Italians have been a force in jazz almost since the music was born. The backbone of the first recorded jazz group, the Original Dixieland Jass Band, was cornetist and trumpeter Dominick (Nick) LaRocca, the New Orleans-born son of Sicilian immigrants. In 1917, the members wrote Tiger Rag, a perfect crystallization of the freewheeling thrill of early jazz. Ever since then, Italy has given jazz one influential figure after another: Joe Venuti, Louis Prima, Morgana King, Lennie Tristano, Bucky Pizzarelli, Chick Corea, Stefano di Battista, and many more. Jazz singer Vanessa Racci is an ambassador for that heritage. Vanessa grew up in Westchester County amid an Italian-American family that steeped her in Italian song, theater music, and jazz. Vanessa developed a vocal style drawn from all three; it combines a tart, brassy, catch-in-the-throat sound with Italianate ardor, dramatic flair, and swing. On her ZOHO debut, Jazzy Italian, Vanessa revisits songs associated with many of the Italians and Italian-Americans who have left their mark on jazz. By her side are a pair of gifted and accomplished pianist/arrangers, Steven Feifke and Glafkos Kontemeniotis. Both men's creative horn writing and harmonic and metric alterations bring even century-old songs into the present. At the Jazz Band Ball is another of Nick LaRocca and the Original Dixieland Jass Band's first set of compositions from 1917. Feifke's arrangement alternates between traditional and modern; Vanessa's slinky vocal intertwines with the bass trombone of Alex Jeun. Clarinetist Leon Roppolo, of Sicilian descent, cowrote the 1923 smash, Tin Roof Blues. In 1954, that tune formed the basis of the Jo Stafford hit Make Love to Me, here given a Latin pulse. I love the fact that it was kind of ahead of its time in promoting female sex appeal and power, says Vanessa. A bump-and-grind beat spices up Coquette, a 1928 Guy Lombardo hit, coauthored by his brother Carmen. -- James Gavin
Install our app to receive notifications when new upcoming releases are added.

Recommended equipment and accessories
-
Nagaoka MP-110H Cartridge
Features a high-quality elliptical stylus that provides excellent tracking and minimizes distortion, delivering a detailed sound reproduction with an output voltage of 5.0 mV
-
Edifier R1280DB Powered Speakers
Combining classic design with modern Bluetooth connectivity, built-in amplification and versatile inputs, these speakers deliver rich, balanced sound.
-
Pro-Ject Debut Carbon EVO
Featuring a one-piece carbon fiber tonearm, precision-tuned motor, and a heavy steel platter with TPE damping, it ensures superior stability and sound quality.
-
Pro-Ject Phono Box DC Pre-Amp
Compact, high-performance phono preamplifier for both MM and MC cartridges, delivering a clean, detailed signal with minimal noise.
-
Vevor Ultrasonic Cleaner
Thoroughly clean and restore your vinyl records, removing dust, dirt, and grime from every groove without damaging the surface
Featured Upcoming Vinyl
-
The Cold Stares The Southern Part 2
Deko Music
July 18, 2025 -
Leon Thomas MUTT Deluxe: HEEL (Translucent Ruby) [2xLP]
EZMNY Records/Motown
August 22, 2025 -
The Hives The Hives Forever Forever The Hives
Play It Again Sam
August 29, 2025 -
Newton Faulkner OCTOPUS (White)
Cooking Vinyl
September 19, 2025 -
Andy Jenkins Since Always
Psychic Hotline
June 27, 2025 -
rRoxymore Juggling Dualities
K7
July 18, 2025 -
Baxter Dury Allbarone
Heavenly
September 12, 2025 -
Saagara 3
Glitterbeat
June 6, 2025 -
Orianthi Some Kind of Feeling
WOODWARD AVENUE RECORDS
September 19, 2025 -
Alex G Headlights
Rca Records
July 18, 2025 -
Poor Creature All Smiles Tonight
River Lea Records
July 11, 2025 -
Mike Polizze Around Sound
Paradise Bachelors
July 11, 2025 -
Jisoo Amortage; Heart Version (Photobook, Sticker + Poster)
Yg Entertainment
June 6, 2025 -
Nourished by Time The Passionate Ones
Xl Recordings
August 22, 2025