To hear the musical rapport between Steven Pasquale and his musical support team is to sense a depth of artistic communication between singer and musicians that is rare today in any area of music. On his impressive debut CD, the handsome actor/singer reveals himself as an old soul on some chestnuts from the American Songbook. Produced by the formidable husband-and-wife team of John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey, the disc is filled with sentimental and romantic odes that belie the actor’s image as seen in F/X’s Rescue Me or even on stage in his turn in The Light in the Piazza, where he played the role of Fabrizio to considerable acclaim. He is currently on Broadway appearing in Neil LaBute’s new play, reasons to be pretty.

His singing style is lyrical and minimalist. He uses pauses, silences and hushed moments to cut to the interior lives of songs. This is most evident on the CD’s opening cut, that blissfully morose dirge “In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning” (Mann/Hilliard). Made popular by Frank Sinatra on a 1955 album of the same name, this has since been recorded by several past and present crooners including Johnny Hartman, Carly Simon and Jamie Cullum. Pasquale’s supple baritone and perfect phrasing offer the ballad as a calm, easy listen that doesn’t over-dramatize. In doing so, he invites the listener to turn up the volume to enjoy the whole package. What follows is one of the best discoveries to come around in a long time. Particular standouts include flawless readings on the likes of “Laura,” “I Wish I Didn’t Love You So” and “Maybe.”

As good as the vocals are, the arrangements couldn’t be better, with Tony Monte and Larry Fuller on piano, Martin Pizzarelli (bass), Tony Tedesco (drums), Marcus Parsley (muted trumpet) and John Pizzarelli (guitar).

John Hoglund
Cabaret Scenes
June 2009
www.cabaretscenes.org