Album Review: The Piano Diaries by Joanna Weinberg

Joanna Weinberg
The Piano Diaries
Kissing Point Records

Cabaret singer-songwriter Joanna Weinberg performs jazz and pop standards on her new release The Piano Diaries produced by her keyboardist Rafael a Nazario. Each song resonates like a narrative taken from Weinberg’s life story, or someone whom she identifies with as she brings out the genuineness in the lyrics. The melodic cuts crystallize into nighttime jazz embers as Nazario silhouettes her vocals with complementing keys buffered by Kate Adams’ cello, Mark Ginsburg’s flute and saxophones, Martin Hadders’ guitar, Jonathan Zwartz’s bass, and Simon Fishburn’s drums. The Piano Diaries is one of those albums that never loses its quality to put people at ease.

Best known for her work in Australian theatre, Weinberg parlays her prowess as a stage performer into being an adult contemporary bard on The Piano Diaries. Her crooning on “Freckled Angels” displays her eligibility to be a contemporary of Frank Sinatra. And similarly to Sinatra’s ability to turn songs into his signature tune, Weinberg does the same with “Freckled Angels.” She tailors each song as though they were made for her, proportioning the vocal melodies to her preferences like the inclines and lifts along “The Artists Are Leaving.” Her brings out the romantic lure of the story “Benjamin and Penelope” and turns somber in the tale of “The Winds of Fear..” The nuances which she imprints along “Mama Buy Your Baby A Piano” display signature markings expressly her own, and the vocal extensions she makes across “The Piano at the Cabaret” reels listeners in, enticing them to go along with her on the flight.

Joanna Weinberg is one stage performer who can transition into the realm of mainstream and commercial pop. Her album The Piano Diaries attests to her quality as an emotive vocalist. She makes every lyric penetrate listeners mind, and every song have meaning even if listeners don’t believe in freckled angels or wish to play the piano. Weinberg convinces them otherwise.

Musicians:
Joanna Weinberg – vocals, Rafael a Nazario – piano, keyboards, arranger, and producer, Kate Adams – cello, Mark Ginsburg – flute, soprano and tenor saxophones, Martin Hadders – guitar, Jonathan Zwartz – bass, Simon Fishburn – drums, Blair Greensberg – African drums

Tracklisting:
Freckled Angels, Innocence, Daughters of the Empire, The Artists Are Leaving, Benjamin and Penelope, The Winds of Fear, Wide Open Eyes, Beautiful Old Man, Witness, Mama Buy Your Baby A Piano, Trophy Wife, The Piano at the Cabaret


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