio is back and sounding better than ever! I still have an old RCA 45 rpm record of Tommy Ambrose and Norm Amadio doing their early 70s tribute to Toronto, titled "People City"; he's done lots more since then, but frankly, I wasn't noticing for some reason. That is rectified on this lively, upbeat-sounding disc from Panda Digital, recorded in September, 2009. The artists joining Amadio really need no introduction; they are all great artists in their own right, and each contributes in their own special way to the overall sound of this disc. Also included are three bonus tracks from the Norm Amadio Trio recorded in 1966, and still sounding great today. What a pleasure to hear these great artists all together, obviously having great fun performing with Norm.
Mike Saunders -A Web of Fine Music/finemusic.ca
- FINEMUSIC.CA

Norm Amadio And Friends
O's Notes: Canadian pianist Norm Amadio teams up with some of the finest musicians north of the border to bring us a dozen selections written all or in part by producer Andrew Melzer. Among the best are "Out Of The Cool" featuring Guido Basso (flugelhorn) and Phil Dwyer (sax), "Round The Bend" with Jackie Richardson (vocals) and the warm bossa nova of "She Smiled" featuring Basso and the Pandamonium Strings. We also enjoyed "You're the One For Me" featuring Tommy Ambrose (vocals), one of three bonus selections from 1966. This is all first rate jazz.

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D. Oscar Groomes
O's Place Jazz Magazine
P.O. Box 38430
Charlotte, NC 28278
http://www.OsPlaceJazz.com

- O's Place Jazz Magazine

Pianist Norm Amadio has been around for ever, still happily tinkling after more than six decades as a pro and that’s just one reason why he’s so comfortable on Norm Amadio And Friends (Panda Digital PDCD0265 www.pandadigital.com), a classy, stylish treatment of a dozen songs (remarkably, seven of them originals by producer Andrew Melzer). As well as vocalists Marc Jordan and Jackie Richardson, Amadio’s buddies include elegant-as-ever Guido Basso, Phil Dwyer, Reg Schwager, and Rosemary Galloway plus, on three cuts, a string section. The result is top quality jazz, ornamented with unexpected zesty freshness. Catchy newcomers include I Love You That Way, Out Of The Cool and She Smiled.

- THE WHOLE NOTE

Legendary Canadian jazz pianist releases new CD
Norm Amadio ,special friends yield fine effort

DOUG GALLANT
The Guardian
Norm Amadio has long been regarded as one of this country’s finest jazz pianists. In a career that now spans six decades he has performed and/or recorded with a star-studded roster of artists that includes such legendary figures as Miles Davis, Stan Getz, Peggy Lee, Chet Baker, Lester Young and Zoot Sims.
He has distinguished himself not just as a pianist and accompanist but as a bandleader and as a music director for many radio and television shows.He has been a mover and a shaker in the Canadian music community since the years immediately following the end of the Second World War when he began drawing together many of his contemporaries for performances and late night jam sessions at venues in and around greater Toronto.
And at 81 Amadio is still a going concern, as evidenced by his latest offering, a nine-song set recorded in September of this year with some of this country’s finest jazz instrumentalists and vocalists. Entitled simply Norm Amadio and Friends, the exceedingly delightful record was produced by Prince Edward Island-based producer Andrew A. Melzer who also wrote seven of the nine songs here and co-wrote the other two, one of them with award-winning tunesmith Marc Jordan.

This is an album of many shades, colours and textures, all of them pleasing.There are elements of several different styles of jazz here, from swing and be-bop to Latin jazz and café jazz. There are also some fine jazz ballads. The mix strikes a good balance between the traditional and the contemporary, between the upbeat and the laidback.Most of the tracks on this set, which is distributed by Panda Digital, are instrumentals, but four feature guest vocalists Jackie Richardson and Jordan, each of whom is on two tracks.
The players featured on the album are all top drawer.In addition to Amadio, who remains a force to be reckoned with at the keyboard, the lineup includes horn player Guido Basso on trumpet and flugelhorn, sax player Phil Dwyer and guitarist Red Schwager, all of whom we had the good fortune of attracting to the P.E.I. Jazz and Blues Festival last summer.

Norm Amadio and Friends includes three vintage bonus tracks, all recorded by Amadio in 1966 with his trio, which featured bass player Bob Price and drummer Stan Perry. One of those tracks, You’re The One For Me, features a fine vocal performance by Tommy Ambrose.

This set is easy on the head and good for the soul. Choice offerings include I Love You That Way, The World Is Going To The Dogs, ‘Round The Bend, All I Need Is You, Out Of The Cool and You’re The One for Me.

- THE GUARDIAN

By Ashante Infantry Entertainment Reporter
Norm Amadio and Friends: Norm Amadio


(Panda Digital)
(3.5 out of 4)
Esteemed pianist Norm Amadio called in a few worthy pals (vocalists Marc Jordan and Jackie Richardson, saxophonist Phil Dwyer, Guido Basso on flugelhorn) for his latest project. The result – anchored by bassist Rosemary Galloway and drummer Terry Clarke – is one of the year's top albums. Timmins native Amadio, into his sixth decade of performance, has an extensive resumé that includes collaborations with Miles Davis, Judy Garland and Mel Torme. One of Canada's underrated players, he's innovative and resonant on sprightly tunes penned by producer Andrew A. Melzer that have an air of familiarity; and veteran arranger Peter Cardinali delivers a big band's punch. The disc also includes three clanging but intriguing 1966 recordings of Amadio's celebrated trio with bassist Bob Price and drummer Stan Perry.

Top Track: Amadio has a dreamy solo on "My Love Can't Wait."

- THE TORONTO STAR