Peter Cincotti: A Long Way from Home

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Peter Cincotti 

A Long Way from Home 

Feinstein’s at the Nikko, San Francisco, CA, November 9, 2016 

Reviewed by Steve Murray for Cabaret Scenes

Peter Cincotti
Peter Cincotti

Child prodigy turned #1 Billboard Jazz artist turned crooner heartthrob returned to Feinstein’s with a new chapter in his musical evolution. Over the past few CDs he’s been moving more and more into the high-energy, rockier ’70s edge with a distinct sexually romantic urgency. It’s a progression for sure for the performer, who used this show to explain his creative process in front of an intimate audience of fans. While this new direction may not be my cup of Cincotti tea, his charm and virtuosity on the piano make for an exciting evening. 

Starting out as a crossover Great American Songbook/ jazz interpreter in the style of Harry Connick, Jr., Cincotti slowly began adding more and more of his own material into the mix, not quite comfortable in the role as successor to Ol’ Blues Eyes and Mel Tormé. By his third CD, East of Angel Town, Cincotti wrote all the material. Produced by David Foster, who encouraged him to expand his songwriting capabilities, the CD spawned the huge European chart-topping hit “Lay Your Body Down (Goodbye Philadelphia).”

Backed by drummer Timothy Hibbert, bassist Lex Sadler and a host of overlaid tracks, Cincotti opened with new songs released on this summer’s teaser EP Exit 105;  the title track of his forthcoming CD Long Way from Home; “Sexy”; “Palermo”; and “Roman Skies.” The harder edge is displayed in the driving backbeats and slapping R&B bass lines. He is employing a percussive piano style, blending his jazz riffs with driving uptempo chords reminiscent of Tin Pan Alley of old or a contemporary Billy Joel.  He calls his piano style “active, rhythmic” and it is very exciting. 

“Fit You Better” from 2012’s Metropolis was a foreshadow of his current sound—a well-crafted, hook-driven pop song.  Cincotti stated the new CD was heavily female-oriented and, by his lyrics, he ain’t kidding. The songs are full of sexual innuendo, desire and longing. He puts plenty of passion in his delivery and his voice can stand the added power and strain of the volume. 

My set highlights were a suite of songs that showcase his songwriting potential: “Half of You,” a heartfelt power ballad for solo piano; “Sounds of Summer,” a bittersweet tale of the moment one recognizes the loss of innocence; and “Roman Skies,” about regret and infidelity.

Cincotti is affable and easy going in his banter and chock full of talent. I like what he’s doing with his piano style, blending multiple influences into a Cincotti cioppino that’s tasty and interesting.

Steve Murray

Always interested in the arts, Steve was encouraged to begin producing and, in 1998, staged four, one-man vehicles starring San Francisco's most gifted performers. In 1999, he began the Viva Variety series, a live stage show with a threefold mission to highlight, support, and encourage gay and gay-friendly art in all the performance forms, to entertain and document the shows, and to contribute to the community by donating proceeds to local non-profits. The shows utilized the old variety show style popularized by his childhood idol Ed Sullivan. He’s produced over 150 successful shows, including parodies of Bette Davis’s gothic melodramedy Hush, Hush Sweet Charlotte and Joan Crawford’s very awful Trog. He joined Cabaret Scenes 2007 and enjoys the writing and relationships he’s built with very talented performers.