Twenty-one years after Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just for You, American comedian Joe Pesci takes to the microphone once again for an album of vocal jazz that no one was really expecting. At 76 years of age, Martin Scorcese’s sweetheart (Pesci is considered Hollywood royalty for his roles in Raging Bull, Goodfellas and Casino) is at ease with a repertoire and a register which suit him perfectly. Obviously not trying to compete with the legendary crooners and jazz singers of the 1950s, Pesci’s charmingly wobbly voice never sounds out of place when tackling jazz standards like ’Round Midnight, I’ll Remember April and The Nearness of You. Music was in fact Pesci’s first love: in 1968, before shining on the silver screen, he released Little Joe Sure Can Sing! under the pseudonym Joe Ritchie… On this album, he is helped out twice, firstly by Maroon 5’s Adam Levine (My Cherie Amour) then by the late great Jimmy Scott on The Nearness of You. On certain tracks, Pesci is surrounded by some real professionals of the jazz game, like guitarist Pat Martino, drummers Lewis Nash and Peter Erskine, pianist Kenny Barron, double bassist Christian McBride and trumpeter Til Brönner. Virtuosity and talent are present on this album in spade loads, making it feel like Christmas has come early...! © Max Dembo/Qobuz