Oh No, I'm in Love Again Greg Farnese

• 1 Oh No, I'm in Love Again 04:48
• 2 Wonderwall 05:09
• 3 You've Made Me So Very Happy 03:25
• 4 Dream 03:55
• 5 Can't Take My Eyes Off of You 06:02
• 6 Wake Me Up When September Ends 03:28
• 7 A Little Bit of Love 04:01
• 8 Everybody Wants To Rule the World 04:56
• 9 Oh No, I'm in Love Again (Reprise) 03:15
• Total Runtime 38:59

Info zu Oh No, I'm in Love Again

Love has a funny way of sneaking up on us.

That’s the idea behind “Oh No, I’m in Love Again,” the title track from the new album from modern-day crooner Greg Farnese. But not even Farnese saw it coming when love, in all its myriad forms, emerged as the theme of the album itself.

“It was the craziest thing,” Farnese says. “I just chose songs that I loved, and that I enjoyed performing live. I didn’t realize until after the fact that each one of these songs is about love from a different perspective.”

The diversity of perspectives is a natural outgrowth of the wide range of material that Farnese selected for Oh No, I’m in Love Again. In addition to a pair of original tunes by Farnese and lyricist Alan Gardner, the repertoire includes everything from the Johnny Mercer standard “Dream” to an uncharacteristically tender ballad by pop-punk superstars Green Day, a soulful classic popularized by Blood, Sweat & Tears to a new wave protest hit by English pop band Tears for Fears.

“My taste tends to be all over the place,” Farnese explains. “I was fortunate to have parents that exposed me to all different types of music - everything from opera to rock and roll to blues to jazz.”

Oh No, I’m in Love Again is the culmination of more than a decade on the Philadelphia jazz scene for Farnese, who returned home to the City of Brotherly Love after pursuing an acting career in Los Angeles. The singer has deep roots in the city - his father, Aldo Farnese, is a member of the Broadcast Pioneers of Philadelphia Hall of Fame, best known as the host of the late-’60s children’s show Dickory Doc.

The album boasts an all-star ensemble comprising foundational members of the Philly jazz community. The roster includes pianist Jim Holton, Farnese’s regular accompanist; bassists Lee W. Smith and Shane Aaserud; guitarist Paul Bollenback; trumpeter Elliot Bild; saxophonist Victor North; and drummer Leon Jordan, Sr. It was produced by three-time Grammy nominee Orrin Evans, who duets with Farnese on the closing track, a reprise of “Oh No, I’m in Love Again” arranged by one of the pianist’s students at Rutgers University, James Pakhomou. He enlisted another student, Daniel Karnaukh, to arrange and play piano on Farnese’s second original, “A Little Bit of Love.”

Both of Farnese’s compositions marry his music to the lyrics of Alan Gardner, a direct link to his father. The two men were songwriting partners in the early 1970s, when young Greg knew him as “Uncle Al”. The two hadn’t seen each other in more than 35 years when a strangely familiar face appeared in the crowd at one of Farnese’s gigs.

Farnese recalls, “Uncle Al asked me if I ever thought about writing my own songs and I said, ‘I don't really have any experience doing that - I wouldn't even know how to go about it.’ He said, ‘Well, I'll hold your hand through it.’ And he did. It was like my dad was in the room with us.”

Farnese’s theatrical experience comes to the fore on “Oh No, I’m in Love Again,” in which he acts out the slowly dawning realization that he’s fallen under love’s sway yet again, a combination of confusion, dread, resignation and exhilaration that embodies the emotional turmoil of a new relationship. “A Little Bit of Love” is cheerful in its insistence on going all in on romance, Karmaukh’s lilting piano buoyed by finger-snapping percussion, brightened by the interjections of the horns and propelled by the eventual entrance of the full rhythm section.

“Wonderwall” gives a funky spin to the Brit-pop favorite, exulting in Oasis’ depiction of a self-appointed protector. “It's good to have a loved one willing to stand in the way and block the bullets that the world fires at you,” Farnese describes. Bollenback’s guitar adds a fervent energy to “You’ve Made Me So Very Happy,” the celebratory Brenda Holloway song made famous by Blood, Sweat & Tears. The guitarist returns for a gentle, intimate duet on “Dream,” its floating, ethereal tone evoking a nighttime epiphany, and adds a silken elegance to “Wake Me Up When September Ends,” the Green Day ballad written by Billie Joe Armstrong in memory of his late father.

Bild’s horn arrangements add intensity to “Can’t Take My Eyes Off You,” the Frankie Valli ode to love at first sight, while Smith and Jordan simmer on Tears for Fears’ “Everybody Wants To Rule the World,” highlighted by Holton’s pensive piano solo. “Love always wins,” Farnese recites as the song draws to a close, offering a political spin to the album’s message. “There’s such a thing as overly loving something,” he says. “There are people who express such an allegiance to or a love for our country that it gets to the point of being damaging.”

Farnese started out expressing his surprise at the concept that arose on Oh No, I’m in Love Again, but perhaps he shouldn’t be quite so shocked. The singer is the first to admit that he’s been fortunate to be surrounded by love, from his parents to his family to the adopted community of musicians who made this album such an enjoyable experience.

“My life is like a Norman Rockwell painting,” he laughs. “I’m in a really great place, with a wife who is my best friend and supports me in everything I do as a musician, a great son who's about to marry an incredible woman, and two golden retrievers that are the best dogs in the world. And now this album, which I’m so excited to share with the world.”

Greg Farnese, vocals
Jim Holton, piano (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 8)
Lee W Smith, bass (tracks 6, 7, 8)
Shane Aaserud, bass (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5)
Paul Bollenback, guitar (tracks 3, 4, 6)
Elliot Bild, trumpet (tracks 1, 2, 5, 7)
Victor North, tenor saxophone, alto saxophone (tracks 1, 2, 5, 7)
Leon Jordan Sr., drums (tracks 1, 2, 3, 5, 6, 7, 8)
Daniel Karnaukh, piano ((track 7)
Orrin Evans, piano (track 9)

Greg Farnese
is a modern-day throwback vocalist, a crooner, if you will. He reignites the treasured and timeless classics from The Great American Songbook in his live performances and blends them with his unique interpretations of his modern -day favorites.

A South Jersey native, Greg began his career in the theatre, acting in over 25 staged productions. He relocated to Hollywood, California, performing in television, films and theatre. Missing his roots, he ultimately moved back to the East Coast, transitioning to behind the camera and started his own production company producing content for television, commercials, web content and documentaries. It was here in New Jersey, that his urge to perform was reignited and his love of jazz and his vocal abilities took root and he began singing professionally at various jazz clubs and festivals.His soulful tone and inspired phrasing, as well as his reputation as a consummate performer, have produced a wide fan base of musicians and music lovers.

Greg released his very first EP titled "Set In Motion" which was picked up by the prestigious label "Victor Records" With a mix of contemporary covers (RADIOHEAD, RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS) to classic standards (COLE PORTER, RODGERS/HART) "Set in Motion" has been admired by a cross section of listeners. "Set in Motion" is available on iTunes, CD Baby, Amazon and here on this site.

Greg Farnese is proud to have shared the bandstand, with renown jazz artists such as Billy Stritch, Orrin Evans, John Colianni, Rick Germanson, John DiMartino, Jeff Franzel, Tom Lawton, Dave Hartl , Luke Carlos O'Reilly, Dean Schneider, Chris Simonini, Jim Holton, Tom Adams, Larry McKenna, Lee Smith, Mike Boone ,Nimrod Speaks, Will Lyle, Andy Lalasis, Madison Rast, Sonny Troy, Wayne Smith, Jr, Victor North, John David Simon , Carl Cox, Paul Bollenback, Gene Perla, Grant MacAvoy, Leon Jordan, Sr., Duane Eubanks, Byron Landham, Tim Warfield & Behn Gillece.

Dieses Album enthält kein Booklet