Diane Marino

Recently Jazz Inside Magazine interviewed  Diane Marino for their June 2013 issue. Read the entire interview here (PDF)

“Loads of Love” (2013)  the latest CD release by pianist/vocalist Diane Marino, features legendary saxophonist Houston Person.  Classic jazz vocal standards arranged by Diane Marino, produced by Houston Person. Also featuring: George Tidwell ( trumpet) Frank Marino (bass) Pat Bergeson (guitar) and Chris Brown (drums).

Diane Marino is an artist worthy of your attention, for her ability to combine the talents of a swinging pianist, a vocalist that communicates with feeling and warmth, and an arranger who can package the music in a fresh and intriguing manner that can grab your interest.

In today’s diffuse musical world, with remotely varied styles that lack a concise emphasis on melody and the classic forms, it’s important to have a lively presentation of the great standards to keep these great songs invigorating and in the moment.  This album from Diane Marino serves those purposes well.  It should be an important addition to your collection.

“Loads Of Love” is Diane Marino’s fifth album, all on the M & M label.  A native New Yorker, Diane attended the High School for the Performing Arts and Mannes College of Music for classical piano. Her first album, “A Sleeping Bee” included a jazz quartet, playing standards, the next, “On The Street Where You Live”, had jazz, but also with a Brazilian and Latin flair, while “Just Groovin’” reinterpreted pop songs of the ‘60’s with a larger ensemble and guest artists. Select songs from these three CD’s were re-mastered for the 2011 offering “From The Heart”.  They all received widespread air play and international exposure.  Diane also has performed around the country, in festivals, jazz clubs, and cabaret settings like New York City’s Metropolitan Room.  This wealth of experience and broad outlook can now be synthesized in this current album, with a focus back to her jazz roots.

Helping that focus and contributing mightily to the proceedings is Houston Person, who appears as a guest artist on the tenor sax, and more important, has lent a creative direction as producer of the album.  For those who don’t know him, Person is a towering figure from the classic generation of the “tough tenor”, with a robust yet sweet bluesy sound.  But equally important here, as a producer he has a sweepingly broad knowledge of the American popular songbook, and an approach that focuses on the melody.  This approach combines neatly with Diane Marino’s sensibilities and they’ve known each other for several years and collaborated before.  On this album, they join together to explore the ballads and blues.  These aspects of jazz inform the best sides of Diane’s interpretations of these standards, with her own arrangements that put a little individual spin on the chestnuts.

In addition to Diane Marino’s piano and Houston Person’s tenor sax, the band includes musicians with whom Diane has performed frequently in her current Nashville base, and beyond, and the comfortable familiarity adds a soothing and tight level to the presentation.  The bassist is Diane’s husband and musical partner, too, Frank Marino, Chris Brown lays down a solid groove on the drums, and Pat Bergeson appears on guitar on several tracks.  And another special guest is trumpeter George Tidwell, who adds an element of beauty in his appearance on “Someone You’ve Loved”.

The program of songs on the album include some well-known Richard Rodgers and Cole Porter you should know, some less prevalent nuggets of the songbook, and even some Ellington, all conveyed with an intimacy of warmth and interpretation.

The title track “Loads Of Love” comes from the legendary later Rodgers show “No Strings”, originally performed by Diahann Carroll and popularized to jazz audiences by Shirley Horn.  Indeed, there are several Shirley Horn connections here, obvious in Horn’s coy stylistic influence on Marino,  and also in the material, like Johnny Pate’s “Someone You’ve Loved’ which Shirley Horn also recorded as “Have You Tried To Forget”, or Jimmy McHugh’s “I Just Found Out About Love”.  Diane also does wonders with Burton Lane’s “Too Late Now”, a haunting tune from the film “Royal Wedding” performed more frequently these days.  Some less familiar Ellington songs from his post war years, “It Shouldn’t Happen To A Dream” and “Take Love Easy” are given intense interpretations by Marino, check out her jazzy piano, and she bravely adds her own stamp to Lil Armstrong’s “Just For A Thrill”, besting Ray Charles, and tackles Johnny Hartman’s stamp on “I See Your Face Before Me”.

All in all, it’s a daunting presentation for an artist to endeavor.  But with Diane Marino’s compelling piano style and exquisite vocals, this album presents a flavor that while being classic and standard is also adventuresome and delivers a unique personal sound.

Sid Gribetz

WKCR-FM, New York City

It’s official! “Loads of Love” is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com! Release date will be April 9th! Pre-Order HERE

“Loads of Love” (2013) is the new CD release by pianist/vocalist Diane Marino, features legendary saxophonist Houston Person who produced the CD as well. Timeless vocal standards from the Great American Songbook, arranged by Diane Marino.

Loads of Love” CD coming soon….Cover/graphic design work starting now… Anxious to see the amazing creativity of Gina Carter Julian! Thanks once again to Shannon Fontaine for his wonderful photos!

“Loads of Love” – is nearly all completed. Recording/mastering finished and artwork will begin shortly! The new project by Pianist/Vocalist Diane Marino features legendary saxman Houston Person who also produced the CD.  Songs from the Great American Songbook, written by Cole Porter, Duke Ellington, Richard Rogers and other wonderful composers! Here is the track listing:

Get Out Of Town, It Shouldn’t Happen to a Dream, I Just Found Out About Love, Too Late Now, How Am I To Know, Someone You’ve Loved, Take Love Easy, Just For A Thrill, I Didn’t Know what Time It Was, Never Let Me Go, I See Your Face Before Me, Loads of Love.

Photos and sound samples coming soon….!

diane marino…..piano/vocals

houston person…sax

frank marino….bass

chris brown…drums

pat bergeson…guitar

george tidwell….trumpet

Had so much fun Friday, Jan 4th  shooting new pics for my upcoming CD, “Loads of Love”. Working with the amazing photographer Shannon Fontaine once again was a joy! Sylvia Fox did hair and makeup and did a terrific job! Thanks guys, for a fun and very productive session!! Now that the CD is completed, “Loads of Love” is on its’ way!!

“Loads of Love” is mixed! Now for the final finishing touches and mastering…!

Doug Wayne, Diane , Houston Person @ Mastermind Studio, Nashville TN

“Loads of Love” – my new CD to be released early 2013, is currently being mixed and mastered by Doug Wayne, at Mastermind Studio.  With just a few tracks left to mix, the CD is well on its’ way! Here with Doug Wayne & Houston Person. Houston appears on 10 tracks and is also producing the CD.

Welcome to the new Diane Marino Official Website. We hope you will take a moment to look (and listen) around and experience all the new ways now available to stay in touch and in the know with all things Diane. New record in the works plus many more surprises.

Look here for Upcoming Live Shows in your area as well as Photo Galleries, Samples and Reviews from previous albums as well as links to all social media.